Lê Madeline
★★★★☆ 4 (66)
"I'm not going to lie... I am mad at myself! Do you know that amazing-looking duck dish which graces the business front page? Yeah... that one is no more. I was told their menu changes monthly, and once something is discontinued, it is gone forever. Welp, there goes the duck! Another word of advice: do not come here alone. Based on what I tried, it seems the idea is to share... bring AT LEAST one other person if you can. I'm not necessarily discouraging dining alone, though. I had the opportunity to try the Bone Marrow, Cajun Crawfish Noodles, and the Creme Brulee. The Bonfire was the drink of the evening. Bone Marrow (Bánh Mì Tủy Xương) - Why is it that everything bad for you tastes so dang good? The marrow itself was excellent! It was roasted to perfection, was exceptionally savory and fatty, and was not over-seasoned in the slightest. Accompaniments were well done, with different kinds of veggies, herbs, a chicken liver pâté, and some hot peppers for those who (like myself) like heat. My only critique here is that two thin crostinis are not enough. Perhaps this is because I tried to make a sandwich. Reasonable, I think given *how* savory the marrow was. Plus, with a name that translates to "Bone Marrow Bread," the bread is important. Việt Cajun Crawfish Noodles - These were slightly less spectacular than I would have hoped. Don't get me wrong, it was an extremely solid and tasty noodle dish, but that's what it was, a 'noodle dish'. In my opinion, the crawfish got overpowered and wasn't allowed to shine on its own. To the dish's credit, I did greatly enjoy the noodles and found them flavorful, and gently sweet. I also really liked the idea of adding a little salmon roe for flavor and salt (and more would have been nice!) Meanwhile, the option of adding an egg seemed like a good idea at the time but ended up being unnecessary, though this is a matter of preference. Crème Brûlée - this was like a regular C.B., only made with Vietnamese coffee. A solid dessert, and while I enjoyed the addition of coffee, it didn't beat out the traditional vanilla CB. Bonfire - An A-OK cocktail, with good smoky notes from the Mezcal, and a balance of sweetness, acidity, and bitterness. Nothing to write home about, but a solid go-to, like an Old Fashioned, say. What makes this one unique is the Szechuan Buzz Button, which apparently has a numbing effect when eaten. Some people may enjoy this, but I found the numbing effect minimal, a little strange (being outside a dentist's office), and not impacting the experience, other than making the textures of the solid food a little harder to pick up on. The service here is great. It is friendly, knowledgeable, and attentive. The speed was fine considering how fresh everything came out. The vibe is pleasant, with tastefully thought-out color and decor. Finally, considering the quality, I felt the prices were reasonable, especially with everything getting more expensive. It's a shame that I am leaving the state at the end of this month. However, the good thing is that I look forward to bringing friends here when I return to MA to visit. The more the merrier, especially because that means we'll be able to try more stuff!"
"Came here for dinner on a Monday night to find them about half way full. We got seated right away in this quaint and simple establishment. Parking wasn't too bad since there is lots of street parking available. We shared their shrimp paste in tofu skin which was crispy on the outside. Their fish sauce was decent especially with their S9 Bnh Hi Cho Tm Tht Nng. I found that it was a good portion and quality but could have used more lettuce and pickled vegetables on the side for wrapping. My brother enjoyed his P2 Ph c Bit finding the broth aromatic with lots of toppings.Overall, I had a pleasant experience and found the food to be reasonably priced. Our waiter was kind and efficient so I wouldn't mind coming to try other items from their menu."
"Don't let their random/wide-ranging menu deter you! I really do like Le's but you just have to know what to order. Their sushi isn't anything crazy but my go-to is their bun cha (vermicelli bowls), a generous portioned mix of noodles, pork, veggies, and a spring roll all to be tossed with fish sauce and crushed peanuts. The seating is primarily large tables (half of them are booths) and I've never had to wait (which could be a plus or minus depending on your perspective). Lastly, I do appreciate their fast and friendly service!"
