VK, Pho Binh Minh, or Annie's Cafe

Dan Thomas's recent comment in another thread got me thinking on this subject.

Which one do you prefer? I've just automatically gone to VK. Going to have to try the other two.

[Robin Garr]

Dan Thomas's recent comment in another thread got me thinking on this subject.

Which one do you prefer? I've just automatically gone to VK. Going to have to try the other two.

I like all three on any given day, but like you, tend to go back to VK, perhaps because of its primacy in the field.

I was a little startled by Dan's remark about cleanliness, having never noticed a problem in that regard at VK.

I haven't tried Annie's, but I am a big fan of Pho Binh Minh. Eating there makes me feel like I am being invited into someone's home.

Annie's is cozy, and the Pho is very good...

...but I find the overall menu a bit boring compared to the other two.

Don't forget about Cafe Thuy Van (502) 366-6959
5600 National Tpke

I eat there quite a bit. Their tofu pho is very good and consistent. It is also huge! It also has a mostly Asian clientele as well as a big screen TV showing tapes of a popular Vietnamese variety show. I always feel like I left Louisville during the time I dine there.

[Robin Garr]

Don't forget about Cafe Thuy Van (502) 366-6959
5600 National Tpke

I eat there quite a bit. Their tofu pho is very good and consistent. It is also huge! It also has a mostly Asian clientele as well as a big screen TV showing tapes of a popular Vietnamese variety show. I always feel like I left Louisville during the time I dine there.

Absolutely! I can't believe I didn't notice it was missing from the group. I would rate it right up with VK.

.
I was a little startled by Dan's remark about cleanliness, having never noticed a problem in that regard at VK.

I personally just find the place to be a little dingy with sticky menus and tables.
But I will confess, I haven't dined there in some time.
Also these past scores form the Health Dept. don't exactly inspire my confidence.
VIETNAM KITCHEN 5339 MITSCHER AVENUE 11/16/2010 100 B
VIETNAM KITCHEN 5339 MITSCHER AVENUE 11/11/2010 73 C
VIETNAM KITCHEN 5339 MITSCHER AVENUE 9/3/2010 97 A
VIETNAM KITCHEN 5339 MITSCHER AVENUE 8/30/2010 90 C

If they are getting a high score but lower corresponding letter that means they have had a critical violation every time they get inspected. I know that most of them are correctable but there is still something they have continually been getting docked for.

I just came back from lunch at Pho Binh Minh and even though the little store front location is spartan, it is always very clean.
I like the food at VK and at Koreana II on Preston and Gilmore Ln. But I think that both places would benefit immensely from a good scrub down.

I prefer Pho Binh Minh for partly what Dan said about cleanliness,but mainly for the super friendly service you get at Pho Binh Minh. That guy and his wife are always seem so thankful that you came in to eat. Ive been in when they were slammed and people standing around waiting to get a table and the service was still as attentive and friendly as ever. Another plus is the Banh Mi is on the menu where at VK you have to ask for it(as I recall).

The Pho & Bun at all three to me is about the same. Pho Binh Minh has the best Banh Mi sandwiches hands down, but their pork chop dinner (Com) is fairly weak. Both VK & Annie's have excellent pork chop dinners, but their Banh Mi sandwiches to me are not nearly as good as Pho Binh Minh. I guess it is what you are hungry for. The Bun Ri (tomato based crab soup) at Annie's is off the charts amazing.

I agree with Dan, Vietnam Kitchen is kind of sticky and dingy in the front of the house, whats the kitchen look like ? Still eating there but I'm getting a little wary after the string of B's

I'm pretty sure one of those Cs came from a friend of ours. We took her there for lunch and she later became quite ill. She called the Health Dept and the HD investigated and found numerous criticals. Shrimp left out at room temp, something about mop water in the sink or something similar and other violations. The HD called her back and said the inspector spent at least an hour in the kitchen watching their process. Reportedly it was a mess, but of course they didn't give her any real details, and thanked her for alerting them.

I like Annie's Cafe.

On the subject of Health scores and such, I think they are a big joke. Not because of their job, I admire what these people must put up with on a daily basis. However it's so broad from one person to the next I can never guarantee a restaurant would be scored C by one inspector and A by another on the same day at the same time. It's the consistency. There isn't any...

I feel it's akin to judging a movie only by a movie critic without setting foot into the theaters. However if there is something a person has seen that deems it questionable, then I have no problem with their apprehension.

Annie Cafe!