Cook-It-Yourself at Newly Opened Bamboo Grill & Hot Pot
By Tom Maicon at February 23, 2010 | 11:15 pm | Print
I’m sure I’ve mentioned in the past Melanie’s deep-abiding love for all annoying cook-it-yourself dining concepts. She, for whatever reason, is immensely entertained by the idea of slaving over a blistering hot cooker while out to eat.
I personally prefer to let someone else do the cooking if I’m paying.
But as most of you married guys know good and well, the wife usually gets her way. So, there we were at Buford Highway’s latest Bamboo Grill & Hot Pot (4646 Buford Highway, Atlanta Tel: 678.580.1727) — only the restaurant’s third day in business — with a yellow pot of seething liquid parked between us.
I will say Bamboo’s Vietnamese style hot pot, known as lau, is far more flavorful compared to the inferior Chinese versions I’ve eaten here in town. I also appreciate that the meat and seafood doesn’t arrive frozen. On the plate was thin strips of beef, shrimp, squid, fish and mussels.
On the veggie plate was a pile of everything from cabbage and mint and even hojiso, or tía tô as it’s called in Vietnamese. Think Japanese shiso leaf, only stronger and more fragrant.
Even though the spicy hot pot was delicious the restaurant’s signature spring roll, rem nuong cuon, was the standout dish — and possibly the best I’ve eaten anywhere in Atlanta. Layers of chargrilled pork wrapped up with mint, mango, cucumber, and pencil-shaped crispy egg roll containing crunchy “shell on” shrimp.
I was actually pleasantly surprised by my meal at Bamboo Grill & Hot Pot, so much that I won’t kick and scream when Melanie drags me for a return visit when she feels the urge to get her hot pot on.
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