An on-campus favorite from a reputed party school, the Blue Owl gets rave reviews all around. Boasting sandwiches with an Asian flair, it seems all are on board with this fusion.
But fusion must be used with caution, and I can’t say this was done with care. I love Asian flavors, but things like the Thai Basil Cheeseburger lose important details in the delivery. The patty is infused with green curry, but it seems they only used the powder which leaves the patty choking-dry. A perfect fried egg does add moisture, but it's not enough to save the sandwich. The use of American cheese when their kitchen carries several real cheeses is an inexplicable decision as well.
It’s not fusion just because you sandwiched it between other pieces of starch, and the Nam Toc Burrito is one reason NOT to do starch-within-a-starch. I can only describe it as boring. The term “Tri-tip” stimulates salivation, but it’s just a thin tortilla encasing a bland bowl of rice. There is some spiciness to the rice, but the texture is a bit hard and buries all other flavors in blandness.
A Kid Grilled Cheese is the best of the three. Gooey goodness melts over a toasted sourdough, with a side of mixed green salad. It’s the most basic, but sometimes the best thing you can do is let it be.
PSA: Asian cuisine is so much more than curry paste, chilies, and fish sauce. They are great flavors, but the devil's in the details. I love the concepts, I love the fusion, I just need to love the execution.
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