A range of Summer Specials was all the excuse we needed pho leaving the office... (sorry that was a terrible joke!)

VisitBrighton Towers are in the heart of The Lanes so it would be easy to assume that we eat out for lunch every day but as it happens most of us tend to eat al desko. So, when one of our neighbours invited us down to sample their summer specials, we decided it was time to leave the office and head to Pho.

I’ve visited the restaurant a few times, each time it has been delicious however for some reason it had been a while since my last visit, so I was looking forward to seeing if it was as good as I remembered. The first thing that struck me was how busy it was! We visited on a Wednesday lunchtime, admittedly it was the start of the school holidays, but it was still busier than I’d expected, especially as this is a big restaurant. I took this to be a good sign. It’s also worth noting that Pho is not only family-friendly but also dog-friendly with plenty of vegetarian and vegan options and almost the entire menu is gluten-free. Now I think about it’s no wonder it was busy as this is the ideal meeting spot if there’s a group of you with varying requirements!

But what of our visit? Well as mentioned we were here to sample the Summer Specials which include Prawn & Pomelo Salad, Wok-Fried Clams, Cha Ca La Vong (turmeric fish & dill) or a Fish Curry. Now before I tell you about how we got on I have to confess I had originally thought pomelo was simply an alternative name for grapefruit, but I was wrong. A pomelo is a fruit in its own right, it is similar to grapefruit but it’s sweeter and less acidic making it a light & refreshing addition to a summer salad. Not that I ordered the salad, but Marta was kind enough to let me have a taste.

But I’m getting ahead of myself! Before food, we ordered drinks and as we were here on a lunch break we initially ignored the cocktail menu although I couldn’t help having a sneaky look for future reference and was delighted to spot that they offered a selection of non-alcoholic cocktails including a Mojito or a No-jito. So Katie & I opted for the Nojito while Marta went for a carrot, apple & ginger juice which was delightfully zingy and just what you’d want if you're warding off a cold. The Nojitos were a refreshing choice on a warm day.

But what of the food? Well normally for lunch I would just have one course but as we were out for a change we decided to have a little extra. As mentioned Marta ordered the Summer Special Prawn & Pomelo Salad while Katie & I decided to share some pork spring rolls which were not part of the summer menu but they were still special. Honestly I’d have been happy just with a giant bowl of these goodies. In the above photo of the spring rolls you would be forgiven for thinking that Pho had gone a little heavy on the garnish but the greenery is actually an important part of the process. Resisting the urge to go with my instinct of just popping them straight into my mouth, I listened to our helpful waiter who advised us that what you should do is put the roll and a mint leaf into one of the lettuce leaves and eat it as wrap. The mint added a subtle freshness which worked particularly well with the garlic and chilli dip.

For our main courses we all stuck to the specials menu as this is what we had been invited down to try after all! Actually I was very glad that we had been invited to try the specials as to be honest if I had been there as a regular visitor I would have probably had a quick look at the specials but then stuck with ordering a Pho as I know they are delicious and not a dish I get to eat often, it’s certainly not something I’d be able to recreate at home. But on this visit I had to forget about Pho and so Marta & I ordered the Cha Ca La Vong and Katie had a Fish Curry. It’s at this stage that I realise what a terrible food reviewer I am as I know we ate turmeric & dill fish with vermicelli noodles, peanuts and vegetables but that’s it. I was so busy, happily stuffing my face that I forgot to ask what fish it was or to take proper notice of the vegetables. All I can tell you is that it was scrumptious & I am so glad we were asked to try the new menu as while I know the Pho would have been excellent it was good to try something different for a change. Katie’s curry smelt and looked amazing, and it was soon gone so I can only assume Katie was pleased with her choice.

As well as the food being lovely, the staff were too, they were friendly and attentive. Also, while the restaurant was busy, it didn’t feel overwhelming and the music was an upbeat soundtrack but at a volume that still allowed us to chat. Overall, this was a reminder of what the lunch break should be about, a break from the office and a chance to enjoy some really good food. I also like the fact that whenever I leave Pho I feel satisfied but never bloated or overstuffed, it feels like a healthy option packed full of fresh ingredients.

So if you’re looking for a healthy meal or you simply need to cater for a diverse group of eaters, then I recommend heading to The Lanes to enjoy Pho’s Summer Specials.

Charlotte

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