Big Bowl Cafe

01/15/09

The BEST asian cuisine this side of the Pacific.

by JonoLee at Citysearch

I have been to many places in Asia tasting different Asian cuisine; both fusion and indigenous. I had some impressive food in India, Singapore, and Thailand, but Big Bowl is really the best I've had in the U.S. I noticed that some people have complaints about the service and I am really sorry to hear that, because the several times I was there, the service was just FINE. Don't go to Ben Pao, where every dish tastes like a mixture of soy sauce/salt.

• Pros: Food and service.
• Cons: A little dark, maybe?

03/08/08

Avoid on Saturday Nights...In fact...Avoid the place all together!

by Fracture at Citysearch

After waiting for over 40 minutes even though there were 4 available tables, we were finally seated. Our waiter was great, but the hostess was out of this world. It seemed as if she didn't know what she was doing and had parties waiting when there were tables open. After we were seated, our waiter came by and took out drink order. The drinks were fine until I decided to actually look at what I was sipping and found a disgusting brown residue of some sort stuck to an ice cube. After that, I wasn't that thirsty anymore. The food came rather quickly, which was nice, but much to my chagrin there were tons of eggshells in my pad thai. Now I'm all for the eggs in the pad thai. But eggshells? Come on. As a chef I'd expect more. I was thoroughly dissatisfied with my first experience with Big Bowl. I normally don't write reviews for restaurants, but because my experience was so horrible I thought I'd share. Do me and yourself a favor and DON"T GO!!

• Pros: Can't think of anything
• Cons: Hostess, The 40 minute wait, The drinks by the pitcher and the Pad Thai

09/01/07

Go now

by hallehoo at Citysearch

I eat here whenever I am downtown - which is often- and I have to say all of my experiences have been top-notch. The spicy sesame noodles are full of flavor - just a touch of heat - and the potstickers even better. A nice thin skin, unlike the industrial kind you get at allegedly Chinese restaurants. I love the teriyaki glazed spareribs - fall off the bone with excellent flavor and the chow fun which has that wok-seared taste. I grew up eating this stuff so it is nice to know there is a place where I can get a taste of home.

The pad Thai is all about fresh, bright flavors. I am not big on fiery hot food, but my partner is a huge fan and says the hot pepper thai shrimp is fabulous because you get more than heat - you get layers of flavor.

The restaurant is crazy busy for dinner but if I am doing business downtown and need to bring home dinner, I can call in my order and the valet will let me leave my car out front while I run in to pick up the food. Can't ask for more than that!

• Pros: Good vibe, fun place