The Great Escape: The Best of Both Worlds

The key to a good afternoon escape is planning ahead. Lunch is always a great escape when you find yourself with an hour or two of time. Plan ahead, so the next time you have even 60 minutes to spare, you'll waste no time deciding where to go.

 awaits your next afternoon break! Offering both quality food and quick service, this Montrose staple brings the best of both worlds: good food without an excruciating wait for a table.

Pho 22 is a Vietnamese, fusion-style restaurant with a nice, clean feel. The service is also top-notch. When my friend and I visited the restaurant, we were in and out in 40 minutes. The servers were quick to take our orders, and they seemed to refill our drinks every time they walked by.

I ordered the small beef rice noodle soup, thinking the small portion would be just enough for lunch. There must be something lost in the translation, because the small soup bowl almost the size of a punch bowl. The soup is served with an assortment of flavor-enhancing garnishes that add extra flavor, including bean sprouts, jalapeño pepper slices, fresh cilantro and basil, as well as lime wedges. I paired my soup with chilled shrimp rice rolls, which were a meal in themselves.

The owner and head chef of Pho 22 is JC Kim who refers to chefs as "mechanical engineers." Kim has been in the restaurant business for over ten years, and he reports that the most popular dish at the restaurant is the rice noodle soup served with rare steak. Pho 22 is a great place to escape reality for an hour or so, and to enjoy great Vietnamese cuisine. Just don't try to visit on Mondays, as they are closed all day.