$$ - Vietnamese Restaurant
About & Location
Nestled amidst the lively streets of bustling SOHO, 5ive Spice Taco & Banh Mi stands out as a cozy and casual café, offering a vibrant diverse selection of Vietnamese flavours. Soho stands as a creative centre in Manhattan. The roads are line in cobblestone, cast-iron facades frame trendy boutiques, art galleries and retailers from around the world. Chic cafes and restaurants are always buzzing with charm. This neighbourhood invites locals and visitors alike to explore it's diverse display of culture and style. Soho also has a deep night life scene, with fashionable crowds filling the many chic bars and rooftop lounges, which brings the evening to great end - as you take a moment to appreciate the view of the city's skyline. Soho is not just a neighbourhood in Manhattan but an essential part of New York City.
Our Experience
Work had brought me to Soho, and it was an absolutely crushing experience to see how fantastically clean, spacious, and modern the office was compared to our Toronto office. A bit off topic, but they had everything from a full lounge area to a cold brew machine - which was a shock compared to the mouldy state of their Toronto office. I digress, we had a long morning, reviewing the stores in the area and working in the office and it was time to have lunch. We stepped out, and the director of another team I was spending the day with had recommended 5ive Spice Taco & Banh Mi. We made our way from Crosby street down to Mulberry Street and arrived at our destination.
We stepped into a modern space warmed by paneling and interior brick walls. The space was filled to the brim. The only space available was a seat on their patio. We were brought back outside and across the sidewalk from the entrance was their outdoor patio. It was beautiful almost, the space was fully panelled in a deep red rood, the back wall was lined with planters that had shrubs and little mushrooms growing out of them. Above the garden florals and traditional Vietnamese hats and lanterns hung from the walls. The entrance glass and roof were clear in order to let as much light in as possible and kept out as much sound from the street to create an intimate environment.
Once we were seated, we each ordered dishes of Bahn Mi, Pho, Vermicelli and Sweet Potato Fries. I myself ordered The Grilled Lemon Grass Chicken for $17USD, which came with romaine, cucumber, pickled Mustard, grape tomatoes, daikon & carrots. It was absolutely a refreshing dish, the chicken tenderly grilled and I did not feel like I needed a nap after this meal. It was the pick me up I needed. Another member of the team ordered The Andrew Dip Bahn Mi (Brisket) ($20.50USD) which is similar to a French dip, with sweet potato fries ($4.00USD). Another member ordered the 5ive Special Pho ($23.00USD) which had sliced raw angus eye round, sliced angus brisket. boneless braised short ribs, viet beef ball in a 12hr slow simmered broth. With the Pho they were served fresh rice noodles, onions, scallions, cilantro (on the side), basil, bean sprouts, jalapeños and lime, Each dish was absolutely delicious, the only issue we ran into, was that because we were sitting outside, after waiting for sometime - maybe 10 minutes, we had to step inside to get a staff members attention to get the bill.
Conclusion
5ive Spice Taco & Banh Mi provided not just a meal, but an experience rich in Vietnamese flavours and urban charm. Amidst the cobblestone streets and old history filled buildings our lunch on the cozy patio was a delightful fusion of modern ambiance and traditional cuisine. Each dish, from the Grilled Lemongrass Chicken to the 5ive Special Pho, showcased the restaurant's dedication to authenticity and quality. Despite a minor inconvenience with service, the overall experience was a testament to SoHo's dynamic spirit—a blend of culture, creativity, and culinary excellence that defines this iconic neighbourhood in Manhattan.
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