This Memorial Day weekend coincides with commencement activities at the University of Massachusetts, my alma mater. Not much has changed since the time of my studies there last century. Bars, pubs, and other banal food purveyors continue to dominate Amherst's restaurant scene. How much beer, pizza, and ice cream does the average student require? The recent opening of Miss Saigon, however, changed that somewhat by introducing the Vietnamese bánh mì sandwich to this college town.
Having been spoiled by the marvelous sandwiches of Sunset Park's Ba Xuyên (as well as those of several others in Brooklyn and Manhattan), I was quite disappointed with the mediocrity of Boston's putative best. Thus, I was highly skeptical of what Amherst's Miss Saigon had to offer. That skepticism was quickly dispelled with the first bite, however.
Miss Saigon's version of the bánh mì sandwich is quite tasty. A crusty baguette, pâté schmear, meat, cilantro, julienned carrots and daikon, onions, jalapeños, and sliced cucumber are collated expertly to produce a successful flavor alliance. Eliminating even one of the foregoing ingredients would result in a lesser sandwich. Though the meat choices—classic pork, BBQ beef, and BBQ chicken—seem somewhat limited, they afford a satisfactory variety. Better to have a few good selections than a lot of bad ones. The $3.95 price represents a relative bargain when compared with Quiznos' $4 bomb it calls the Toasty Torpedo (a foot-long breadstick disguised as a sandwich).
While a bit pricey at $4.50, the milkshakes are delicious. Their lack of sweetness makes them particularly refreshing compared with the average shake. The durian, with its clean taste, is rapidly becoming a favorite. (In an earlier post, I had described the flavor as a combination of egg salad and papaya.) Also available are the increasingly popular pearl boba drinks (bubble tea), priced at $3.
In addition to its bánh mì sandwiches, Miss Saigon offers an extensive selection of Vietnamese dishes. Meals are available in the dining room or for takeout.
Miss Saigon
96 North Pleasant Street
Amherst, MA 01002
(413) 253-9988
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