Darren Ferguson - Umbraco, Dev, Pho

Visited: 25/11/2006

Three and a half chilli rated

251 Mare Street, Hackney, London E8 3NS
http://www.timeout.com/london/restaurants/reviews/6604.html

Our dedication to the cause of "Bun bo Hue" saw us fire up the trusty vehicle and head across London to Hackney.

Tre Viet looked authentic from the word go. It was the busiest Saturday lunchtime venue we have ever visited and about 80% of the diners were Vietnamese.

The dish was good but not great. The beef was pretty poor and very fatty, and for a 'Hue' there was not much heat at all. We added a large amount of chilli sauce.

The stock was flavoursome, but only really had a meaty taste, the herb infusion that makes a stock special was lacking.

Good for: Busy with local Vietnamese.
Bad for: Bad fatty beef. No real spice in the stock.

Visited: 18/11/2006

Four chilli rated

80 Lee High Road, London, SE13 5PT

Hong Van was recommended to us by someone who had seen our previous reviews, so we dutifully headed south of the river.

The stock was amazing. This was the first time that we haven't added chilli sauce to a stock. It could have been a little more fragrant but that would be being very fussy.

Good for: Awesome chilli kick and very reasonably priced.
Bad for: Not the nicest looking beef, and not really enough of it either.

Still using the stationery of the previous owners....

Visited: 05/11/2006

Three chilli rated

http://www.timeout.com/london/restaurants/reviews/3945.html
206 Mare Street, Hackney E8 3RD

An average Bun bo Hue at this place in Hackney. The stock was spicy but one dimensional. The beef was also a little fatty. We are yet to visit the other venues on Mare street, so can't tell you whether this is the best just yet.

Good for: Good chilli kick to the stock.
Bad for: Herb portions were very small and had no fresh chillis.

Visited: 01/11/2006

No Pho

http://www.viewlondon.co.uk/info_restaurant_maps_8727.html
3-4 Ludgate Broadway, The City, LONDON, EC4V 6DU

This place has the dubious honour of being the first to gain no rating and an active recommendation to stay away. Fressen is a city lunch venue that sells Beef 'Pho' (the only Vietnamese dish on their menu). All that we can say is that they obviously haven't sent their chef out to study how to make a real Pho and the end result is absolutely awful.

I've attempted to come up with a description, but there are so many criticisms. Just don't do it. The other food may be fine, who knows?

Good for: Nothing.
Bad for: Just Bad.