Pho @ Cu Tu

Standing on the site of the old Hung Viet Restaurant is the new Cu Tu Restaurant. I’d never eaten in Hung Viet, so I cannot say if this is a new incarnation to avoid some taxes or is a totally new gaff in its own right, but it certainly has a lived in feel about it already.

After a week or two of over indulgence what better way to kick in the new year with some healthy food than a good bowl of Vietnamese noodle soup. It’s heart warming, soul nourishing and after Christmas it’s a bloody blessing.

The menu at Cu Tu is a little interesting, I mean it has all the usual suspects but a few other surprises as well. I’ve not seen goat on a Vietnamese menu before, or maybe I haven’t looked hard enough. But this could be a fun place to investigate further.

We were in no mood to mess around that much, so deep fried rolls, one Pho Bo and a Bun Bo Hue were ordered.

The rolls were very tasty if a little greasy but ok nonetheless, the accompanied dip was pretty bland to say the least. I didn’t know you cold buy a dipping sauce so bland. Well you learn something new everyday.

The soups were ok, my Bun Bo Hue had a subtle hint of vinegar, which was odd, but it never affected the overall dish. It needed more spice to warm my cockles as I was in the mood for some heat. The noodles were nothing special, the type I had eaten at every bus or train station in China last year. But it did its job.

The Pho Bo had a lovely stock, not over powering, but good flavour. The white rice flat noodles were cooked perfectly and I was jealous that I had not ordered that instead. Nice slices of beef that melted in the mouth, good accompaniments, even if a little tight on the herbs.

The staff were super friendly, which on 1^st January sometimes in London is hard to find as moist people like us were supporting some bad hangovers.

Cu Tu isn’t the best on the Pho Mile, but with a tweak here or there it could become a good restaurant and a firm favourite. Looking forward to trying these goat dishes.

On another note, I noticed a couple of other restaurants being redone, not sure if they are reforming as Vietnamese or something different, but the Pho Mile looks like it is a changing.