Friends and Phos
As Thelma and Louise taught us, Brad Pitt is hot. But it also taught us that there's just no stopping two women who're ready to take on the world, like the ladies behind Crimson Asian Cuisine, soft-open now.
The first-time venture of a pair of food-loving friends (one the wife of a Yummilicious partner), this 30-seater ushers traditional Vietnamese into a gently modern setting, with crimson accents, artistic imitation branches, and an inset, softly lit stone wall, which really highlights Jackson's chest-dominating General Beard. Get things rolling with peanut-sauced, vermicelli-aided Rockin Beef, Flame Throwers (flash-fried chick wings w/ scallions, onions, jalapenos), and, with ground shrimp & scallions in a wonton wrapper, Cherry Blossoms, as all the Gin Blossoms are still driving around this town...looking for a parking place. Then, step up to entrees like the house-special Samurai Crab (seared in lemon butter & pepper; Samurai Lobster's on its way), a pho roster starring Dac Biet (rare beef tenderloin, beef ball, brisket, flank steak), or banh mi highlighted by the Crimson Special: French ham, pate, and sliced pork roll (Tide roll).
As for the stuff you're no longer forced to drink at the top of the Preston Center Parking Lot, alcohol is strictly BYO, though for a corking fee they will serve your own wine to you, and chill it if necessary -- because while you can't get enough of that sexy Brad Pitt, in general hot whites probably aren't your thing.