more photos (might need to scroll to top of page to see all of them) -
I ventured out to Temple Club a few days ago for a weekday lunch and was quite impressed though only tried the pho bo chua ( beef brisket street bowl for $7) and need to go back for more tastes.
I didn’t guage the parking situation since I took the AC Transit Line 1 International Blvd which stops at 23rd Avenue, only a few yards from the entrance of the restaurant and runs about every 10-15 minutes, depending on the time of day.
Chef Geoff Deetz was there zipping around the kitchen and later doing some paperwork on his Apple computer at a dining table along the west wall. There were about a half dozen visible luncheoneers seated and later in the meal I noticed about 4 people descending the staircase from the mezzanine who I couldn’t see before.
I was tempted to order the king mackerel street bowl but instead went for the famous pho bo chua (beef brisket street bowl for $7).
There was a buzz around the room from some of the staff which may have been generated by a favorable review just published in the East Bay Express by Janelle Bitker, probably the first full-fledged piece on the new menu. It seemed like they felt that they had good reason to anticipate a crowd for dinner that evening.
The bowl arrived within a few minutes. I played with small tastes of the pickled garlic and hot sauces in the 4-part plastic condiment tray but wanted to try the soup unadulterated, at least until the end.
The beef slices were tender, thin and with few pockets of fat. The broth was deep and intense with a balance of savory and a representative puckery vinegar edge. I would have preferred the noodles to be more al dente.
What was appreciated most, I believe, was the absence of cloying saltiness from either the broth or meat. Something too briny, which this bowl was not, says to me that somebody is trying to hide something.
Chef Deetz has taken a bold move camping out on International Blvd. and, as Bitker pointed out, he has paid his dues with 16 years in Vietnam.
What happens to International Blvd. in the next few years could be an interesting story. New King at 2nd Ave. and Int’l has its windows papered over which might mean a change. It was the original site of Pho Ao Sen, now on 12th Street in a larger and more luxurious location as well as having tried to branch out to Albany. At some point the Bus Rapid Transit lanes along International are planned to be installed.
Maybe after the Holidays, we can talk about a group lunch at Temple Club.
