Stuck in Springfield VA and misadventures while eating pho
 

DD and I have had to entertain ourselves while DS and his friends are playing in a golf tournament in Springfield. Its match play so we don't know when this great adventure will end. Luckily our hotel, the Holiday Inn Express, is nicer than expected and is near the course and a seemingly endless supply of ethnic restaurants. There is Japanese, Vietnamese, Mexican, Salvadoran, Chinese, Italian, Filipino, and even the Kabul Kabob (which I'd love to try but haven't convinced the others)within walking distance of the hotel. Luckily, for me, DD is more of an adventurous eater than her brother so I was able to talk her into having lunch at one of the Vietnamese restaurants. This was our first step out of our Williamsburg suburban americanized Chinese restaurant comfort zone so we just ordered rice or noodle platters but we were intrigued by pho listings on the menu. Of course, we sat for awhile waiting for the check until DD saw that everyone else just went to the cashier. I did find out that bringing the check to the customer at the table is thought to be rude. The next day I decided that we had to take the plunge and order the pho. Thank goodness because the second restaurant we tried had no "safety" choices other than the pho. We still played it safe, though, and ordered the chicken. We weren't quite ready to try the tripe. DD's soup came out and looked wonderful. I waited and waited for mine. Apparently pointing to my choice on the menu and gesturing to both of us did not convey the message that we both wanted to eat. I love the fact that I can feel like I'm in another country without ever leaving Virginia. Finally my pho arrived and I had to figure out how to eat it. All the extra stuff went on and I muddled through with chopsicks and the "scoopy" spoon . I am sure I had noodles hanging down my chin several times. So dear Fodorites, tell me, how do you eat your pho and what faux pas did I commit eating mine?

It sounds like you ate your pho the way I eat my pho :)
I love a little place here in Portland called Miso Happy, we have big bowls of noodles in the winter with lots of hot spice floating in the broth, keeps you warm for hours!

Birdie, I live in Springfield, very close to where you are (my DD takes guitar lessons in the center across the street from your hotel, and I shop at Total Wines, and have been to all the pho places in Springfield, including the Saigon place you are probably talking about (katty corner from Dunkin Donuts and across the st. from the car dealership and Townfield Suites), and the one in Springfield Plaza where the KMart is (our favorite one in the Springfield area). My son and I eat at that one once a week or so.

Try the "Tai" pho. It is lean brisket and is very good choice for someone who is just trying pho and likes beef. After 10 yrs of eating pho, I still can't eat the tripe and the other more exotic meats.

Their Vietnamese appetizer rolls are great too, both the fried ones and the codl ones wrapped in rice paper w/shrimp (my son's favorite).

I don't know that much about pho etiquitte. I do this- I put a mixture of the plum sauce and the hot sauce in one of the plastic spoons, then I take out a pice of Tai meat from the soup and dip it in the mixture, eat it, and follow it w/noodles and broth. I also like the sprouts, lime, and fresh basil in mine (but hold the jalepenos).

Don't feel too stuck- as you said, the ethnic food is good, and you are just a short walk or shuttle away from the Franconia Sorngfield metro to take you into D.C. (40 min) or even less to Pentagon City to go shopping.

BTW, there are two very good Thai restaurnats close to your hotel. One is on the street right behind the KMart- it is called TK Thai (very nice decor inside, the have renovated and it is nice and very modern, unlike many stark ethnic restuarants in the area- and food is very very good and inexpensive). Also, there is a Thai place in the Brookfield shopping Center on Backlick Rd. that we love; it is a longer walk.

Welcome to my part of the world! We love it here- and BTW that whole area where your hotle is is going to be compeltely torn down and rebusilt into a "downtown Springfield" in the next few yrs, all upscale w/condos and walking streets and anchor areas for community gatherings, concerts, etc. It will be a huge change from what it is now- that tall deserted bldg next to Total Wines is going and so is Bob Evans, many of the strip mall areas, etc.

Let me say, we don't live right there where you are- we are about two miles further out Old Keene Mill in a much more green and neighborhood area...and that new development where you are will bring us a lot of traffic, but should be an interesting change.

Is the DD at Springfield Country Club w/the golfing? We watched fireworks there on 4th of July and my daughter's cotillion meets there sometimes. Nice club.

Thanks for the info emd. We actually have enjoyed our time here. We just haven't been able to stray too far from the course. We spent some time at the mall and Barnes and Noble and lots of money at Ulta and DSW. The first Viet restaurant was near the vet hosp across from the apartments on Commerce. The second was near the Subway in the shopping center. DD did have the fried spring rolls and said they were good.

My son will be sorry to hear that Bob Evans is going. Are they tearing down the Holiday Inn?

DS did play at Springfield. It is a beautiful club and everyone has been wonderful. This is one of the best run tournaments he has played. We were here last year for it and it was just as nice.
I feel like I have every turn of Old Keene Road memorized. I have been up and down it so many times this week. There are some very pretty, green areas plus Whole Foods and Trader Joes? Lucky girl.

Whole Foods is a block from me, I am right down Rolling Rd., and kids go to the area High School and middle school you have gone by on way to the club (the one w/the rock outside).

It is great having the Whole Foods right here- love the sushi bar.

Have you made it over to the Kingstowne area yet? Not too far beyond the mall. You can go down Rolling to Fairfax County Parkway and take a left (over the pkwy) and it ends up in Kingstowne without having to get off the Parkway. Nice shopping and dining and good small farmer's market on Fridays and live music outdoors a few nights a week:

See:

http://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/parks/performances/

And look on the right side, click on Lee District Nights, and when the PDF opens up, scrol down to pg 2 to Kingstone concerts. A great band called the Rockabilly's is playing there free on Friday nigth the 14th.

I love my town!

P.S. Don't know about Holiday Inn's survival- ask them- I bet they will be around, but a new full serive Mariott is also going up on Old Keene Mill where the Al's restaurant is now and the dead space next door to it. There is already the Courtyard and the Townplace Suites right in the immediate few blocks, so Holiday Inn will have a run for the money.

And Bob Evans is moving, not gone for good...not sure where thy are moving but somewhere close by, just not in the new "downtown" area.