Chez Quan's — Restaurant in Melbourne

Chez Quan's - Eau Gallie - 3.5 Stars

"The impression continuing on my mind; so that often, when I was tempted to buy some unnecessary thing, I said to myself, Don't give too much for the whistle; and I saved my money." - Franklin

There is nothing as daunting as high expectations. Not my own, but rather of other people's expectations of me. For months I have been flooded with requests to go to Chez Quan’s. It is a really cool hipster joint with modern paintings and trippy decor. The owner sits confidently eyeing the crowd. I have quite literally pondered the popularity of this restaurant for two months. My conclusion is that if it were in a metropolitan area where diverse, high quality food is plentiful, this restaurant would not still be open. However, in Brevard County, this is probably the most original menu in all 72 miles of the Space Coast. I actually had to dine here twice because the initially, the food was not good. The first time, I ordered the Pad Thai with beef. Unfortunately, the meat was gamey and it threw off the entire dish to the point I could not eat it. I also ordered the Fly Fish Sandwich, which was a basic frozen fish filet on a raw bun dressed up with a cilantro aioli. Not bad, but not outstanding either. The owner was totally cool and suggested I try a different meat in the Pad Thai. I declined then but decided to wait two weeks and go back. On my return I ordered the Pad See Ew. This dish was much more pleasant than the last time I was here. The noodles were cooked expertly and the flavors were moderately vibrant. The vegetables were fresh and the meal was adequate. This restaurant deserves to succeed because they have tried so hard to be successful. If you are looking for something outside the traditional box the Big Boy says give 'em a try. They're worth visiting if you're in the area, but I just would not take a special trip to drive across town...

I don't review often, my opinion is what it is, but... This kind of place happens rarely, and I'm still floored it's an option in the area. The food is wildly better than I expect from any neighborhood joint at any price point in a destination dining city, much less in a smaller city like Melbourne at easily competitive prices with any chain. The chefs are making it look easy with a seriously well wrangled palette of impossibly simple but masterfully wielded flavors, thoughtful attention to textures and consistencies, and proper but understated technique, the food punches well well well above its weight class while maintaining a crisp freshness that tasted like vacation in breezy place you want to live and felt as healthy as everyone wants to look and feel. The pad thai actually has ample personality (and generous proportions of protien to veg and carb) and the Sowadeezel (most popular for a reason) bowl (spicy beef salad over juicy chicken-fried rice with persian cukes and fresh lettuce-sweet, sour, meaty, cool and hot, crisp, all at once) should be hit record-so damn good I'm mad I don't have some now. The only offering of beef salad this good even close locally is the Thai Temple on Sunday mornings.

Genuine, no-affectation service (instinctual, prompt, personable customer service most restaurants can't buy, let alone foster) made us more than right at home with seriously quick but friendly and calm timing. I haven't had an experience this low-key comforting and satisfying in a long time, for the rest of an all too brief afternoon I felt thirty years younger. By that metric, that's about 50 cents a year, and I took food home.

I'm going back. No question. I'd say someone sold their soul for that Sowadeezel recipe, but there's too much soul in the building for...

Update: for the owner that answered. I don't understand your answer. The standard is Tom Yum Noddle, with meat included, at 6-7$. I get it at every Thai restaurant. See other reviews. In fact, after couple days I went to another restaurant Asian Time, delicious, and had wonderful Tom Yum at that 6$ appetizer. i just pointed out that you serve a bigger bowl at a bigger price, even removing the noodles it costs double, which is the truth. My total was over 21$, hence the 20-30$ range. I was lenient and balanced in judging your food and service, compared to others... I didn't mention for example that your menu wants to be hip and funny but it's tacky and purposely deceptive and other stuff. You should go around and learn from others. No, I won't come again. I don't see the point to coming to your restaurant when others are much better for food quality, choice, and mostly service. A waiter that is asked many times to let me know if you can do a Tom Yum with chicken without noodles and how much would it costs and keeps staring without understanding until you ask it repeatedly and returns 15 minutes later saying that would cost the same is not up to standards.

Original review: Spring roll was ok and chicken Pad Thai quite small (the plate in the picture is quite small)and bland. Overpriced for the quality. Strangely the first Thai place that has no Tom Yum soup without noodles, so I asked if they could make it without noodles and they said it would still cost 10-12$. Usually it is around 6-7$. The waiter was very slow and...