NamNam open in St. Matthews

I am here to tell you, it was the worst banh mi sandwich I have ever tasted. Even the meat & fillings were way off the mark. I would love to hear some feedback that would help me understand what I had that first night.

I think the feedback speaks for itself. No one else had a problem with the meat or bread, might have been an opening day issue. I've had 2 bahn mi sandwiches since the place opened, one on Wed. and one on Sat. of opening week and both were very good.

I am here to tell you, it was the worst banh mi sandwich I have ever tasted. Even the meat & fillings were way off the mark. I would love to hear some feedback that would help me understand what I had that first night.

I think the feedback speaks for itself. No one else had a problem with the meat or bread, might have been an opening day issue. I've had 2 bahn mi sandwiches since the place opened, one on Wed. and one on Sat. of opening week and both were very good.

If the roll I had on Saturday came from kroger I will buy all my bread there instead of Blue Dog. Maybe they ran out on opening day and had to go krogering?

[Robin Garr]

I would love to hear some feedback that would help me understand what I had that first night.

Chris, I can only report - and post a picture of - what I enjoyed on Day Two, which was excellent and authentic, and the bread was so right-on-the-mark as to prompt me to wonder where they got it.

My best guess: When you go to a brand-new restaurant on the first day, or even in the first couple of weeks, it's good to be forgiving. Maybe they ran short of banh mi loaves? Maybe their supplier didn't get that first shipment in until the next morning? Who knows?

But you've got the picture of the banh mi that Mary brought home to me as at least partial evidence that they did mine right, and I can testify to the texture and flavor. I'd give 'em another chance.

In T minus 10 minutes, a Banh Mi will arrive in my hungry little hands...cannot wait to try!

Back to Nam Nam for Shaking Beef and Saigon Noodles. I like Nam Nam's version better than Charles Phan in San Francisco. Awesome flavor and meltingly tender.

I hate to tell you, but my experience of the Banh Mi was similar to Chris and Linda's...

See the attached photo- I wonder if the issue isn't the white vs the wheat. I got the wheat. Next time I will try to white. The ingredients were good enough, really liked the sauce and the veggies. The pork was a tad tough, but you can't always help that because of the cut of meat you use. The bread tasted like a stale, standard Kroger roll. Definitely not flaky and feathery/ In fact, part of the bottom of the rool was broken off, so it was a bit messy to eat at first.

The Imperial roll was good though! And the sauce again was very good!

[Robin Garr]

See the attached photo- I wonder if the issue isn't the white vs the wheat. I got the wheat.

Oh, yeah! There is no such thing as a wheat banh mi. Try the white!

So . . . DH and I just got back from NamNam for lunch. Shared the Budda Roll, very good, very fresh. He had the vermicelli bowl with chicken and was initially surprised it was a cold dish. After the initial ??, he enjoyed it very much. I had the Vietnamese Tofu Tacos. I'm having trouble forming an opinion. The Siracha aioli was most excellent. The pickled carrot was very good. Everything was fresh and the flavors worked well together. However, I expect to be able to pick up a taco and eat it out of hand and it was nearly impossibly to do that, as the soft corn tortilla broke immediately. Also this is an appetizer portion at an entree price. For this to be an entree, they need 3 tacos.

The other issue was that there was not a single table where all of that table's diners got their meals at the same time. The expediting was, well not good.

We were quite dismayed that a cup/small pot of hot tea was $3.50 each. (We eat at Third Ave Cafe some too, and I believe their pot of hot tea is $3/$3.50, but they will bring you two cups to share the pot. And a refill of hot water.)

It turned out to be an expensive lunch.

So, although we liked the food, the service was spotty and the prices are just too much for what we got.

So, can't make up our minds over here. The food flavors were very, very good and very, very fresh.

[Robin Garr]

I had the Vietnamese Tofu Tacos. I'm having trouble forming an opinion. The Siracha aioli was most excellent. The pickled carrot was very good. Everything was fresh and the flavors worked well together. However, I expect to be able to pick up a taco and eat it out of hand and it was nearly impossibly to do that, as the soft corn tortilla broke immediately. Also this is an appetizer portion at an entree price. For this to be an entree, they need 3 tacos.

We had that yesterday and I didn't have any trouble picking mine up, except insofar as it was loaded, a good thing. It was $3.50 ... that doesn't strike me as an entree price. The Ban Xeo (made without pork for Good Friday was excellent, and the tofu eggplant in clay pot was splendiferous, one of the best Vietnamese dishes I've had anywhere. I'm still saying two thumbs up.

Service is all family members, I believe. We certainly weren't recognized, but I found service pleasant and on the spot even when the tiny place was crowded.

My tacos were $6.
The Budda Roll was $4.50

http://www.namnamcafe.com/Menu2.html

Service is all family members, I believe. We certainly weren't recognized, but I found service pleasant and on the spot even when the tiny place was crowded.

I recognized you as I waited for my to-go order. Not sure if that counts though

[Robin Garr]

I recognized you as I waited for my to-go order. Not sure if that counts though

You should a said hi! (Without saying my name loud, please ... )

[Robin Garr]

My tacos were $6.

That's for two tacos?

The Buddha Roll was $4.50

For two, correct?

I'm not trying to be argumentative, but those sound like appetizer prices to me.

My tacos were $6.

That's for two tacos?

The Buddha Roll was $4.50

For two, correct?

I'm not trying to be argumentative, but those sound like appetizer prices to me.

Yes, that was the price for 2 tacos ($6) or two Buddha rolls ($4.50). Entree prices for appetizer portions was where we started this convo. I assumed the tacos were going to be entree sized because they were not listed with the other items that appeared to be starters. They were listed with the other choices that were definitely entrees.

We got takeout from the Nam Nam Cafe today. We tried the Lemongrass Chicken Tacos, Pork Banh Mi, and the Lemongrass Chicken Vermicelli Bowl. First, let me say, everything we tried was very good....a lot of flavor in both the chicken and the pork, and I really enjoyed the bun on my banh mi. My only issue would be the presentation. The tacos seemed to have a decent amount of chicken. The banh mi, not so much. The wife and I both commented on how little pork was on the sandwich, and also how little of the carrots, cucumbers, etc. The vermicelli bowl could have used more vegetables and more sauce. If the owners are listening and make these little corrections, they are going to have a winner on their hands. We plan to return, but you can guess I will mention the above. Also, on the pricing note...the prices are fair to a little high. I would gladly pay $6 for the banh mi, but they need to make it a little more substantial.