UtahDinersGuide.com

Review by Dan Purdon

This weekend marked a great milestone in my quest to try every great restaurant that Utah Valley has to offer.  I finally got to Pizzeria 712!  Foodie buzz about this gourmet Pizzeria has been filling my ears for some time now.  As you might know, the guys behind 712 went on to create Communal in Provo as well.  (Which was amazing!)  So how did the much-ado’ed Pizzeria measure up?  Read on to find out!

Firstly, when my wife and friends were making the decision to hit 712, we completely forgot the fact that it was Friday night.  Word to the wise: if you want to go here on the weekend, it’s definitely call ahead.  We were told it would be about a 30-40 minute wait for our table of four.

We killed time by wandering the large building complex in which 712 is located.  (You know, the one with the yet-unfinished twin building that stands right across from it.  When are they going to finish that, anyway?)

Soon enough, we came back in and were seated near the outdoor portico.  It was a perfect evening, with the sun just setting and a light cool breeze flowing through the doorway.  Selections of local art hung from the walls, and the entire restaurant had a warm earth tone theme that felt very inviting.

We looked over the menu, trying to decide between the seven (or so) gourmet pizzas and the tempting lineup of appetizers and salads.  The refreshing prospect of fresh melon with lime, mint, and sea salt got my attention from the appetizer menu, and I had to try it.  As for the pie, my wife and I decided on a hand-made fennel sausage pizza with roasted peppers to share.

Our waiter brought out a tray of pita bread with hummus for the table to share.  The bread was soft and the hummus flavorful, offering a nice Middle Eastern spice flavor with just a little tang.  Shortly after, our melon appetizer arrived.  It was a generous slice of cantaloupe topped with fresh mint and sea salt, served with a slice of fresh lime.  The tangy lime juice, refreshing mint, and savory salt paired nicely with the soft, sweet melon, giving us a great palate-cleansing start to the meal.

Now it was starting to really get busy, so it took a while for our friends’ salad course to arrive.  But they agreed that it was worth the wait!  In fact, when we were putting in our orders, I was very close to getting the same exact salad for us.  They offered me a bite of theirs, and the instant I tried it, I desperately wished that I had!  It was in essence a Caprese salad, but it was without question the best I have ever had.  They used fresh hand-pulled mozzarella, locally-grown heirloom tomatoes from Jacob’s Cove, fresh basil, and a smattering of olive oil and balsamic vinegar.  These tomatoes were amazing, and the cheese was delicious with them.  It deserves special mention in this review, even though I didn’t actually order it!

Our pizza arrived, and we happily dug in.  The bread was thin and soft, and everything about it was incredibly fresh.  The sausage and roasted peppers went together beautifully, and the fresh mozzarella and tomatoes bound it all together beautifully.  Delicious.

Lastly, we ordered an almond cake with fresh peaches and cream for dessert.  The cake was moist and mild, and the peaches and cream were both fresh (and local).  It was a simple, balanced, and delicious end to the evening.

We had no idea how big the portions would be, but my wife and I took a gamble by splitting an appetizer, pizza, and dessert between us.  The pizzas turned out to be big enough to feed two, but I ended up wishing that we had done a salad course as well.  Still, I walked out satisfied - both with the experience and the amount of food.

Lastly, if you do go on a busy Friday or Saturday night (even with reservations), plan on about two hours for the full meal experience, just to be safe.  It could totally ruin the fun if you have to leave early to make an appointment!  In my opinion, though, the “slow food” revolution is totally worth the wait.

Pricing: Moderate $10-25 per person (not including drinks)

Pizzeria 712 - 320 S State Street, Suite 147 in Orem

Review by Dan Purdon

Sometimes we all need to find something quick and easy for lunch.  But all too often, it means we have to sacrifice on food quality and nutrition in order to do it.  But thankfully, restaurants are beginning to offer more options that can give us a better balance.  Magleby’s Fresh near the Riverwoods in Provo (and now one in Springville) is one such restaurant, making it their mission to deliver quick, fresh hand-made meals without breaking the bank.

While I have been to the other restaurants from the minds at Magleby’s for some reason Magleby’s Fresh eluded me until just last week.  My wife and I headed in for lunch just before 12:00 noon.

