East Side Banh Mi
This gleaming new fast-casual eatery on Gallatin Avenue is a bright and cheerful Vietnamese spot for sandwiches, salads, and bowls. Opened by industry vets Grace Nguyen and Chad Newton, the shop pulls in recipes from Grace’s family trove, and puts its own spin on classic bites. The banh mi arrives on homemade baguettes stuffed with options like roasted black pepper-caramel pork shoulder or “Xiu Mai” Impossible meatballs, as well as fried shallot mayo, pickles, cucumbers, cilantro, and jalapeño—add the house pâté for an extra dollar. There are a handful of bowls, including the chilled rice noodle bowl packed with Bloomsbury Farm greens, pickles, herbs, crispy bits, and spicy fish sauce, as well as small bites like crispy pork sticks and summer rolls. The small shop is…