Trams

   Someone wrote:
 >
 > I remember reading, a month or two ago, that Trams in Lawrenceville
 > had been overwhelmed by the crowds after getting some positive press.
 > Has anyone been there recently? Have things leveled off? I'm thinking of
 > going there this weekend and am wondering if I need to factor a wait into
 > my schedule.

 Well, I answered my own question by going and thought I'd let everyone know
 things are good at Trams.  We got there around 6:30 and got a table right
 away. Several of the other tables (there only only about 7 or 8 total)
 had people at them.  There was a steady stream of people in and out over
 the hour and a half we were there but no one ever had to wait for a table.

 The owner and his family were gracious and the food was excellent.  My wife
 and I had a "fresh spring roll" each. These are Goi Cuon (sp?) type rolls.
 The unfried kind and they were outstanding.  They also have the fried spring
 rolls (listed as vietnamese egg rolls)which I'd like to try next time.  A
 nice dipping sauce came with the spring rolls. One also finds two kinds of
 red chili sauce (one bottled, one looks homemade) hoisin, soy, and fish sauce
 on the table to use throughout the meal.

 My wife had Vermicelli with coconut milk and shrimp (#17 on the menu) and I,
 who would happily subsist for weeks at a time on Pho Bo, decided for reasons
 unknown to order #19 Grilled pork with Vermicelli and vegetables.  Both where
 excellent. (The Vermicelli is rice noodles of course). A large table salad
 including some pickled carrot/daikon came with the meal.  I probably would
 have ordered two spring rolls apiece or another appetizer but I'm a big
 eater. The portions were pretty good by and large and you can't beat the
 price. Spring rolls were $1.25 each (minm.order 2) and my wife's dish was
 $6.50 (would have been a dollar less without the shrimp) and mine was $6.95.
 I saw a couple of bowls of pho served and they looked good! Next time.
 Apparantly they used to offer a vietnamese Hoagy but it's not on the menu.
 However, there are several notations on the menu about calling ahead for
 special items and I heard him talking to another table about the shrimp
 mouse on sugar cane appetizer you see in vietnamese cookbooks. He said, no
 problem but you have to order in advance to get something like that. I had
 the impression that if they can get the ingredients they'll fix you anything
 you'd like with advance notice.

 One other specialized note possibly of interest to some, they didn't have a
 high chair but my one year old daughter was very welcome and the owner
 talked to her a lot as she munched on bean sprouts (perfectly fresh crispy
 bean sprouts I should add)and the odd cucumber and pieces of pork.

 All in all, highly recommended.  They are at 4039 Penn Ave, which is between
 Main and 40th streets in Lawrenceville.  It's just a shy of two blocks toward
 downtown on Penn Avenue and it would be on right hand side of the street if
 you were headed toward downtown. Look for the blue pain.

 Jeff Fortescue
 Business Librarian/Pho bo fanatic
 The Library Center
 [email removed]