There was only one customer ahead of us in line.  As we waited, I noticed many favorites from the original Magleby’s on the menu, like their rich chocolate cake and fresh bread sticks.  The fish & chips caught my eye with the proclamation that it is made with their “famous Halibut”, so I decided to give it a try.  My wife ordered the “Truck Stop” open-faced roast beef sandwich.

We got our drinks, grabbed a booth, and took in the surroundings.  The interior felt like a mix of modern cafe and downtown diner.  There were large pictures of popular entrees above the order counter, and a prominent blackboard with the daily specials sitting behind the counter.

I also noticed that in the few minutes since we had sat down, the line to the register had been steadily growing, until now it was almost out the door!  I suddenly became very glad that we showed up a few minutes early for the lunch rush.  So a word to the wise - if you want to get back to work at a reasonable hour, go during the off-times!  (Before noon or after 1:30 should do the trick.)

Soon our order was announced, so I picked it up from the counter.  I noticed that they supplied malt vinegar for the super-authentic fish and chips experience, so I grabbed a bottle to see what it would be like.

First, the fries.  (As is my custom).  They were battered, crisp, and thick, and they went great with a little ketchup.  This may seem like an odd thing to say about a french fry, but I could really taste the natural flavor of the potato.  For some reason, a lot of fry varieties go to great lengths to cover it up, either with sauces or  seasonings or oil flavoring.  But these just tasted nice and natural.  I’m a fan.

The halibut was also hot and crispy, with a nicely browned batter that went great with their homemade tartar sauce.  The halibut itself was nice and mild.  Even those who don’t like fish would have probably be just dandy with this dish.  I tried out the malt vinegar on one of my fillets, which was a whole new experience.  My American taste buds are still more used to the creamy tartar sauce, but the malt vinegar tang does add an interesting zazz to the flavor.

I also sampled a little of my wife’s “Truck Stop” sandwich, which was sliced roast beef with gravy on top of Italian bread.  The beef was tender and slightly peppery, which combined well with the brown gravy and sturdy (never soggy) bread.  The side of fruit was in-season and flavorful.

And of course, the rolls were fluffy, soft, and lightly cheesy.  Just like at regular Magleby’s.

I admire what Magleby’s Fresh is doing for “fast” cuisine, and I’m glad to see so many other restaurants doing the same.  They stand proudly in the middle of the gap between traditional “fast food” and sit-down fine dining.  And if the customer count is any indication, it’s working!

Pricing: Inexpensive, under $10 per person

Magleby’s Fresh - 3362 N. University Ave, Provo

Review by Dan Purdon

The local Chinese take-out restaurant can be found in just about any town in America.  I believe the order of priority for any burgeoning town goes gas station, stop light, Chinese restaurant.  As Americans, we just can’t seem to live without our Mu Shu Pork and Kung Pao Chicken.

Provo, of course, is a more well-established town, so we have no lack of choices when it comes to Chinese food.  You’ve got buffets, you’ve got noodle houses, and you’ve got national chains if you hop over to Orem.  But in my book, the place that most feels like your down-home Chinese takeout restaurant is Rice King on Center St. in downtown Provo.  If you’re looking for inexpensive Chinese favorites that we all know and love, give them a try.

This Friday, my wife and I paid Rice King a visit.  We were quickly seated in a booth and given menus by a friendly young server.  Ornate Chinese decorations hung from the walls, but overall the atmosphere was very laid-back and easy.  As I looked at the menu, the deluxe family dinner for two caught my eye.  For just over $17, you get a jumbo fried shrimp appetizer, pork wonton soup, ham fried rice, kung pao chicken, and sweet and sour chicken.  Plus drinks!  I was blown away.

Our drinks came out very quickly, and the appetizer right after.  The jumbo shrimp were butterflied, battered, deep-fried, and served with a hot mustard sauce.  They were crispy and hot and quite tasty.  It may sound weird, but the very first thing that entered my head when I saw them was “corn dogs” - they use the same kind of fluffy batter on the shrimp, so they looked just like little corn dogs with the shrimp’s tail sticking out.  Not that that’s a bad thing, though, they were crisp on the outside and chewy on the inside, and it worked for them.

