The best pho in CT
This place has it all: amazing food, beautiful decorations, welcome atmosphere, friendly service, and great prices! The pho itself was perfect- a wonderful mixture of meaty broth and tasty spices. The place isn't small enough that you feel cramped, but it wasn't too big that you couldn't find your waiter. The decorations looked beautiful- from the casual yet impressive color patterns to the gorgeous stained glass lamps. The place was everything you could want from a restaurant. It was clean, well lit, there was soft music, and the atmosphere was friendly and pleasant. Other pho restaurants don't even compare to this one! It's a great place for lunch with your office or a quiet dinner with family or friends. I would definately recommend this place to anybody wanting a great dining experience and who appreciates authentic Vietnamese cuisine! Trust me- I've been to many Vietnamese restaurants, and Chau's Restaurant blows all of them away! Nothing compares to their food, appearance, service, and atmosphere. I'm definately coming back as soon as and as frequently as possible!    [20 Dec 2005 13:10:11]

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Recommended Dishes: Spring rolls, pho

     ­Food Critic   

Truly authentic VN food
Chau's Restaurant, started by Vu and his mother Chau (hence the name) has quickly become a personal as well as town favorite. It is very conveniently located in Downtown Manchester on Main St off of exit 3 on I384. Chau's is the first Vietnamese restaurant in Manchester, thereby setting quite a high standard for any future establishments in the town.

The restaurant is one big open area with tables (enough to seat 32) in the front, and the cooking area in the back. Chau welcomes guests to come say hello to her and watch her prepare the food. Vu, the owner, greets you as you come in and finds you a table.

The atmosphere is completely casual and relaxing. Vu himself seems to prefer a polo shirt and flip flops, thereby discouraging any idea of pretention. The big all glass front allows in plenty of sunlight, while the multitude of plants in the front window provide a nice separation from the busy street. Understated artwork line the sea green walls. Because Vu deliberately designed the space to seat only 32, there's plenty of space between tables, and the place never feels crowded even with a full house during peak lunch hours.

For the food review, an appetizer would be a good place to start, particularly for those uninitiated to Vietnamese food. Both the spring rolls and shrimp fritters are deep fried but do not taste greasy. Both are dipped in a traditional Vietnamese fish sauce. And for those put out by fish, don't let the term fish sauce scare you. There's nothing fishy about it. It has a vinegar base with a hint of sweetness, along with shredded carrots and chili paste added to taste. This fish sauce is the main flavoring for many Vietnamese dishes, including several on Chau's dinner menu. Of all the appetizers, my favorite is the summer roll. Thinly sliced pork, shrimp, rice noodles, lettuce, and mint are all wrapped in rice paper and the roll is dipped in a peanut sauce. At $3 for a pair of summer rolls or spring rolls, it's a perfect appetizer to whet your appetite for more.

Chau's lunch menu consists of all three appetizers, the traditional beef noodle soup Pho, Vietnamese style wonton soup, and a tasty French-inspired beef sandwich served on a warm French baguette. Complementing this standard selection are specials pulled from the dinner menu or other traditional dishes not usually offered.

A review would not be complete if Pho was not explained and rated. It is more than any other dish distinctly Vietnamese. To call it a soup is an understatement. Beef broth is made from scratch, stewing for seven hours with beef shanks, seasoned with hints of cinnamon, clove, and star anise. Apparently Vu orders over 100 lbs of shanks every two weeks for the pho broth. The broth is poured over the flat vermicelli noodles characteristic of pho, along with a choice of rare eye round cooked in the broth, beef balls cut in half (they have the consistency of American sausage as opposed to spaghetti meatballs), or well-done flank used to make the broth. I particularly enjoy the rare eye round and beef balls. A bowl of pho is always served with bean sprouts, anise-flavored Vietnamese basil, a wedge of lime, and slices of hot chili. All of these are added to the soup along with hoisin sauce and Siraccha brand chili sauce found at every table. The combination is a full bodied, complex blend of textures and flavors that is sure to please even the most particular palate. By the way, the portions are LARGE. The regular is really a large, and for an extra dollar, the large bowl is HUGE. Having had pho at many establishments, at home, and in Vietnam, I can say this is authentic, home-made pho. You can't get better than this.

Although I am sure the pho is the most popular dish on the menu, many others are worth mentioning. I particularly enjoy the pork chops over rice. Two very large pork chops are marinated for several hours in a special seasoning and grilled, served with a side of lettuce, tomato, and cucumber. Vietnamese people often add an easy-done egg on top of the pork chop. Ask for it if you want it. A small dish of fish sauce is brought with the plate and should be poured on top of the pork chop and rice. This greatly enhances the flavor of the meal. The pork can be substituted with chicken or eggplant as well, marinated in the same style.

Of course, there are so many other dishes I greatly enjoy at Chau's: the pork and spring rolls with noodles, the lemongrass chicken, the chicken curry special. It's so hard to choose that I have to eat several times a week to get a nice variety!

To have a fair and balanced review, one does need to talk about areas of improvement. One such area is the need for a dessert menu, which is so far lacking. I would think something like "che," a traditional dessert made with tapioca, mung bean, and coconut milk would be very well received. Another possibility is lychees or longans, tropical fruits very popular in Vietnam and the rest of East Asia. The basic lunch menu is a bit limited, but that gives the incentive to visit for dinner.

Overall, it would be difficult to find a nicer, more friendly place to have lunch or dinner. For the past five years, I have lived in Manchester and ached for a Vietnamese restaurant in town. I'm so glad that now that one is here, it's so good that I can easily eat almost every day and not feel that I've gotten my fill.    [23 Feb 2006 18:49:39]

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Recommended Dishes: summer rolls with peanut sauce, VN grilled pork chops

     ­Minh Han   

Definitely not the best pho in CT -- it had a faintly chemical taste.    [29 Sep 2007 17:52:11]

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     ­Anonymous   

Perfection in Manchester
Having tried a multitude of Vietnamese restaurants in the Hartford area, Chau's is by far the best. The pho has such a subtle blend of flavors that some how seem to come to come together in a perfect taste explosion. The broth is light yet flavorful. The sprouts, basil, and other garnishes are very fresh. Additionally the restaurant offers other great dishes. The vermicelli with pork is wonderful. Vu, thankfully, instructed us on how to mix the fish sauce, pickled carrots,and chile sauce together with the noodles, pork, spring rolls, and vegetables for a terrific, satifisying meal. Also the sandwiches are excellent; the bread is perfectly crisp on the outside and soft in the inside. One must order the summer rolls; crisp vegetables encased perfectly with the best peanut sauce I have had.
For a balanced review, the one area which needs improvement is the atmosphere. Some dusting is needed and some trimming of the plants in the front window. But, I'm so focused on my meals, these are easily tolerated.    [17 Nov 2007 15:46:40]

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Recommended Dishes: pho and summer rolls

     ­vb, Tolland, CT   

Great food
I love this place. My daughter is half Vietnamese so I eat the food as much as possible. The Pho is one of the best I have ever had. The spring rolls and lemon grass chicken are fantastic as well.    [06 Feb 2008 11:39:51]

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Recommended Dishes: Pho, Fried springrool, lemon grass chicken

     ­Sherri, Manchester