Louise R.
Yelp
New to Bank Street, and further evidence of Adelaide's love affair with Vietnamese food, is casual eatery Sit Lo.
So named for the cute low stool two person tables lining the wall, Sit Lo has a funky modern interior and a large communal table running along it's centre. Behind the tables along the side, the wall is covered in a sandy render and then adorned with black writing, that spells out "Bank St".
Proudly displayed on the wood-lined wall, is a tempting menu of noodle bowls, bao ('Asian tacos'), cold rolls, banh mi, and the house specialty - pho. Unusually, it is served in a large cup, perfect for take away.
Pronounced "fur" - there is a school of thought that muses that pho is indeed adapted from the French 'pot au feu' - or perhaps it is the other way around?
Pho is a clear meat and seafood broth soup and Vietnam's answer to the Japanese ramen.
Comfort, flu beater or a hangover cure in a bowl, pho is usually served with a mountain of herbs, bean sprouts, lime and chili for adding in to your perfect blend.
Staff are helpful when ordering, and offer suggestions as well as extra dipping sauces to make sure you enjoy your meal to the max. While ordering is at the counter, if you are eating in, staff will bring your meal out to you.
Tofu and sauteed shitake mushroom banh mi ($6.50) are chock-full with pickled carrot, daikon, cucumber and corriander. Turn up the heat with the sriracha and hoisin sauces on each table. The tofu and mushrooms are rich and flavoursome, the balance of sour, hot and herby filling good, but the bun isn't as crispy on the outside as other examples.
Cold rolls come in three varieties, at $3.50 each, or three of your choice for $10.
Tempura soft shell crab was Mr Wino's pick of the bunch, crispy and sweet inside the cool herby filling.
Barossa Valley pork belly cold roll was rich and tasty with the chilli mayo dip.
Tofu and shitake mushroom cold rolls come with the recommended dip-match, offered as a little bonus because it is so good with this dish. It is a delicious sauce and with a squirt of sriracha it is a formidable cold roll. Crunch from the red cabbage, tang from the carrot, fresh herbs and rich meatiness from the mushroom .
Sit Lo is fast, casual, but the service is a cut above regular take away joints by offering real care, and some table service.