Fresh And Best

Ever since they changed ownership or switch cousins the quantity has gone down. Too many flies around all the food and a couple of coworkers have been sick after eating their food. I refuse to go there anymore due to lack of customer service and quantity of food given when the prices go up. Better places around there with good food.

Fresh and Best is not the most creative name for a restaurant, but what’s in a name anyways? What it is, is a little hole in the wall Vietnamese Restaurant located way in the back of an alley fronted by a yuppie breakfast place and a Peets Coffee. You’d never know it’s here at all, unless you wandered back here. There are a few out door tables and some inside. They have plates of food served over rice for reasonable prices. The plates are $ 7.95 for med and $ 8.95 for large. Considering the lousy $ 10 sandwich I just had at a suburban hof brau, this would have been a way better choice. I’m just in the area while a friend has a doctor’s appointment. Usually I hang out at the Peets and use the WiFi, but Peets is closed for remodeling. So wandering looking for somewhere to hang out for a bit. Since I ate already, I buy a soda and hang out here. I can still write reviews and not need the internet. It seems like a friendly place, and I looked over the ready made food in the steam trays. I wish I had this for lunch! They offer Phở as well as rice noodles served with grilled chicken or pork. They even have the Vietnamese sandwiches for just $ 5.95 with a choice of chicken or pork. I see paninis and spring rolls also for around $ 6 and $ 7. Prices seem reasonable and I’ll have to give the actual food a try. I do like the interior, although a bit dark, the out door area is nice and the lady working seemed friendly. Wander towards the back past Peets and check this place out.

This is my second review of Fresh and Best. I wouldn’t normally update a review without a major change of heart to motivate me — still love this place! — but I did want to reassure the reviewer who was concerned that the staff was handling money and then handling food. I’ve been eating lunch here between one and three times a week for about three years now and I’ve never seen anyone behind the counter handle money without then immediately washing their hands at the sink behind the register. They do it so seamlessly, while still chatting amiably, that possibly it went unnoticed? Just a thought. Given the amount of pleasure this place gives me (I dream about their tofu rolls at night) I’d hate for anyone to be denied that pleasure when they needn’t be. This place is super clean! And delicious. And charming.

Food and prices here didn’t blow me away which is why I give it 3 stars.
However, I can tell this is a local favorite. The place is tiny so there isn’t a lot of seating. Half the clients came in for takeout or sat outside. I could tell that many of them were regulars. Cute atmosphere and friendly service. Very clearly a mom and daughter operation (ok I’m just guessing that). Another plus is that this is order at the counter.
Menu is small but diverse. They have samples of most Vietnamese favorites. A hot bar with stir fries, vermicelli dishes, phở, and a couple of bahn mi choices. Plus lots and lots of smoothies. The food in the hot bar looked very fresh, even the vegetables. One thing I love about Vietnamese food is how fresh and healthy it can be.
I went with a tofu phở and my husband with a tofu salad. We ordered grilled pork vermicelli for the kids.
First big negative was that the prices seemed a bit on the high side for portion size. Food was pretty bland too. We both had to add a lot of Sriracha to our dishes. I also missed the normal phở presentation where you can add the extra sprouts/​basil/​cilantro to your soup. My soup did not come with any of that. Broth was also not the best. Definitely have had better phở.
That said, everything here was very fresh and there was plenty of tofu and broccoli in my phở. Good thing because the kids were still hungry after sharing the vermicelli dish and ate about half of it. My husband wasn’t super enthused about his salad but it looked good to me (I didn’t try it).
Second big negative was the food handling. It’s a small (and busy) operation and they cut some corners there by handling money and food at the same time with bare hands. My husband was a bit worried, but I have great faith in the body’s digestive system and none of us had any issues after this meal. The food is clearly very fresh and most food poisoning incidents occur from food that has been left out. We didn’t see any evidence of old food here.

Sort of a quaint Vietnamese eatery in an upscale upper Claremont area with friendly folks behind the counter, but I was disappointed that the banh mii (vietnamese sandwich) was on bread that was NOT toasted. The owner said that because the bread was Acme bread, they didn’t toast it (!).

I have been going to Fresh and Best for over ten years. It is located just around the corner from my office. I love their fresh juices, made with fresh fruit and vegetables on the spot. Another favorite is the rice rolls, which I often buy for lunch. They have recently updated the interior and it is both comfortable and warm. In talking with the owner when I first started to go there, I learned that she tried to leave Vietnam more than ten times. Her persistence paid off and I am glad to be a patron at her café/​restaurant.

Bahn mi and phở are super good. Not a bad price either. Mimi is really friendly and wants to make sure you’re enjoying your meal as much as possible — this is a cute little place with a variety of options and I’ll definitely be back to try their juices!

