RTP-area local music and culture

[grady <grady AT ibiblio.org>]

OK, if we're giving up our secrets (often a good thing if one wants them 
to stay in business) then I have to tell you about 9N9, the new 
Vietnamese joint in RTP, which has the best Pho I've had in the 
Triangle. They're in the stripmall at the intersection of Miami & 
Alexander, in a space formerly occupied by the Chinese restaurant of the 
 damned (which briefly turned Mexican a couple of years ago, albeit 
with the same owner as when it was Chinese).

They've retained the chinese-food steam table (probably the same food, 
too) at the back as a strong reminder of what *not* to do.

They're open 9:00 to 9:00 7 days a week (yes, in RTP), and they have 
table service that's fast enough for lunch (and prices low enough that 
even with table service you can easily get out of there perfectly 
happily for $8 or so).

The Pho is just marvelously fragrant--the only one I've had around here 
that compelled me to hoist the bowl & slurp down every drop of the 
broth, *and* didn't leave me feeling dangerously out-of-sorts after 
having done so.

I recommend the rare beef & the well-done flank, but you can also get 
the range of other meat options (tendon, tripe, etc). Let us know if you 
go that route.

They've also got a multi-page menu of other Vietnamese stuff, including 
the standard vermicelli-and-salad-and-spring-roll things and a variety 
of other soups. And they've got their version of the bahn mi, the 
Vietnamese sub (familiar to anyone who has eaten at Dalat in Raleigh, at 
least I hope so): soft, chewy french roll, sweet mayo, cucumber, pickled 
carrot, cilantro, jalapeno, and tangy marinated pork (they've also got 
chicken and what appears to be sliced ham--the chicken tasted like 
passable peppery chicken salad, but wasn't thrilling; I have yet to 
think of a reason to try the ham, although I probably should).

Two of the sandwiches make a good lunch for me; they're $2 apiece. (or 
buy 5 get one free!)

Ross

p.s. if you go for that sort of thing, they've also got Bubble Tea.

Duncan Murrell wrote:
> Since the list seems to have an annual food thread, I thought I'd begin 
> it with this tip, authored by a Siler City regular:
>
> Mexican food... If someone is wanting some really good
> and authentic Mexican food and a very, very! casual atmosphere, the Tienda
> Loma Bonita on Martin Luther King in Siler City has a restaurant in the 
> back
> of the grocery store and it's the best I've found anywhere. Of course very
> authentic, and very delicious.  The people who run the store are always
> friendly, and they are open every day and evening. Their sauces are
> especialy tasty -- ask for both the green and the red so you can sample
> both. They make to-go orders, too. And have weekly specials.  There's no
> formal menu, it's all written on the board, but most of the staff is
> bilingual, if you don't know what is what. You'll have to walk through the
> produce section and the butcher shop to get to the restaurant, but it's
> worth the hunt. There is also a caterer in Siler City now who prepares
> authentic Mexican cooking, but I don't know who it is.
>
> d
>
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