"I must have been Vietnamese in another life. How else can I explain my infatuation with Phơ? It was a Sunday. Wifey and I were out for a quiet jaunt around the greater Newburgh area. Suddenly, we became quite peckish and decided it was time to feed ourselves something rich, tasty, and filling. We were in an unfamiliar area, in a town we generally tend to avoid, down a back road neither of us were familiar with. In layman 's terms: we were lost. Up ahead in the distance, I saw a shimmering sign. I recognized a single word on the building front and told the wife to pull over. 'Phơ '. We stepped inside, and immediately, both our nostrils were filled with all the rich savory spices of southeast Asia. Olfactory overload. Salivatory glands: activated. We nestled into our seats, tucked our napkins into our shirt collars, and ordered our lunch. To start: Little Spring Rolls. Fried to crispy golden perfection, served with a cheeky, spicy apricot sauce. Next, chicken and veggies with Rice for her, and for the more adventurous type i.e.: me House Specialty Phơ. The broth was delicate, rich, and silky, loaded with intense scent of lemongrass and star anise. Small shimmering globules of rendered chicken, pork, and beef fat mixed with the faint aromatics of ginger, garlic, and basil. The toppings were a mix. Chewy beef tendon, thinly sliced filet mignon, sliced fatty brisket, springy dense meatballs, and crunchy honeycomb tripe. The noodles were cooked perfectly. Chewy and slick. The other toppings bean sprouts, jalapeños, basil, and lime were fresh and added great elements of heat, sweet, tart, earthiness, and crunch. Standard fare Sriracha hot sauce and Hoisin stored in squeeze bottles top the table and add a needed salty, spicy kick to the broth. But in truth, the broth doesn 't need any of that. It was perfect on its own. Atmosphereically (I know that 's not a word, but I 'm using it) the place had character. Very swank. Very Saigon chic. I totally dug it. Our waitress was well mannered, polite, and very attentive. A little slow, but otherwise, the service was great. Would I go back? Oh, without a doubt. This place was great! Sometimes, being lost brings you to the most unexpectedly delightful finds that feel familiar; and once you 've found something familiar, you 're not lost anymore, are you?"
