Saigon Noodle

Great, new location in the Totem Mall with access indoor and outdoors.

Fun, bright, interesting décor that doesn’t look like it was purchased at the local Walmart. The owners actually put some thought and effort into the ambience.

Friendly cash register girls.

Nine, four-seat tables, entered at a dinner rush, food took around 20 minutes. At a full service restaurant, that would be a long time. A place such as this should, essentially, be quicker.

Food ordered: #14 Pork Slice Spring Rolls…something about Lemon Grass Pork….a very plain dish as far as flavour goes. Vietnamese restaurants everywhere take note….Hoang Long of Edmonton does an EXCELLENT Lemon Grass Anything. Look it up next time you’re in that city.

#19 Chicken Pad Thai….excellent noodles-almost velvety in texture, scrumptious flavour overall, decent amount of chicken, abundant veggies and crushed peanuts. I would get this again and again. This dish will bring me back. My only request would be fresh lime to squeeze over top.

#20 Shrimp Egg Noodles…another excellent dish in terms of flavour. The fresh garlic is prominent but not overdone. I kept wanting more of that delectable taste in my mouth. Speaking of more…there were a mere 5-6 shrimp in this dish. That would be fine if the oodles of noodles and grandiose plate presentation didn’t make it look out of balance….oh yes, and the fact that it cost 9.95. Hi, I could buy an entire bag of shrimp less than 9.95. Stop being so cheap and throw three times the shrimp on there! Your customers will thank you by good word of mouth and ordering again and again! I feel as though I should bring some extra shrimp from home to add to my plate (psstt……the shrimp weren’t seasoned so it would totally work…)

Loved the assortment and variety of condiments on the tables, as well as real silverware and chopsticks. So nice not to use the toss-away types.

And let me tell you about Maggy one of the owners—what a nice lady! We saw her walk around to every table as well as ours, and converse. Not the obligatory How-was-everything,-etc., but actually talking to people! Wow…..now there’s something that a consumer does not see. A rarity.

Saigon Noodle comes to mind when I think of Asian takeout. So unlike Ming’s.
GRADE: B+

Saigon Noodle
9600-93 Ave (Totem Mall)
250.785.1628

Safeway VS Tim Horton’s (Doughnut Style)

Bring in the boxing ring. American competitor vs the good, ol’ Canadian standby.

Round one: Presentation (Kevin from The Office: “That means what it looks like…)
T: Great, attractive packaging for any amount ordered.
S: One giant box even if you’d only like half a dozen. I find myself usually purchasing three. One for me, one for my spouse and one for me for later while winding down from the tornado kids.. When and if a “6 doughnut box” existed I would prolly load up to maximum capacity. Instead, I would rather have my three remain un-squished and unsullied in the paper bag.

Round Two: Taste & Freshness
T: Dry out much quicker and are made somewhere other than the respective location. They’ve got some great combinations (Honey Crueller,-on the light side, eggy, nice balance of sweet, fun design.

Yet, I’m still surprise that others are still around (Double Chocolate tastes like coffee granules were substituted for the cocoa during mixing.

Beware of any fritter—usually there is a substantial portion of the middle that remains raw.

S: Made on site, every day. There is nothing better than fresh. Nuff said. S’s doughnuts are light and chewy with slight bread taste to compliment the sweetness. Sometimes I’m really wishing for a slightly thicker icing to balance the bread side of things.

Do your own freshness test. Buy a few from each place and see how long they last on your counter. P.S. Works best in a paper bag to allow limited air flow. Do not, repeat DO NOT seal your little, baked goods in Tupperware. They need air.

Round Three: Aftertaste
T: Sometimes my tummy hurts after consuming a T.H. doughy morsel. Maybe it’s the preservatives. (No, I doughnut pig out thus creating abdominal discomfort. Sheesh.)
S: I’m ready for another. No pain there.

Although, I must flesh out a negative here, Yesterday I shared a fill morsel with my spouse and the filing had a ring of rancidity to it (oil-based product.) Somebody cut a corner. Oops, Mr. or Mrs. Baker person.

Round Four: Availability
S: Friday is their busiest day so double batches are ordered up. My fave there is the Glazed Croissant drizzled in chocolate. And they do not disappoint. Deelish.
T: Hit and miss. My fave is the Sour Cream Glazed and quite honestly either location can’t guarantee them consistently. Perhaps they should supply more for the demand, hmm? I’ve tried finding them on different days of the week, different times of the day and various seasons throughout the YEAR. Clearly I spend too much of my time trying to perfect their supply science. At any rate, I was frustrated so I started looking elsewhere. (Enter Safeway doughnuts.)

Round Five: Cost
S: Usually a single doughnut will run you somewhere in the ballpark of 70 cents. I believe I’ve seen them for as low as 49 cents.
T: Almost one dollar. What is it, 85/89 cents? And they’re smaller. Even when comparing apples to apples, they’re still smaller.

Round Six: Business Hours
S: 7-11pm
T: All the time. But don’t let this fool you. Because their product is not made on site means you can’t have it at 3am.

Overall, I’m a Safeway fan. Dear Safeway, could you build a drive-thru? I would love you even more.

Safeway GRADE: A-
Timmy’s GRADE: B-

From the Tip Jar

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RestaurantOwner.com Best Practice of the Week - November 3, 2009
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I Am Your Guest

You often accuse me of carrying a chip on my shoulder,
but I suspect this is because you do not entirely
understand me. Isn't it normal to expect satisfaction
for one's money spent? Ignore my wants and I will no
longer appear in your restaurant. Satisfy those wants
and I will become increasingly loyal. Add a little extra
personal attention and a friendly touch and I will become
a walking advertisement for you.

When I criticize your food and service to anyone who
will listen, which I may do whenever I am displeased,
take heed. I am not dreaming up displeasure. It lies in
something I perceive you have failed to do to make my
eating experience as enjoyable as I have anticipated.
Eliminate that perception or you will lose my friends
and me as well. I insist on the right to dine leisurely
or eat in haste according to my mood.

I refuse to be rushed as I abhor waiting. This is an
important privilege that my money buys. If I am not
spending big money this particular time, just remember,
if you treat me right I will return with a larger appetite,
more money and probably with my friends.

I am much more sophisticated these days than I was just
a few years ago. I've grown accustomed to better things
and my needs are more complex. I'm perfectly willing to
spend, but I insist on quality to match prices. I am above
all, a human being. I am especially sensitive when I am
spending money. I can't stand to be snubbed, ignored or
looked down upon.

Whatever my personal habits may be, you can be sure that
I'm a real nut on cleanliness in restaurants. Where food
is concerned I demand the strictest sanitation measures.
I want my meals handled and served by the neatest of people
and in sparkling clean dishes. If I see dirty fingernails,
cracked dishes or soiled table clothes you won't see me again.

You must prove to me again and again that I have made a
wise choice in selecting your restaurant above others. 
You must convince me repeatedly that being a restaurant
guest is a desirable thing in the first place. I can,
after all, eat at home. So, you must provide something
extra in food and service. Something so superior it will
beckon me from my own table to yours.

Do we understand each other?

(You may have read this before but it never hurts to be reminded
of job one - taking care of your guests.)

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