© Suburban Journals of Chicago photo by Tracy Yoshida Gruen
Pasteur
Pasteur Restaurant
5525 N Broadway St (Cross Street: Bryn Mawr Avenue)
Chicago, IL 60640-1405
(773) 878-1061
Directions: El: Red Line to Bryn Mawr
reviewed by Tracy Yoshida Gruen
The minute you walk into the main dining room at Pasteur restaurant on Broadway Ave., you are taken on an intimate adventure into an exotic world of culinary creations.
Beautiful, colorful, paintings of different parts of Vietnam decorate the walls, exotic plants and vases take you on an aesthetic journey and the lighting provides a relaxing, intimate and exquisite escape from everyday life.
The personable and efficient servers first brought out a special appetizer combination platter. The platter included Banh Xeo (a Saigon-style crepe made from rice flour and seasoned with coconut milk and turmeric and filled with chicken, shrimp and bean sprouts. This dish is served with greens and a spicy fish sauce), Cha Gio Ga (A deep fried rice paper wrapped around ground chicken, black mushrooms and cellophane noodles in a spicy fish sauce) and Nem Nuong Boc Sa (grilled ground pork wrapped around fresh lemongrass stalks and served with a peanut dipping sauce.) Although each appetizer was extremely delicious, the combination of the rich and flavorful pork wrapped around the fresh lemongrass left the taste buds craving for more.
© Suburban Journals of Chicago photos by Tracy Yoshida Gruen
Next, we received Seafood Won Ton soup, a classic won ton soup with dumplings stuffed with ground shrimp, crab, calamari, chicken and black mushrooms, served with a drizzle of sesame oil in chicken broth. The mix of flavors and textures in this soup was delightful and calming.
And for our main entrée, we tried the Muc Nhoi and the Bo Xao Lan. The Muc Nhoi consisted of grilled petite calamari tubes stuffed with a mixture of ground pork, black mushrooms, lemongrass and ginger. This dish was served with a hoisin and ginger sauce. The presentation of this dish was very unique and the flavors were mild, yet very pleasant.
The Bo Xao Lan, a spicy curry with filet mignon, cellophane noodles, vegetables, black mushrooms and then topped with ngo om, a lemon flavored herb and ground peanuts, was incredible. Flavors and spices burst out of each and every bite of this highly recommended dish.
And for those with a sweet tooth, the three flavors of sorbet in a white-chocolate shell is the perfect way to top off a wonderful culinary experience.
Pasteur is located at 5525 N. Broadway Ave. in Chicago. Pasteur has been located in Chicago for several years and just recently they opened a second restaurant, Viet Bistro at 1346 W. Devon. The manager of Pasteur said that they wanted to open another restaurant that was more geared toward a younger crowd, since most of their current customers are 30 and older. Viet Bistro includes a modern lounge area and the prices of the food items are cheaper than those on Pasteur’s menu. The opening menu includes choices like a lobster roll with jicama, avocado and tamarind sauce; spicy shrimp curry soup; udon noodles with shrimp and crab meat; whole red snapper with a sweet garlic chili sauce; and more.
The manager at Pasteur shared that some customers have expressed that they don’t believe the food is authentic Vietnamese food, because it is very different from the Vietnamese food they have had before. The manager explained that it is authentic Vietnamese food, but it is more upscale and common among the upper class in Vietnam so people may not be as familiar with it.
Some other culinary creations served at Pasteur are the Goi Cuon (fresh rice paper encasing poached shrimps, herbs and rice noodles with peanut dipping sauce); Saigonese Duck served in a hoisin-orange marinade and Ga Lui Nuong Chanh, grilled chicken breast cubes marinated in a garlic and lime zesty sauce, with grilled asparagus and brussel sproutsand drizzled with pomegranate sweet and sour sauce.
Prices for appetizers range from $6.25 to $9.50 and for entrees from $15.50 to $26.75 to the market price filet of red snapper.
Overall, Pasteur offers fresh, flavorful, exotic dishes in an intimate, relaxing atmosphere perfect for dining with that special someone,
close friends and family members.
© Suburban Journals of Chicago Inc.
published by Suburban Journals of Chicago Inc.
STARSHIP SUBS, Soups, Catering, and more...