MidMoDiningGuide.com staffers were put to the challenge by our Facebook fans to try out Saigon Bistro and report back with our observations.
Saigon is located in downtown Columbia on east Broadway Street. The outside looks small, but once you walk inside, the authentic decorations and neutral colors gives the space a large and very authentic feel. There's plenty of seating but you have to order at the front first. For those not familiar with Vietnamese dishes, the menu includes pictures and descriptions of the food--a very mouthwatering and wise decision!
The atmosphere was fairly quiet and calm when we went to lunch at 12:30 p.m. Unlike other restaurants, appetizers won't necessarily come out first (there's even a disclaimer on the menu), so don't expect to receive your spring rolls before the main entree. Also, the wait staff brings the food out as it's ready, not all at once. The table space can seem cramped if you order multiple appetizers and main dishes because of the large size of the bowls and platters (which are equally charming in decoration and design). All entrees come with forks, but expect to receive a pair of ceramic chopsticks and soup spoon to enhance the eating experience.
The Vietnamese dishes are nontraditional and very reasonably priced. All appetizers were under $3 and most dishes ranged in price from $5-$8. The soft drinks were $1.65 and 50 cents for refills, so you're probably better off drinking the free hot tea or water. You also might not feel completely full without ordering appetizers with your meal because of the portion sizes and lack of carbs.
Service was quick for lunchtime--Our spring rolls were brought out less than 10 minutes after we ordered, and the food just kept coming in waves as each dish was ready. The man at the front taking our orders was pleasant and our waitress politely asked us multiple times if we enjoyed our food and asked if we needed to go boxes. Our only negative experience with the wait staff was one male waiter who kept walking up and down the restaurant watching us eat. After we finished our meals, we remained at our table to finish a staff meeting and the man approached our table and asked us bluntly if we needed anything else--a cue for us to leave, even though there were only two other groups eating in the restaurant.
Each of us ordered something different to taste, enjoy and experience for our readers. Here's a summary of each of the menu items we tried, in each staffer's own words:
A2 - Spring Rolls with Shrimp and C1 – Pork loin with Rice
These are not your average egg rolls--The rubbery outer shell threw me off a bit, but the minty taste inside was good. The shrimp were plump and delicious with the vegetables. I was very impressed; the pork loin was cooked well and had a flavorful taste. The surrounding cucumber salad and rice was fresh and had a zing when I added the lemony "fish sauce" that came in a little pot with the meal.
B3 – Canh chua Hot and Sour Soup with Shrimp
Saigon's decorations are traditional, tranquil, and simple. There are two menus at the front, one with the basic list of items and the second includes pictures and descriptions of what the entrée is (thank goodness because we had no idea what we were ordering!). My soup was tasty--it had multiple vegetables like mushrooms, plump tomato slices, and sprouts and I was pleasantly surprised that there were pineapples slices as well. I was disappointed that there were only four pieces of shrimp in my soup--it seemed to be mostly liquid. The steamed rice came on the side and tasted fine but I really wish we had soy sauce rather than the fish sauce to add to it. My entree wasn't very filling, but I nibbled on everyone else's spring rolls and rangoon and felt full at the end.
A4 – Crab Rangoon and C4 – Fried Rice with Vegetables
While I occasionally like to try new things, I decided to play it safe at Saigon Bistro with Crab Rangoon (menu item A4) for an appetizer and Fried Rice with Vegetables (menu item C4) for my meal. The Crab Rangoon was pretty tasty, but only if you really like garlic and luckily, I do. The fried rice with vegetables was mediocre and even though the picture of the meal showed it, I didn't realize it had tofu until it was in front of me. I tried a piece of the tofu (so I guess I did try something new), but didn't care for it. I’m not saying it was "bad," just not my cup of tea. The fried rice itself was a little sticky, but filled me up before the plate was even half empty. The atmosphere and people were really nice and the statues of the cats waving their arms was quite entertaining.
N6 – Shrimp bowl
It was a simple dish. Great for days when you don't want a heavy lunch but salad just wouldn't cut it. It had rice noodles, cucumber slices, and hot shrimp. It came with "fish sauce" that tasted like light butter with some lemon juice that helped give the dish a clean and light taste. The price wasn't bad for wanting a lunch out with out breaking the bank. I think it is a great place to have a different lunch in a casual atmosphere. The service was great and they were very accommodating.