Next, the server set down a huge steaming bowl of soup, filled to the brim with veggies, pork wontons, sliced pork, and mild broth.  The wontons were savory and the vegetables fresh.  They cooked their veggies al dente, which I thought was a nice textural variety.

Our ham fried rice and two chicken dishes came out as we were finishing the soup.  We were already getting full from just the appetizers, so my jaw dropped when I saw the generous piles of food before me.  We were definitely going to need a box!

The fried rice was nice and simple, with chunks of ham and onion complimenting the savory soy-doused rice.  It was a great background for the other two dishes to combine with.

The kung pao chicken was full of tender vegetables and just-as-tender sliced chicken, all doused in a nice savory garlic sauce that had just a hint of spice.  It went particularly well with the ham-fried rice.

The sweet and sour chicken was just as you always see at American Chinese restaurants, with a thick golden crispy coat doused in that signature red sauce.  But I’m not complaining!  It was done well, with perfectly cooked chicken, a hot and crispy coating, and a sweet and tangy sauce.  It also had some grilled onions and peppers on the side, which were a nice addition.

By the end, we were stuffed, even though we had only managed to take down about half of the food in front of us.  It seems that they are used to this happening, however, because the jovial server gave us boxes to use even before we asked for them!

For great inexpensive Chinese favorites, a casual atmosphere, and portions that are sure to fill you up, Rice King in Provo is definitely the way to go!

Pricing: inexpensive - Under $10 per person (for a lot of food!)

Rice King - 278 W Center

Mmmm, smoky meat.  Every carnivore has a special place in his or her heart for some tasty, comforting BBQ.  It brings us back to the basics - it’s a pure combination of meat and fire, something that we humans have enjoyed ever since… well, ever since we could enjoy things!  And to do it right, it can’t be rushed.  It takes plenty of time, love, and care to make barbecue that truly makes your mouth water.

I’ve always loved barbecue.  While I won’t call myself a “connoisseur” out of respect to the people who truly devote their entire lives to the art, I have been around a fair amount.  I have had Kansas City-style pork in Kansas City, eaten juicy-tender Nashville ribs in Nashville, and sampled BBQ delights of the Carolinas.  The only big place left on my list is Texas.  (And admittedly, it is a big place!)

I recently heard about the Smoking Apple in Lindon from a friend who had fallen in love with their sweet potato fries.  That was all it took for me - I must admit, I’m kind of addicted to them.  My wife and I headed over post-haste.  As soon as we opened the car door, we were bathed in that lovely smoky-savory smell that only comes from a well-used smoker that’s always stocked with plenty of meat.  Talk about an appetizer!  We hadn’t even walked through the doors yet, and already I was drooling.

We walked through the doors and up to the counter.  I ordered a dual-meat platter with their pulled pork and pulled chicken, and my wife ordered the baby back ribs.  For the side, of course I opted to get the sweet potato fries.  Usually you get three side choices per entree, but if you want the fries, you have to give up the other two.  My wife ordered sweet corn, cornbread, and a side salad for her three sides.

As we waited for them to prepare our food, I wandered over to the utensils area and made the happy discovery of at least 20 different kinds of hot sauce!  I could tell another hot sauce enthusiast was at work here, because there were varieties there that you never see in normal stores.  Soon enough, said enthusiast made himself known as a guy from the kitchen came up to me and asked if I wanted any recommendations.

“Sure!” I said, “What’s good?”

He pointed out a particularly sweet-spicy, all-natural sauce that I had never seen before, and got me a spoon to try some.  It was amazing!  It had a sweet beginning and a deliciously spicy end that really brought out the natural flavors of the chili.  I happily thanked him and grabbed the bottle to bring back to our table.  He really did know his stuff!

Soon our food was ready, and we dug in.  First, I nabbed a sweet potato fry.  It was coated in some subtly sweet spice, and it felt like it had been battered, because it was extra-crisp on the outside.  The inside was mellow and smooth, just like a sweet potato fry should be.  The lightly tangy fry sauce went great with the sweet, almost smoky fries.  These are definitely contenders for the top sweet potato fries in the county.  They’re unique, extremely flavorful, and very delicious.

