Noodle Saigon

Description

On the Asian food front, sushi was it in the 80s. Then came Thai and Japanese in the 90s. So far into the new millennium, Vietnamese fare appears to be the fairest in the land — if you can find it. Add Noodle Saigon to the short list of Vietnamese eateries in Naples. Noodle Saigon looks its age — new. And décor is minimal. The dining room is filled with identical four-top tables covered with maroon linens. Dotting the pale yellow walls are colorful prints — mostly scenes of the homeland. Head straight for the spring rolls — crispy rice paper shells stuffed with a nice mix of minced pork, shrimp and vegetables. Other appetizer options ride the range from shrimp paste on sugar cane and steamed rice crepes with Vietnamese ham to charcoal broiled pork meatballs, rice cakes with dried ground shrimp and lemon chicken salad. From a list of house specials, pick fried rice with chicken, beef, Chinese sausage and shrimp. The steaming hot portion is generous enough for two to share and wallet-friendly at just $12.50. The mountain of rice comes studded with bits of cooked egg, peas and carrots and a goodly amount of shrimp and chicken. In the "Rice Noodle Salad Bowl" column, go for the "grilled shrimp" ($10.50) and get a big, round bowl of shredded lettuce and bean sprouts crowned with eight beautiful, plump shrimp, Beware, the shrimp come with the shells still on.

Location