Audio By Carbonatix
The Spot: Rice Paper, 2221 N. 7th Street, Phoenix, 602-252-3326
www.facebook.com/pages/Rice-Paper
The Hours: 11 am- 6:30 pm, 7 days a week.
The Details: The Cen-Pho newbie may have higher price points on traditional Vietnamese fare than what you’re used to, but with happy hour discounts that run all day, 7 days a week, there’s very little room to complain.
From 11 am to 6:30 pm, enjoy $2.75 drafts, $5 wines by the glass, $4 wells and $6 specialty cocktails such as The Mandarin Ginger Fizz and “Surprise Me,” (a cocktail that depends on the bartender and his/her mood). From 3 to 6:30 pm, enjoy $6 appetizers and $1 off the extensive and inspired spring roll selection.
(Get the Rice Paper Happy Hour rundown, after the jump.)
The Interior: What used to be a dilapidated household is now a trendy, clean Vietnamese eatery. Fresh flowers in clear vases, wood accents, and modern decor create a hip setting that feels far from ostentatious or stuffy. Instead the vibe is casual, almost like we’ve been invited to dinner at someone’s tasteful home.
The Cost: A Sapporo draft, Mandarin Ginger Fizz cocktail, two spring rolls and calamari appetizer came out to $21, before tax and tip.
The Conclusion: Hooray for a stylish upscale Vietnamese dining experience in Midtown’s Coronado District! Yes, the regular menu prices are a bit steep for this particular style of cuisine, but with all things considering– fresh ingredients, a clean and trendy atmosphere, unique food and cocktail options, and especially an all-day happy hour offering– Rice Paper is winning our dollars.
Though we weren’t crazy about our calamari (the dipping sauce lacked flavor and had a weird gelatin-like texture), we slopped up every last fresh vegetable garnish in hoisin and sririacha on the plate of our delicious spring rolls.
In addition, our server was sweet and accommodating– and let’s just say, that’s not exactly the norm at our typical hole-in-the-wall Vietnamese find.
Welcome to the hood and our personal happy hour itinerary, Rice Paper Vietnamese.
Overall Grade: A
