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Restaurant Review: gingergrass
Sometimes food is so good that is just
makes you mad. You're angry because it isn't fair that
you ever have to eat anything else but this food. I
haven't had Vietnamese food since I've been in LA &
I've been looking forward to the opening of gingergrass
in silverlake for weeks. Oh my God, was it good. The
food was really fresh & inspired, the service was
quick and friendly, the atmosphere was trendy but tasteful--the
whole experience was top notch.
6:30 Sunday evening, after a busy day
shopping with the girls & hiking with the boys,
our party of three grabbed the last empty table &
dug in to complimentary fried rice chip thingies with
peanut sauce (yum) while we devoured the menu. To start
off, we ordered vegetarian imperial rolls--wonderfully
crispy and greasy and savory, fresh tofu summer rolls--wonderfully
herby, and "gingergrass" fresh rolls with
crab & avocado. Each order came with its own special
dipping sauce & prices for all the appetizers range
between about $4-$6. And our drinks were amazing. They
don't serve alcohol here, but you re welcome to BYO
(go silverlake wine across the street, but try not to
get hit by a car). They do have tasty non-alcoholic
beverages--we all got the "basil lime elixir"
which was amazing. Kind of like a mojito, but with basil
syrup instead of the mint--seems strange but it was
oh so good. Oli got the fresh ginger limeade which was
sweet, & overpoweringly gingery.
Next up we ordered the only 2 vegetarian
main dishes to share (although they come as entrees,
not a la carte)--The tofu noodle bowl ($6.25) consisted
of perfectly soft rice noodles, shredded lettuce, pickled
veggies, and herbs topped with beautifully fried soft
tofu. The "gingergrass" tofu ($9.75) consisted
of a pile of garlicky baby bok choy & shitake mushrooms,
a pile of those amazing fried tofu cubes, a pile of
broken jasmin rice (which was the best rice I have had
in my life), some vietnamese slaw & a sauce for
the whole thing. We also got some taro root chips because
who can resist taro root.
They've also got some amazing looking
salads, pho, of course, and sandwiches. Lots of fish,
beef, chicken & pork, but enough veggie dishes to
hold you through until dessert.
We went for the fried banana spring
rolls which were served on a swirl of chocolate sauce
along with a coconut dipping sauce. Need I say more?
Oli got the vietnamese iced coffee which you brew at
your table. The little vietnamese coffee brewer sits
on top of your cup & slowly extrudes the strongest,
most delicious coffee into a pool of waiting condensed
milk. Pour this over a glass of ice & you've got
the most amazing coffee drink ever. It's so flavorful,
it almost tastes like chocolate. We all decided that
if this place was open in the morning we would meet
here before work for this coffee.
Gingergrass is bound to be a hit. Open
only for a week, it was already packed on a sunday night.
Luckily it's also open for lunch, so I can go 2x a day.
Recommended.
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