Lori S.
Yelp
My friend Tony raves about this place and now I understand why. Upon entrance, the atmosphere is very cafeteria-like. Nothing special, though clean and welcoming enough. Some restaurants can feel intimidating enough because (these days) you never know how to approach or navigate ordering at the counter or whether table service is the thing. Bon Mi is small enough that it is obvious that you should approach the counter.
Now, the good. The pho is delicious.. perfect really. Not too salty.. the broth is on point. My friend, Dan gave me all the fresh veggies (bean sprouts, cilantro, jalapeños) so, what could go wrong? Nothing! He wasn't as excited to dine here... he wanted to hit 19th St... but, time was on my side and we had none to spare, as we had one hour before Les Schwab was set to roll in and fix a flat tire we had downtown.
I don't always RAVE about food, but in the past year there have been 2 places that have knocked my socks off... (Bon Mi and Eugene Country Club-- which was off the hook regarding food, presentation, service and all around regard for their patrons) and one honorable mention: Delta Bar (for their unbelievably delicious and homemade soups and hand-pressed hamburgers, as well as sweetly attentive and amiable service- clam chowder? Bomb!).
Now back to Bon Mi. Every single bite caught me ooohing and ahhhhing. The pho. The pho. The pho! Close to Perfection. It took me a while to take a bite of the sandwich. I wasn't overly excited because it was served on a French roll. However, this roll wasn't overly bready (as I expected) and it had a crunch on the outside (wait... whaaaat?) but, once I had a good bite and could taste all the flavors, I was blown away. The chicken was ridiculously tender and had a sweetness to it (I generally don't like sweet on my meat) that surprised and delighted me. It was fresh, slightly sweet, savory and had that crunch! Dan agreed and I can't wait to go back!
I had the spicy beef pho which had a bite, but was not spicy... I'd say most diners could easily handle it, save for those with the most delicate of palates. The only negative I have to offer is that the beef in my pho was sliced in slabs, so it was difficult to eat with manners intact. So, I didn't eat mine... which was not a huge problem because we both took a large portion of our pho home. The serving sizes are admirable. The condiment selection is also "nod" worthy.
Important to note: The 2 women working there were very helpful in helping us order (as first time guests) and making sure we had everything we needed after we were served our meal.. even asking us how our lunch was as we were leaving.
Pro tip: I don't usually order lemonade at a restaurant because A) either it's crappy powdered/pretend lemonade or it's just too sweet. I took a slug off Dan's (he loved lemonade) and it was the real deal. Tart, slightly sweet and deliciously refreshing.
Yeah... just go!