The Down Low: Between the two towers of the
impressive Plaza development on Orange venue downtown, this fun,
counter-service Pan-Asian cafe is an okay bet for a quick, if somewhat bland
meal. The walk-in lunch crowd has taken over the place, but anyone
looking for a bento box, noodle soup, sushi roll, or boba tea fix should leave
at least partially satisfied.
The Digs: At the lunch hour, most of the
customers seemed to be workers from nearby offices. My guest and I parked in
the Plaza's maze-like garage and walked a short distance into the heart (or
belly) of the Plaza to find a cafe that's a mix between modern, moody urban
atmosphere and upscale office cafeteria. Chairs and booths are leather or
faux-leather, and HDTVs are plentiful and also reflected perfectly in the glass
walls. The overall grey-black color scheme isn't the most pleasing, but that's
a matter of taste.
The Delivery: We were probably tenth in line
behind the Dockers and necktie folks, but it moved fast, ordering was simple,
they validated the parking for one hour, and we were given a number to place on
our table. Our sushi appetizer arrived in less than three minutes, as the sushi
chefs were getting no orders. Most customers had bento boxes or rice bowls. Our
boxes came probably three minutes after the sushi. The friendly food runner offered
to clear our table of excess candles and the like to make room for our food,
but we were okay.
The Dish: I was very impressed with the
Our bento
boxes ($7.50 each) weren't up to the level of the sushi in quality or taste,
but I still give them a just-passing grade. My chicken bulgogi ($7.50) was
good, but still on the bland side. It's listed as including a mild spicy sauce,
but I couldn't detect even a hint of it. The chicken was fresh and with only a
few chewy bites. My guest's Thai curry was better and a fairly
decent rendition for what's basically a fast-food operation. The coconut curry
sauce was only a tad spicier than the bulgogi, and my guest found it too salty;
it's pretty much what you'd expect from a restaurant catering to a casual
business audience.
Both boxes
came with white rice, lukewarm but passable lo-mien noodles, a small, almost
insignificant ginger salad, tasty chopped string beans, and a pleasant little
dessert cake. My cake was topped with a yummy coconut-flaked icing.
My Thai tea
with pearls ($3.75) didn't impress me too much. My guest's milk tea with pearls
was tastier, but still nothing amazing.
The Damage: There are loads of choices and
variations in the menu, which features Japanese, Thai, Chinese, Korean, and
other Asian dishes. It's safe to assume your favorite Asian meal is on the
menu. Bento boxes are $7.50, rice bowls are $6.75, and noodle soups or bowls
are $6.95. And don't forget the sushi, also priced just right. Beer, sake, and
plum wine round out the menu.
The Deduction: Bento Cafe serves lightning-fast
meals at more than fair prices. The atmosphere is hit and miss, a little too
clinical with all the grey. Hopefully Bento livens up the atomosphere at
night. Had we known the meals would be so lightly spiced, we would have
attempted to order them spicier, but the menu makes no mention of such an
option. This small chain is a good idea, and I left very impressed with the
sushi but disappointed at the blandness of the meals. Downtown
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