Window Cafe
Address: 25 Borrack Square, Altona North
Phone: 9399 2442
Fresh red chilli slices.
There are none.
What kind of pho joint doesn’t have fresh red chilli slices?
Ahhh, the kind that does have raisin toast and ham and cheese croissants … and does coffee.
But, heck, I don’t mind – because the pho I am served is very good.
Pho can be had in Altona-by-the-bay.
But Altona is a big suburb, so if you live away from the bay and are lusting after pho, Footscray, Sunshine or St Albans beckon.
If we lived hereabouts and had Window Cafe nearby, we’d still go to Footscray, Sunshine or St Albans, naturally … but maybe a little less often.
This is a simple, small place serving a tight range of Vietnamese and Chinese dishes.
As well as pho, you can get the expected rice dishes – mee goreng and char kway teow
As far as pho goes, there’s only one size – big! This is usual in non-pho specialist places away from the main Vietnamese precincts.
I go straight – sliced beef – and am delighted with said meat’s quality and quantity.
Most of it is nicely lean and rare.
But there is also some good brisket of a slightly more fatty variety.
The broth is mildly flavoured but fine.
Kenny Weir is the founder of Consider the Sauce, the definitive guide to eating in Melbourne’ western suburbs – www.considerthesauce.net
