Bolero - Buy Reservations

The food took more than an hour to arrive after we ordered, and the place was not even busy at all. Most of the time we were sitting on an empty table. Honestly don't recommend and won't come back.

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i love open kitchens!they have a tiny backyard which is very cute.the menu is vietnamese fusion.obviously more expensive than your typical vietnamese flare.the imperial crab cakes were delicious as was the crepes.the signature pho had a very sweet interesting soup flavor profile.we enjoyed everything we ordered.

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From the decor to the final bit/sip, a most memorable experience.Shrimp toastPork two waysScallop Soup...DeelishBeautiful open kitchen/bar counter + cozy outdoor space in the back.The location is super convenient as you'll be well-situated to enjoy the neighborhood pre or post-meal.

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You come here for the food. That said, their drinks menu is also quite good: from the cocktails to wine to beer - the selection pairs perfectly with the food.I've been meaning to write a review for some time as my partner and I are frequent patrons and the food is consistently delicious. I've read other reviews complaints on portion size and price - but the quality of ingredients and the preparation is excellent... perhaps I'm just use to NYC fine dining prices but a restaurant that can consistently deliver is worth its weight in value.On to the food: while 99% of the items on the menu are excellent, our favorites are as follows (note: there are seasonal changes to the menu):- First course / appetizer: shrimp toast is a must. The rice tamales are small but incredible. And lastly, the scallop crudo - a favorite of mine though my partner isn't as in love as the prior two items.- Second course: the clams here are incredibly flavorful. The snow peas are great as are the pea shoots - the availability depends on the season.- Main: you can't go wrong with the pork two ways.The only point of critique is service hasn't always been that consistent. We come there 2-3x/month and it was hit or miss in the beginning, perhaps it was COVID? The team should also consider how to encourage "regulars" - for example, Madre's in Greenpoint usually comp a drink or dessert to thank patrons that come back again and again. I do think they've largely worked that out as of late - and servers Cole, Jack and the lovely bartender (who's name escapes me) have always provided wonderful service.

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The portions are super small but expensive. The menu options were limited as well. The shrimp toast was good, with the right texture and crunch to it. However there was sadly only two pieces. I know it's an appetizer so it's not supposed to be as big as the entree but two pieces still look pretty sad. They should at least make it cheaper. I also got the rice (tamale- like) item that was wrapped in banana leaf. It was super runny and soft, unlike the glutinous rice in banana leaf chinese equivalent. Thin item isn't filling compared to glutinous rice where it makes you bloated. I tried to unlock the yelp offer but the staff wasn't aware of it. I was told to come back again and ask for the supervisor or manager next time to redeem it. But, from the food I got, I probably won't be returning just to get the intriguing hand sanitizer offer. Staff was super friendly but the other areas are lacking

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I will be forever obsessed with Bolero's dining room aesthetics but not so much the grub. I had ordered the Saigon Beef Pho, Spicy Lemongrass Mushroom Noodle Soup, Vietnamese Rice Tamale Wrapped in Banana Leaf, and Fried Shrimp Toast Points to go so I could eat in the car, but the noodles were under cooked. My fiancé and I tried to soften the noodles by letting them sit in the broth for longer before digging in but that barely helped. Another disappointing aspect was how little noodles there were - not really worth it for the price but maybe there's more noodles for dining in. Saigon Beef Pho - compared to the more traditional bowl of pho from other Vietnamese restaurants, this one was not as rich in flavor. Though, the whole menu takes on a more modern approach to Vietnamese cuisine. Spicy Lemongrass Mushroom Noodle Soup - got a spicy kick and lots of spices! I liked the fried tofu and tofu skin toppings. The mushrooms were okVietnamese Rice Tamale Wrapped in Banana Leaf - i was a bit taken aback by how runny and soft the tamale was; very different from Mexican/ Chinese tamalesThe lunch menu is not as expansive as the dinner menu, so I'd recommend going during dinner time for more options to choose from. There was also just one waitress doing everything besides cooking when I popped by on a Saturday afternoon, but she did a wonderful job serving me, so props to her. Loved the open kitchen concept!

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I live in the neighborhood and always walk by, but have never tried Bolero. So glad I finally did tonight! We started with bahn nam chay (rice tamale in banana leaf) and xiu mai (pork ragu meatballs), which were delightful and brought out to us by chef Matt himself. These were followed by two large dishes - kabocha squash curry and spicy lemongrass mushroom soup, both of which did not disappoint. The broth of the soup was so rich and flavorful and the curry was likewise delicious and full of umami. Would definitely recommend and plan to return!

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"Deep Dive into Vietnam" - that's indeed what white people did when they colonized Vietnam and Bolero is their story. Each dish had some root in Vietnamese cuisine but was adulterated to be disappointingly Eurocentric and missing the flavor and culture of Vietnamese food. Take their pho. Pho is a quintessential Vietnamese dish, and Bolero's has about 5 teaspoons of broth and what little there was lacked the characteristic aroma of star anise and cardamom. It raises the existential question: is it pho or Progresso? Just like Panda Express for Chinese food, it's enjoyable if you're trying to eat American food. Oh and I guess it's cute. So I'll give it 2 stars.

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Made it to Bolero for modern Vietnamese cuisine!The cocktails are decent (our favorite was the pomegranate tequila of course), we got the banh xeo but it was overly fried in terms of the egg crepe component. The pho was good, but not worth the $22 price tag. And the pork two ways was a complete disappointment. Overall would rate it a 3.6/5, and won't be on my repeat list.

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Came by with a party of five tonight and ordered everything on the menu other than the two soup noodles and duck egg challenge.My favorite items were the clams and scallop crudo! The broth of the clam dish was bursting with so much flavor that I would say its one of the most interesting tastes I have experienced in a while, full of garlic and lemongrass goodness. The scallop crudo had an amazing texture and was a great combination with the shrimp crumble served along with it.I would definitely come back!

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This place should be packed every night, but it's somehow not. The modern Vietnamese flavors are fire, truly pushing the boundaries of Vietnamese food in the US.

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I tried:+ Mango Infused Rum with Tamarind, Lime & Thai Basil cocktail+ Mezcal with Pineapple, Yuzu & Dill cocktail + Fried shrimp toast points + Pomelo crab salad + Papaya salad+ Littleneck clams+ Charcuterie plate + Kabocha squash lemongrass curry + Caramelized honeynut squash dessert + Crystal jelly cake+ Marou chocolate The highlights were the crab salad and honeynut squash dessert. Great service, too.

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