Hanoi 3 Seasons
Blog TO really missed out when they ran around the city trying to find the best Pho in T.O. They overlooked a taste of Vietnam in the heart of Leslieville called Hanoi 3 Seasons. While it may be slightly pricier than other Pho places, it is still totally affordable with main dishes being $7.50 to $9.50. The aesthetic is serene and green, with old wooden furniture and photos and woven art of countrysides and rivers adorning the walls.
When most people think of Pho, they think borderline meat, MSG, and dirty tables. Often the rule of thumb is 'the sketchier the joint, the more authentic the food'. Well Hanoi 3 Seasons turns this on its head. Owner Han Luke Tran is a former Bay Street money manager who decided to open this up-scale Northern Vietnamese restaurant 4 years ago. The decor is classy and chic, and everything on the menu looked so good I had serious difficulty making up my mind. Though we personally weren't bananas about the elevator jazz that was trickling through the speakers, we're willing to let that slide on account of the deliciousness level of the food.
Our party of 4 ordered:- spicy shrimp with lemon grass served on vermicelli - I threw in a splash of fish sauce, and it was one of the best Vietnamese vermicellis I've ever had (and I've eaten a lot of vermicelli)
- garlic beef with vegetables on vermicelli with a spring roll - the garlic sauce was really tasty, the rest of us kept going back for more samples
- the standard beef rice noodle soup - warm and comforting and MSG-free
- spicy shrimp with lemon grass and tamarind noodle soup - delicious and light and made without beef
The staff was friendly and funny (our waitor jumped out at me while I tried to take a photo and I screamed) and knowledgeable. The place was quite busy for a Sunday night, though we didn't have to wait too long for a table. While its location in the trendy Leslieville might be a bit out of the way for some, it's definitely worth the trip if you like Vietnamese food and want to try something a bit different from the standard pho fare.
pho sho
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2 comments:
Definitely very good food! I would highly recommend it to anyone in search of a nice evening out with friends or on a date (as the calming ambiance is quite suitable for a "get-to-know-you" conversation)
A money manager/restaurateur? thats almost as crazy as a social worker/barista/actor! it defies belief! i will not believe it, nope, no way.
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