Next, on to the pulled chicken.  It tasted lightly smoky and was extremely tender and juicy.  The house barbecue sauce that they covered it with was perfect for it.  I was really glad that they had large squeeze bottles of extra sauce placed at every table, because I found myself using it a lot!  I also added some of the sweet-hot sauce I had brought over, which was even more satisfying on the chicken.

The pork was even more tender than the chicken, which was a great sign.  It had a delicious smoky flavor that complimented its natural pork goodness perfectly, and the BBQ sauce bound it all together just right.  But really, with pork this good, you probably don’t even need BBQ sauce - I think it would be just as good au naturel!

I also sampled their ribs, which were flavorful and came off the bone easily.  (Although I didn’t sample it until after finishing off most of my platter, so it was pretty cold by then.  I’m sure it was even better hot!)  The cornbread was mellow and sweet (a little dry, but great with some honey and/or butter), and the sweet corn was rich and buttery.

We had a delicious time at Smoking Apple in Lindon.  The meat and sides were prepared well, everything came out hot and juicy, and the prices were reasonable.  We’ll definitely find more excuses to head up to Lindon from now on!

Pricing: inexpensive - approx. $10 per person.

The Smoking Apple: 70 N State St, Lindon

Review by Dan Purdon

Angels of Philly is a fresh-faced new addition to the downtown Provo dining scene, housed in a prime location right between Comedy Sportz and Los Hermanos, two of the most popular date spots in the area.  I had no idea they had snuck in there until just last Friday night, when my wife and I were conveniently searching for a place to eat on Center St.

We walked through the glass doors and were struck by the spacious high ceilings and the small fountain next to the entrance.  You could tell that one wall was the original building’s antique brick, which worked fabulously for the atmosphere.  It felt like walking into a downtown sandwich shop that had been there for twenty years, not just two weeks.

We walked up to the counter and looked over the menu.  I knew I wanted the classic cheddar cheesesteak, which was of course Angel’s pride and joy.  I just didn’t know whether to get the regular or the large.  When I told this to the owner/grillmaster, he held up a package of normal-sized hoagies, and then a bag of huge loaves that probably exceeded a foot long!  I was pretty hungry, but that was an awfully big bun!  (And there was quite a price difference, too - the large was close to $9.)

Sensing my inner turmoil, the owner smiled and said, “Once you taste it, you’ll regret not getting the big one”.  That was all I needed.  I ordered a large cheddar cheese steak and an order of beer-battered fries to split, and my wife ordered a hoagie.  Incidentally, beer-battered fries are a delicious luxury that I really would like to see more of around here!  Kudos to Angels for evangelizing these crispy tubers.

I watched as the owner and his assistant head back into the grill area to prep our meat and veggies.  Then I noticed there was a whole additional sitting room back there, so I decided to go explore.  They had set up the grill area to be viewable from the outside, so customers could watch close-up as their juicy steaks were being chopped and fried with onions, peppers, and cheese.  Both the owner and his assistant were very friendly, taking time to chat with me even as they worked the grill.

Soon our food was ready, and I got back to my table.  I was impressed anew at the sheer magnitude of my sandwich, which was now stuffed to the hilt with grilled onions, peppers, and fresh steak.  It looked beautifully messy like a good Philly should.  And one bite was all it took to convince me of the owner’s advice - I was definitely going to polish this off.  The cheddar was tangy, the steak juicy, the veggies savory, and the bread was not too soft, not too hard.  The whole thing was hot, melty, meaty, and good.  It was one solid sandwich!

The beer-battered fries didn’t disappoint, either - other than the fact that we didn’t get a whole bucket of them!  They were crisp, flavorful, and cut thick like a steak fry.  I’m used to thin-cut battered fries, but the thick cut seemed to work just as well.  In fact, it makes them even better at handling sauces.  We had plain ketchup (which was still mighty tasty on them), but I bet they would be epic with some kind of gourmet specialty sauce.