Not quite the freshest or bestest but definitely a great lunch option if you’re in the area. Food is decent (3.5 stars) but the service is what keeps me coming back. The two Vietnamese ladies at the counter are always friendly and quick, always telling me I can wait to pay until after I’m done eating. As I work in the area, I’ve had the chance to try out a few different things:
Banh mi (grilled chicken or pork): get it on Dutch crunch bread! For what it is, a bit pricier ($ 6 as opposed to the $ 3 range at many hole in the wall Vietnamese places) but I don’t mind paying a little more because it’s pretty filling and delicious. I would recommend this if you’re not in the mood for the greasy sandwiches offered by the other restaurants nearby. The vegetables are fresh, there’s a good portion of meat, and the bread is usually pretty great.
Vermicelli/​noodle salad: this is great for a hot day. It was okay, but I’ve definitely had better. I was a bit disappointed that version didn’t have as many fresh vegetables as the ones I am more familiar with, and no egg rolls on top.
Phở: broth is good, not too greasy. This is good for rainy or chillier days.
Lemongrass curry tofu: surprisingly good, kind of tastes like Thai curry. I like how its offered with a choice of rice or noodles!

I really love this place, great fresh, healthy food, excellent location, and Mimi and Julie are always so gracious and kind and friendly! Definitely try the vermicelli, with either chicken or pork, it’s really great! And then follow it with a freshly made smoothy — and you can’t go wrong!

I rolled in here in the middle of a bike ride and was pleasantly surprised by the delicious pan inis! The bread was fresh and delicious. The cheese was melty. Reasonably priced, too — I think the sandwich was under $ 6. The juices are also fresh-​squeezed and very yummy. It was quite lovely to sit in the sunny courtyard. I would recommend this if you are looking for a quick and easy lunch.

I have been coming to Rick and Ann’s for several years and never noticed this little place int he back. What a gem! Everything I have tried is fresh and delicious. I am a big fan of the noodle salads with chicken or tofu. I also have tried the banh mi sandwhiches. Everything is delicious and super affordable. My only criticism is that they sometimes close earlier than 7. They usually close at 5 or 6 when I have eaten there. But it is a little gem in one of my favorite areas and the staff are very friendly.

They heated up the chicken in the microwave. But at least it tasted good. But ya not fresh.

This place is great. The women who work there are really friendly and the sandwiches are great. I don’t think the buffet food (curries as such) are that special… but the Vietnamese sandwiches are AMAZING. Also, a great place to get fresh juice… and it’s been there forever.

This is a friendly neighborhood spot with lovely outdoor seating. I especially enjoy the pork sandwiches, which come on delicious bread baked at the Bread Garden next door. Their summer rolls are great too. And the owner always makes me feel welcome.

**Cash or Check (people still pay with these?) Only**
Small café down the walkway from Rick and Ann’s. They have standard deli sandwiches, panini, smoothies and shakes as well as Vietnamese sandwiches (pork or chicken banh mi) and steam tray rice plate items (Gigi’s menu pic
). I got the Pork Banh Mi ($ 5.50)
Another fusion Banh Mi as they are not made on the traditional baguette. You choose from the roll basket which are for all their sandwiches. Another review said they are from the Bread Garden Bakery (
) across the way.
Bread can make or break a sandwich, especially a banh mi. I thought I’d chosen some kind of cheese topped roll (
) which I thought looked better than the seeded rolls, but it turned out to be a somewhat underbaked, dense and dry Dutch Crunch which was toasted on the inside. I see positive reviews about the Dutch Crunch so maybe this one wasn’t representative of their usual quality or they have a different source now.
There was a generous amount of meat and fillings (
). The pork had a nice grilled flavor and not too fatty. There were much more lightly pickled carrots than daikon and they were grated so they didn’t have any crunch. Cucumber slices, lettuce (?), and a mayo smear rounded out the sandwich.
Overall a below average banh mi, but the tasty meat and the friendly staff keep this at 3 stars. The rest of the sandwich was just so-​so.

The food is great here and super fresh! Really nice women run the place and always make you feel welcome when you go. It’s hard to find since it’s hidden behind other popular places like Rick and Ann’s and Peet’s coffee but you won’t regret going out of your way. I would definitely recommend their roast chicken breast panini. It’s my favorite on their menu. Their basil chicken is also good, but its flavor is a little strong.
The roast chicken breast panini is the best $ 6.25 you can spend. Grab a panini, an iced latte from peet’s, and sit outside and enjoy yourself.

Good place for lunch!
Sandwiches are great…
I like the outdoor sitting area.

Much improvement over the last 2 years! I usually just used to stick with fresh juice and curry chicken, but the fresh rolls are really fresh, actually made to order, (the grilled chicken rolls are awesome)…highly suggest trying. I love the smoothies too. My bf loves the pork buns and spring rolls too… We love this place!
*They take CC now

Hubby and I just had the chicken banh mi and they were great. Huge-​ass sandwiches, just the way I like ‘em. Parking is a drag but once you’re in, you are in for some tasty treats.

The two ladies who run this place are the best, the food is fresh!
My favorite phrase, «do you want vegetables with that». The lemongrass tofu with vegetables is great.
I like eating in the sun outside in the courtyard by Domingo Peets.
The ladies are wonderful and very interested in making sure you have a good experience there.
You really can’t beat the price.