Soups at Nava Thai
The Floating Market Noodle Soup has been justly and repeatedly praised in these parts -- it's a spectacular dish. But the blood will turn a few folks off, and for the rest of us, it is incendiary -- no amount of rice and ice will keep you from sweating profusely (not that that's a bad thing!) -- and therefore not the sort of thing one would eat every day.
But for those days when the FMNS seems like more than you can bear, just look down one item on the menu, to No. 05, Tom Yum Pork Noodle Soup, which, were it not for the FMNS, the pho at Pho Hot, and anything Frank Ruta concocts at Palena, would be the best bowl of soup in town. Just a perfect mix of the classic Thai sour, sweet, spice, savory, fish-sauce, combo. Every time I've had it, at Nava or carry out, I've been wowed. Just couldn't eat enough -- and that's with the delish duck salad and other goodies beckoning. The TYPNS is, for lack of a better word, soulful.
I'll bet the other soups at Nava are also great -- but it'll be awfully hard to ever try them, if it means not ordering one of the two I've had so far.
MartyL
Sep 24, 2008 12:09PM
I'll try this next time. I'm a huge fan of the FMNS, but i've got to admit that I didn't know about the blood until I'd had five or six bowls. By that time I was hopelessly hooked. I've been working my way throught the menu, but haven't tried any of the soups but FMNS. Tomorrow for lunch, #5 it will be.
Thanks for the heads up.
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I did go to Nava Thai for lunch and ordered #5. Thanks for the recommendation--it really is a fine bowl of soup. It was very rich, well-spiced (fiery, but not quite to the FMNS level), and it was impossible to leave any of it, including the dregs of the broth, in the bowl.
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I can't believe I ate the Whoooole thing. The FMNS at Nava Thai is indeed spectacular, and the moment it landed on my table my eyes started tearing from the chili pepper fumes, and I got hit in the nose with the aroma of the spices. It looks like the best of rustic cooking. I doubt I'll ever eat a bowl by myself again, though. I think the soup actually grew in size while I was eating it. I was ready to float away by the time I finished, burning lips and all.
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I was there for Nava Thai's last day before closing down in Wheaton. I spoke to the proprietress who said that they have yet to find a new location. She said they want to keep the operation small and that Rockvillle is too expensive. Apparently the market does not want to renew their lease because they now see the restaurant as a moneymaker for themselves.
This was my third visit, and I have yet to identify anything nearly as good as their Floating Market Noodle Soup. Or anything I'm interested in ordering again. Of course, that alone is worth a trip around the beltway, so I look forward to exploring the menu more in the new location.
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Did they close in Wheaton?! When did this happen?! I hope I misunderstood... I could eat there every night!
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There has been some discussion about this before. Sunday was their last day.... until they can find a new space. I don't think it will be a quick turnaround.
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