The Boat — Restaurant in Seattle

When I first moved here to Seattle in September 2016, I ventured out to Pike Place Market, riding bus number 7 from the Othello neighborhood, my first sight of the International District was Pho Bac’s red boat parked on corner of Boren and Jackson. I thought it was the most neat architectural design I’ve ever seen!

Now, fast forward to 2 and 1/2 years later, after a little slip in my morning’s routine, I decided to have Pho as a “medical” lunch. Being a woman and it’s that time of the month... Rawr! :) So I walked down from First Hill. Excited to sit down in that red boat. Reached the restaurant, disappointed because this space was closed. I looked up the small hill to my left, and see that it has moved just right there. Much more modernized. I became a little skeptical because I had already eaten at Pho Than Brothers and I didn’t like this restaurant too much... I’ve observed that the more modernized a pho restaurant is, the less tasty pho is... Money more spent on making it too modern-Americanized?

Anyways, as I entered the restaurant, I look around. The setting seems cute but too modernized. I haven’t visited Vietnam yet, but it was hard for me to feel that Vietnamese vibe I’ve felt at other pho restaurants. But ok. I sat down.

Across the dining room is a neon light signage hanging on the white wall. It reads “Phocific Northwest”. Very catchy, and cute. I ordered a small pho soup with all beef cuts. The whole soup was very good. The only thing I was fussy about was the beef itself, particularly the “meaty” part of beef (not sure steak or brisket?). It was whitish-brown and a little dry. I usually like my beef a little more undercooked, but I wasn’t asked how I wanted it cooked. But this part wasn’t important today...

Overall, the restaurant is nice. Pho was pretty good. As of right now, this would be my third or fourth choice, especially since the restaurant became more modernized. I grow tired of modern architecture because I grew up in a cookie-cutter development suburbia back east... Kind of wish Pho Bac wouldn’t change their special treasure with that red boat. Enjoy...

Short version: Start at Phở Bắc to get the wings at the sister shop and for dessert swing by The Boat for the pandan waffle with salted coconut cream. If they ever serve just the chicken stock à la carte, it's exactly what you want on a balmy day/night.

Longer version: The pandan waffle with coconut cream is a delight and justifies a visit on its own. The accompanying clear chicken soup is perfect, delivering all the comforting flavors one could hope for on a cool winter day.

However, when it comes to the main attraction (chicken and rice), it somewhat misses the mark. Especially as a single-concept shop. Our anticipation for a savory chicken and rice dish left us feeling unsatisfied.

What it isn't: It's not a modern reinterpretation of Cơm Gà Hải Nam/Hainanese Chicken and Rice (海南雞飯)/Khao Man Gai (ข้าวมันไก่). The rice lacked the expected flavorful impact, missing the richness of the stock. While the chicken skin was sweet and crispy, the meat itself was somewhat stringy and dry. Compared to the chicken wings at Phở Bắc (the neighboring family-run spot), this dish didn't quite measure up. It might have been an off day, but value-wise, I'd recommend opting for Phở Bắc's wings and visiting The Boat for the waffle.

The chrysanthemum salad felt mismatched and I felt the traditional accompaniments of cơm tấm (broken ride) - cucumbers, đồ chua, tomatoes for a better contrast with the rest...

We had high expectations for this Vietnamese restaurant due to its impressive Google reviews, but our visit left us quite disappointed. Arriving during the lunch rush, we found the lack of a waiting area and the absence of a greeting to be somewhat off-putting. We were left to figure out that we needed to add our name to the waiting list.

The utensils had a fair amount of water and some dirty spots, necessitating a quick wipe down with napkins on our part.

Regarding the food, we ordered both rice and noodle dishes. Unfortunately, the rice was overly dry, the fish sauce lacked flavor, the chicken was slightly too salty for our liking, and the garlic used seemed to be of the pre-packaged variety, lacking that authentic garlic flavor. On the bright side, the noodles were delicious. Considering the relatively high cost of the dishes, the use of what appeared to be Costco minced garlic felt questionable.

On a positive note, the restaurant's ambiance gave off a cool and cozy vibe, reminiscent of an actual Vietnamese food stall, with the added bonus of a stylish bar.

In sum, despite the appealing atmosphere, our overall experience left us hesitant to recommend returning to...