We had a great experience at Angels of Philly, and we’ll definitely be dining there again.  If you’re on a lunch budget, check out some of their awesome specials - you can get a regular cheesesteak sandwich, fries, and a drink for $7.00, which is pretty hard to beat!

Pricing: Inexpensive - under $10 per person

Angels of Philly - 22 W. Center St

Review by Dan Purdon

Hidden away on 100 W just off of Center St., Sammy’s Cafe has all the markings of a local college hotspot. It’s open later than most area restaurants, it’s a small and cozy “hole in the wall”, and on weekends you can find live music or karaoke, depending on which day you go.  Sammy’s serves up the traditional American diner fare of burgers, fries, and shakes.

“Hole in the wall” may not be the perfect description of this restaurant.  It is small and somewhat hidden in the downtown district of Provo, but I feel like they took some significant care to develop their restaurant’s design and feel.  One thing I like about these independently-owned local restaurants is that they don’t have the sterile, focus-grouped feeling that chain restaurants do.  They have creative freedom to do what they wish.

Early Friday evening found me at Sammy’s for the first time.  It turned out that about 7:00 was the perfect time to show up, because my wife and I were able to walk right up to the register to order without a wait.  I got the Masterpiece burger and some sweet potato fries (which I can never turn down when I see them on the menu).  And if you scan Sammy’s online reviews, virtually every one mentions the “pie shakes” - milkshakes with actual slices of pie blended into them - so I had to try one.  At the clerk’s recommendation, I went with the chocolate cream oreo pie.  It was the first thing to come out, and wow, I must say that was one tasty shake!  The slightly salty pie crust actually tones down the ice cream’s sweetness just a tad, and it adds some great flavor and texture.  Avid sweet-toothers will probably be horrified at the thought of lessening the sweetness of ice cream, but just trust me here and try it out!  It’s Sammy’s unique claim to fame, and they are an awesome treat.

As we sat at the bar enjoying the pie shake, a server came over from the kitchen with our burgers.  I didn’t expect this, but but they kept all the burger toppings in an island that was set up right in the middle of the bar seating.  When the server brought out everyone’s burgers, he would prep each one to the customer’s preference.  Kind of like the Subway model for burgers.  My masterpiece burger came automatically with guacamole, bacon, mushrooms, and BBQ sauce, and I added lettuce and tomato.  The burger was mighty tasty - I was wary at first of the BBQ sauce/guacamole combination, but it worked just fine with the savory hamburger meat, mushrooms, and bacon.  The sweet potato fries were nice as well, served up with Sammy’s own fry sauce recipe.

All in all, I was pleased with Sammy’s.  The servers were all outgoing, friendly, and very helpful.  The food was solid.  The price was a little more than I would expect to pay for burgers and fries outside of a full-service sitdown restaurant, but we still left the place satisfied.  And I do have the distinct feeling that the memory of the pie shakes alone would be enough to bring me back here again.

Pricing: moderate (for a burger joint) - approx. $10 per person for burgers, fries, and drink

Sammy’s Cafe, 27 N 100 W, Provo

Review by Dan Purdon

While many Asian foods share common ingredients and cooking techniques, it’s a fact that every single country puts its own unique spin on cuisine.  Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Thai, Vietnamese - every one has its own delicious personality.  Today I’m focusing on local purveyor of Korean food, Sam Hawk.  Korean food is known for its bold and spicy flavors paired with many flavorful sides, including the infamous Kimchi.  But don’t worry, even if you’re not a spice fiend, you’re sure to find something that you’ll enjoy.

I walked into the unassuming plaza storefront at about seven in the evening with my wife and a group of adventurous friends.  (The entire glass front of the restaurant is covered in white paper, so at first glance you may not even realize that it’s a restaurant).  We were seated immediately and began looking over the menu.

I decided to go with the Korean “classics” of Bibimbap (assorted veggies, meat, and a fried egg with a spicy sauce on the side… also very fun to say!) and Bulgogi (sauteed thin-sliced meat with a savory-spicy sauce and assorted vegetables).  My personal favorite is the Pork Bulgogi and the Stone Bowl Bibimbap, which is served in a rustic stone bowl that stays sizzling long after it reaches your table.  I also decided to try the Kimchi Jigae, which is a spicy Kimchi Soup.  And to top it all off, a nice mug of ginger tea.

