Nolita: 369 Broome Street (btwn Elizabeth and Mott) - (212) 219-8341
Price Range: Cheap Eats
Rating (1-10): 8
Sometimes we all need a reminder that eating well in New York need not involve wallet-bruising prices or this week’s hot news in the food media. In fact, if there’s any city where we should be aware of this, it’s NYC. A perfect example is Viet-Nam Banh Mi So 1, whose banh mi sandwiches are rich, savory, utterly satisfying, and all of $4. It doesn’t seem to make economic sense especially when you taste these sandiwiches which deliver wonderful porky taste typical of these Vietnamese sandwiches.
The sandwiches are composed of roast pork bits, sliced pork, pork pate, pickled carrots, cucumber sticks, and cilantro, on a baguette. The most flavorful element is clearly the roast pork, which is nicely balanced by the acidity in the vegetables. I made quick work of the whole thing, which left me pleasantly full and also feeling healthy – though I’m not entirely sure if it was. My street food compadre insightfully noted that the baguette wasn’t really a baguette. If there was a weakness for me, it was the bread, which was more akin to a deli sub than a baguette. Taste-wise it was fine but perhaps missing the airy dough and the crisp crunch of a traditional baguette. This brings up the question, however – how much can you really ask for $4 – less than the average price of a pint of beer in a bar? I’m ok with the fact that it’s not Balthazar bread. It was still delicious, and at the end of the meal, I was happy and full without being overfull. Are there better deals in the city? It's possible but I’d be hard pressed to find one.
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