Nestled in the corner of the plaza on North McDowell Boulevard, Simmer is a small but thriving Vietnamese restaurant. The family-owned-and-operated establishment centers its menu around a variety of noodle soups (Pho), noodle bowls (Bun), and rice plates (Com); however, one can also find other classic Vietnamese dishes, such as fried rice, stir fry, and chow fun.

On our visit, we decided to try the ginger chicken with vermicelli and the Chicken Noodle Pho. The chicken dish was seasoned well — though not very spicy — and paired nicely with the vermicelli. While the salad was welcome addition, the portions were skewed — a more substantial amount of chicken could have replaced some of the vegetation

The pho arrived in a large bowl, filled to the brim with a fragrant chicken broth, tasty udon noodles, and moist chicken. While the meat was unseasoned, the savory broth adequately compensated for its plain taste. We complemented our food with Thai iced tea, a traditional Thai tea sweetened with condensed milk. One can never go wrong with a refreshing, albeit sugary glass of Thai iced tea; it is an ideal drink in any situation, but especially so at an Asian restaurant.

While we both selected chicken dishes, Simmer also offers beef and seafood in a variety of forms; furthermore, they cater to vegetarians with the option to substitute tofu into any of the meals. While most of the food isn’t spicy, one can customize the level of spice to their preference. Within the comfy and carefully decorated restaurant, anyone can find an agreeable meal, from the veggie spring roll to salt and pepper calamari appetizers to a wide variety of entrees, Simmer’s cuisine can adapt to satisfy any taste preference.