The ginger tea came out first, and it was wonderfully spicy and full of sweet ginger flavor.  It had a nice kick to it, but this actually seemed to relieve spiciness from the meal itself.  It’s a very interesting property.

Our Stone Bowl Bibimbap came to the table next.  We mixed all the ingredients up, poured on some spicy sauce, and dug in.  Very carefully.  It was amazing how long the bowl kept the contents sizzling hot - even when I got to the bottom of the it, I still had to be careful not to burn my tongue!  The rice blends with the julienned veggies, fried egg, and meat to deliver a satisfying, hearty meal all in one bowl.  And the spicy sauce does a great job of bringing all the flavors together.

The Pork Bulgogi also came out sizzling, this time on a cast iron platter.  Bulgogi is served with romaine lettuce and extra spicy sauce on the size.  Just wrap the Bulgogi meat in the lettuce, throw on a little extra sauce if desired, and eat it like a taco… a healthy, refreshing, lettuce-shell taco.  This really is the only way to do it - the cool, crisp lettuce and the warm, savory meat combine in a way that’s almost magical.  I don’t think I’ve ever talked to one person who didn’t like Bulgogi - if you’re new to Korean food, try it!

Our Kimchi Jigae came out in a large metal tureen.  The soup was nice and Kimchi-red, with large chunks of tofu and green onion floating inside.  One taste was all I needed to tell that this was the spiciest dish of the night - it’s not for the weak of tongue!  The soup tasted just like Kimchi (except warm, of course), and there was a lot of it.  So if you’re a fan of the infamous fermented cabbage, you’ll love it.  I am a big fan of Kimchi, but I was already so full from the other two dishes that there was no way I could get to the bottom.  I had to throw in the towel and get a to-go container.

Another great bonus about the Korean dining experience is the side dishes - and I love some of Sam Hawk’s side dishes!  They come out automatically with entrees, so don’t panic when the server shows up at your table with six things you didn’t order.  They’re complimentary!  My personal favorites are the black beans (not what you’re thinking - they’re sweet, and not mushy at all), the delicious sweet-soy marinated potatoes, and of course the kimchi.  You also get a good-sized bowl of purple rice, which has a slightly different flavor than the plain white stuff most of us are used to.

Sam Hawk has become my default destination for local Korean food.  If you’re never been there, give them a try.  (And if you’re never tried Korean food at all, definitely give them a try!  They’re a great place to cultivate a taste for it.)

Pricing: Moderate - $10-$15 per person (with drinks)

Sam Hawk, 660 N Freedom Blvd, Provo

Review by Dan Purdon

All-you-can-eat pizza places are typically near the bottom of the Pizza Restaurant Totem Pole.  I must confess, that’s the first thing that came to mind when I saw this restaurant, and it’s a good part of the reason that it took me so long to get around to visiting it.  But I kept hearing good things, and pretty soon I couldn’t keep away any longer.

My wife and I headed into Pizza Pie Cafe on a particularly hungry Wednesday night.  We paid for the two of us, and the bill came to a lean $14.  We grabbed a table next to the big line of pizzas.  At first, everything looked as expected.  There was a standard salad bar, a big line of various pizzas set up buffet-style, and another section for dessert pizzas.  But then something threw me for a loop: there was an entire to-order pasta bar as well!  You just tell the server what kind of pasta you want, and they boil it up for you.  Then you pick between five different self-serve sauces to go on top.  I sampled the spicy sausage, roasted red pepper, and carbonara sauces over bowtie pasta.  My favorite was the creamy spicy sausage sauce - I’d definitely go back for seconds on that one.

On to the pizza.  First I sampled the “Hillbilly” pizza, which is their all-meat specialty.  I must say, I was genuinely surprised at the quality - I didn’t expect this from $7 all-you-can-eat pizza.  The dough was fresh, soft and chewy.  And the ham, pepperoni, sausage, and bacon on this went together very nicely.  Many times the big delivery pizza guys will overdo the meat and it just ends up tasting like a bunch of salty beef and bacon.  But Pizza Pie Cafe’s version was just right.  It had plenty of meat to give you a little of each flavor in every bite, but it wasn’t overwhelming.  The other flavors were just as nice, too.  The favorites were all there, including Hawaiian, Alfredo, and BBQ Chicken.

