Out the Door

Pop quiz hotshot - where can you go to get a fantastic meal with a little more than an hour to go before a movie? Out the Door!

Located next to the food court but world’s away when it comes to atmosphere and service, the Westfield Center’s outpost of Out the Door serves up some tasty Vietnamese food with style. Our beers were cold, our noodles hot and our waitress pierced. What more could you ask for? Ok, maybe not spending $25 a person for a quick bite. But you definitely pay for quality and I’d happily pay it again the next time I’m hankerin’ for some pre movie chow.

This may be the best “mall food” I’ve ever had in a food court. It’s a trip…you’re surrounded by tourists and shoppers, all lugging around several bags, holding twice their weight in souvenirs. You pass a burger stand, a juice bar, a soup and sandwich place, and then…Out the Door.

It’s not only a little Vietnamese food oasis in the middle of one of the busiest shopping malls in the city, it’s actually really good food. The lunch menu is varied and uncomplicated…we usually get the green papaya salad and the clay pot chicken. The lemongrass tofu is also a good choice, for you vegetarians. And the spring rolls are a deep fried treat.

I eat here several times a month with girlfriends and haven’t tired of it yet. In fact, I’m starting to crave for it nightly…they might be putting something in the food to hook me.

A wonderful place for a ladies lunch before or after shopping or seeing a movie; actually, I would come here even if neither of those options were available. I’ve been here several times and never had anything I did not like, but after multiple visits there are a few stand outs:

-- Clay Pot chicken: I don’t know what spices they use, but this is the most delicious clay pot chicken I’ve ever had. I would never have tried it but someone at my table on my most recent visit is a regular and this is her favorite dish. It is really exceptional.
-- The imperial rolls are always great, I love them!
-- Papaya salad, delicious!
-- Mango tapioca pudding dessert, yummy. A little hard to eat in the dish it came in (picture a sundae glass from the old soda fountain), especially if you are sharing. I would probably advise saving some room and getting one for yourself.

I’ve also had pork and beef dishes (sorry kids, I am most definitely not a vegetarian) and always found the meats tender and well spiced. Also, the white sticky rice is amazingly good. Yes, I know this sounds crazy since it’s just white rice but it really is delicious.

Our waitress was adorable and patient and never made us feel rushed at all. We sat and waited for a bit for our entire party to assemble, and that was fine. We drank boat loads of ice tea while waiting, a fact that almost cost me a ruptured bladder later on while watching “The Other Boleyn Girl” upstairs at the theater.