I admit that I have not been in the best of moods over the last few days due to sleep deprivation.  This is not due to work, like it was in my young and free days.  Instead it is because of home requirements with two particularly demanding clients.  They don’t seem to understand that food goes in the mouth, isn’t used as decorative tools or makes for interesting texture when it ends up on the floor.  It is for sustenance not for play.  However, try telling a one year old that.

So against such a background, I arrived at Viet Flavours with little expectation.  So much so that if the food didn’t cause me to rush off to the toilet at the end (or even during), that would be counted as a win.  With realistic expectations, I dove in.

Starter

Saigon pancake, crispy coconut rice pancake filled with beansprouts, spring onion, served with cucumber, lettuce, pickle, fresh herbs, shredded mano, homemade sauce with chicken and prawn filling.  With such a long long description on the menu, I was slightly surprised that it didn’t come in noodle like form.  To better stretch the words (and perhaps truth).  The coating was crunchy, even if the pancake with its multitude of filling was a bit bland in the middle.  Could have done with some fire to lift it up.

Mains

Pho truyen thong, rare beef, beef meatball, sliced brisket.  A traditional pho done decently well.  Wouldn’t set the world afire though or maybe it just that I’m not really a soup noodle guy, unless it is ramen.

Pho bo kho, slow-cooked beef brisket, lemongrass, carrot.  A heavier affair, this soup was kind of like curry.  Here, in my hypocritical mood, although the previous Pho was expected consistency, this one was a bit too thick.  Drinking this soup felt like slurping up gravy.  Things were just not going that well here as the curry like sauce endeavoured to make the beef taste like carrot, the carrot taste like beef and the lemongrass disappear into the ether.

Although the description above may have you thinking that this place would be worth a miss.  I guess you could do worse.  I did leave with bowels intact and if my kids could talk, that in itself is a feat to be celebrated.

Score

A quiet eating 6/10.

Dinner (1.5 course) was GBP25 excluding drinks and service.

Viet Flavours

19 Lordship Ln,
London SE22 8EW