As we began to wind down, I wandered over to the dessert pizza rack to finish off the meal.  I grabbed one raspberry and one cookie dough slice.  Again I was impressed at the quality of flavor - the raspberry pizza had a nice berry spread with a light glaze and graham crumbles over the top.  It tasted like a warm fruit tart.  And the cookie dough was one big gooey doughy mess of deliciousness.  Like s’mores, except in pizza form.  And with cookie dough.  It was an extreme guilty pleasure that I will be sure to repeat the next time I visit.  (And for this quality of pizza at that good of a price, there will definitely be a next time).

Pricing: Inexpensive, $5-10 per person

Pizza Pie Cafe 2235 N University Parkway

Review by Dan Purdon

Utah Valley has been fortunate to receive a plethora of culturally distinct dining options over the years, one of the newest of which is named Pho Noodle House, located on University Avenue in Orem.

First off, my culinarily-adept friends have told me that “Pho” is not pronounced you think it should be pronounced.  (Like the pho from “phone”).  In fact, you pronounce it more like “Fuh”, which opens up a whole world of fun double-entendre possibilities.  This has also been confirmed to me by a native Vietnamese person, so I’m pretty sure that they weren’t just messing with me.

Pho the restaurant is named after Pho the traditional Vietnamese noodle-soup dish.  This was my first experience with Pho, and I do love new experiences.  I couldn’t wait to try them.

My wife and I walked into the modern-yet-cozy restaurant early Saturday evening and were seated immediately.  After a good look over the menu, we ordered a bowl of Pho (of course) filled with steak and brisket.  (The more daring of you can get Pho filled with tripe, tendon, or all kinds of seafood - the kind of stuff you’re likely to find in actual Vietnam!)  We also ordered an entree of barbecued pork with vermicelli noodles and a “Jalapeno Bomb” appetizer.  Give me a break, we can’t get everything super-authentic.  I was in the mood for a little spice.  We ordered a boba tea drink to cool off the Jalapeno, too.

Our Jalapeno Bomb arrived quickly.  Picture entire jalapenos stuffed with a mixed veggie-and-tuna filling and deep fried to crispy perfection, served with a sweet dipping sauce.  They were spicy, crispy, and full of love.  The dipping sauce brought an especially nice flavor out of the filling, a deliciously sweet counter to the heat of the jalapeno.  And don’t worry too much about the heat - the frying process takes it down a few notches, so it’s really not bad.

Our Pho and vermicelli came out right on the Jalapeno Bomb’s tail.  The Pho’s presentation is really something to behold.  It comes out with a dish of fresh Thai basil leaves, fresh lime slices, fresh bean sprouts, a sweet plum sauce, and a spicy red chili sauce - all of which are there to be used at your whim.  I was excited - I had a food experiment on my hands!  I started by trying just the Pho broth.  It was subtle and savory.  I tried a piece of thin-sliced steak with some noodles.  It was soft, and it blended very well with the broth’s flavor.  Then I began filling my spoon up with Pho broth, adding a little of one condiment, tasting it, filling it again, trying another condiment, until I had sampled how every single ingredient changed the broth’s subtle flavors.  And satisfied that they were all very good options, I threw in all the bean sprouts and basil leaves together with a healthy amount of plum sauce and a squirt of lime.  I was in flavor country.  Towards the end of the bowl, when my taste buds were getting tired, I threw in a dollop of hot chili sauce.  That woke them up.

Our vermicelli dish featured thin-sliced barbecued pork coated in an Asian sauce that almost brought tears to my eyes.  This is how pork should always taste.  So tender, lightly smoky from the flame grill, with the flavors perfectly balanced within its deliciously sweet n’ savory coating.  I can’t tell you how much I appreciated this pork, it was amazing. It came with fresh veggies, chopped nuts, and a spring roll, all resting on a vermicelli noodle bed.  But still, the pork was totally the star of the show.

