Talk About a Misnomer
Written: Feb 01 '02 (Updated Feb 04 '03)
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Pros: #5
Cons: Like most dives in the city - the decor bites.
The Bottom Line: #5
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| megugrrrl's Full Review: Cordon Bleu Vietnamese |
Cordon Bleu - quick, quick - what images pop into your head? Coq au Vin? Anal-retentive French chefs in funny hats? A world-famous cooking school? A French bistro? Perhaps a blue cord? Well, try adding dirtcheap, knockin'-your-socks off Vietnamese food to your repetoire of responses to Cordon Bleu. (Why a Vietnamese dive would be called Cordon Bleu is beyond me. I honestly don't care.)
I found the Cordon Bleu completely by accident; we were once too late for a movie at the Lumiere Theater and decided to waste time until the next showing by creating a new meal time in between lunch and dinner. The area around the Lumiere has tons of great restaurants but it was raining pretty hard so we ended up two doors down at Cordon Bleu out of laziness... that was the best accidental restaurant discovery I've ever made.
The Cordon Bleu Vietnamese Restaurant is ultra-casual and laid-back, with neighborhood folks coming in and out for takeout orders of the famous roasted 5-Spice Chicken and small groups either going to or coming from the movies. Like most dives in the city the decor is on the unrefined side, but what makes The Cordon Bleu a little different is that I suspect this was a burger joint in its previous life. (You'll find black and white tile plus a counter complete with those padded stools facing the cooks.) There are a few tables in the back, but the adventure is at the counter.
Since the kitchen is in the restaurant and the ventilation sucks (figuratively) there's immediately a delicious Vietnamese barbecue and lemongrass-ginger-garlic aroma that smacks you upon entering; your mouth will start watering. Sit as close to the food as possible. Sometimes it can get pretty smoky, but if you don't mind smelling like Vietnamese barbecue for a few hours afterwards, it's actually fun watching the cooks flame grill meat.
Get to the Food Already!
While there are a few Vietnamese staples on the menu, there is actually only one thing you should order when you show up at Cordon Bleu, something that has a bit of everything, and something that is ultra-delicious... the aptly-named combo #5.
The #5 is a hypnotic combination with 1/4 of their famous 5 Spice roasted chicken, (super moist, tender and packed with flavor. I highly suspect the "5 Spice" from its name refers to Chinese 5 Spice), pork "kebab" (not on a skewer like a shish kebab but thinly sliced perfectly flamebroiled marinated pork), bun cha gio (a crispy imperial roll - not too greasy), rice with a tasty tomato meat sauce (make that very tasty,) and a little bowl of country salad - a sweet, tangy colelaw-esque salad without the mayo, which I use to cleanse my palate in between bites.
The #5 is the mother of all combination plates - huge and delicious.
Oh, did I mention you get all this goodness for only $7.40?
I usually talk about other menu items but honestly, the #5 is all you need, barring dietery restrictions. I've never felt so strongly before about a combo... I never thought I'd use one thing to talk about an entire restaurant, but that's how good the #5 is. Sure, they have other great things to offer, like zesty noodle salads, spicy porkchops, and other barbecue combinations with the rice and country salad... but the #5 is simply supreme.
Service - efficient.
Cash only.
Go try this place.
Get the #5.
Recommended:
Yes
Kid Friendliness: No
Vegetarian Friendly: No
Best Suited For: Friends
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Epinions.com ID:
megugrrrl
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 - Top 500 |
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Location: Oakland
Reviews written: 147
Trusted by: 317 members
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