A quick word on the boba tea drinks here - we ordered a Lychee boba, which comes out in the form of a slushie with a huge straw and large tapioca balls at the bottom.  The slushy beverage tasted exactly like a sweet lychee fruit, like you had just bitten into a real one.  If the other flavors are half as good, I want to give them all a try.

Pho Noodle House was a great place to expand my culinary repertoire.  It reminds me of the first time I had Thai food years ago - it all tasted so new and fresh to me, opening up a whole new world of food possibility.  In fact, Thailand and Vietnam aren’t too far away from each other, so they share a lot of ingredients and flavors in their cuisine.  If you’re like me and have fallen in love with Thai food (but never tried Vietnamese), you will find a lot of the same fresh flavor combinations that will rock your world while still feeling pleasantly familiar.

Pricing: Moderate, $10-20 per person (including drinks, appetizers)

Pho Noodle House, 908 S State Street, Orem

Review by Dan Purdon

Do you have a local restaurant that you pass all the time but still have never set foot into?  Maybe it’s even in walking distance of your house.  But for whatever reason, you’ve never found a chance to walk in the doors.

Such was the case with me and Saigon Noodle House.  Perhaps it was because it was so close to my house that I never went there.  Which is odd, considering I’m looking for new restaurants to review every single week.  It would be much more efficient to start close and move outward… but I think that’s just it.  Eating out is an adventure for me, especially when trying new spots.  And it doesn’t feel much like an adventure when all you need to get there is a 2-minute walk.

It certainly wasn’t that I was avoiding Saigon Noodle house - in fact, whenever I saw it I reflected on how strange it was that I hadn’t been there yet.  Finally, fate provided me with a chance to try them out.  My car was in the shop on Friday, and I needed a place to review.  All of a sudden, being only two minutes away became a very nice selling point.

My wife and I walked under the big green canopy sign, through the door and into the cozy restaurant.  It was bright on the inside, with painted fans and statues of Buddha decorating the room.  The hostess invited us to choose our table, so we sat down near the large front window.

The majority of the menu read like any American Chinese restaurant, with favorites like General Tso’s and Moo Goo Gai Pan.  But they also had many of their namesake noodle dishes, in the form of noodle soups and pan-fried noodles.  We decided to try some of both.  We ordered the House Special Pan Fried Noodles, General Tso’s Chicken, and Moo Shu Pork.

Our waitress brought out some crispy fried wonton strips with a lightly sweet dipping sauce as an appetizer to munch on while waiting for our entrees.  No sooner had we finished than our three plates arrived, plus a bowl of rice.  It was served family style, with very generous helpings of each dish.

The General Tso’s Chicken was still very crisp in spite of being soaked in a lightly spicy sauce.  The texture was pleasing and the sauce was well-seasoned, with a couple of whole Thai chilis thrown in to spice things up a bit.  There was also some sliced watercress in the mix, which added a nice extra flavor/texture dimension.

Our Moo Shu Pork was a nice mix of chopped vegetables, sliced pork, and egg.  This was served with, for lack of a better term, Asian tortillas.  (Seriously, I even looked this up and could find no better term than this.  And “Moo Shu Pancakes” just doesn’t sound right.)  You wrap the filling in this tortilla with a little Hoisin sauce, and eat it like a burrito.  It was delicious.

Lastly, our House Special Pan Fried Noodles were a medley of vegetables and meats in a light savory sauce, all on top of a bed of crispy pan-fried noodles.  There was shrimp, pork, beef, and chicken, not to mention a whole host of veggies, but somehow the sauce made it all work together just fine.  It was very nice, I’d recommend it again.

We were both quite satisfied with quite a bit of food left over, so we had to take it home.  Next time, I’ll know that it really only takes one dish per person here!  The portions are generous, the price is very fair, and the flavors are solid.  Now that I’ve finally tried this place out, I know for a fact that it will be a constant temptation not to go there!  And I don’t even have to walk the two minutes if I don’t want to, because they do cheap takeout!  With free delivery after 3!  Arg, I’ve opened Pandora’s Box…

Pricing: inexpensive, $5-10 per person

Saigon Noodle House, 440 W 300 S, Provo