When I found out about Sate Southeast Asian Grill, I knew I would be a fan. Not only because of the creative concept, but because of the fresh options I had heard about through some friends.
And fresh they are! When you first walk in, the aroma from the grill hits your nostrils, making your mouth water. In fact, the first thing you see as you walk up to the counter is a hot, flaming grill going to town on chicken skewers and grilled steak. Sorry, vegetarians, but the smell of meat on the grill makes my heart go pitter patter. Never to fear, though, there are plenty of vegetarian options here at Sate!
I brought my friend Monica, from Sweetbites to check out Sate with me. The staff immediately greeted and welcomed us as we started to browse the menu and the area behind the counter, mentally constructing our bowls. As you begin to build your meal, you start by choosing a base. Sate offers rice, noodles, salad or a bread (sandwich) base. I kept it simple for my first visit and went with the rice, but I cannot wait to return to try a sandwich! Once you choose your base, it's time to decide on your protein. You can choose between grilled chicken strips, grilled steak, chicken Satay (chicken skewers), tofu, shredded pork and sesame bbq pork.
I decided that the chicken Satay looked much too delicious to pass up, so I went with that, while Monica went with the shredded pork. The gentleman creating my order went straight to the grill and pulled 2 skewers right off of it, and straight onto my bowl. Like I said, FRESH! The pork looked fork tender and was drenched in a broth that would probably be good enough to drink.
Once you've chosen your protein, then the fun really begins. Sate has a cornucopia of fresh vegetables, sauces and toppings to add some pizzazz to your creation. I added grilled onions, bean sprouts, fresh cilantro, corn, jalapenos and topped it with Sate's signature fish sauce. As you watch your creation slide down the counter to the cash register, you momentarily become distracted with, what Sate calls, "side kicks". Beautifully wrapped spring rolls, hot soups, and crispy egg rolls tempt your taste buds as you wait to cash out. Today I stuck with just my bowl, but I have to say, I will be back for a soup sampling!
To wash it all down, you can choose Thai Lemonade, Thai Iced Coffee, Thai Iced Tea, Vietnamese coffee, soft drinks, water and/or regular iced tea. I knew I had to try the iced coffee, as it's one of my all time favorite drinks. For $2.00 with unlimited refills, these people had me at hello.
For around $8-9, you get a HUGE bowl filled with fresh ingredients, that you created yourself, plus unlimited gourmet iced beverages. That, my friends, is a steal.
Although it's set up cafeteria style, and the drink areas are self serve, we were approached by staff twice to see how our meals were and if we needed anything. One of those visits was by a member of management who talked to us a little about how everything is made in house, and how we must come back to try some side kicks and the Vietnamese coffee.
The next time you're looking for something different, check out Sate. It's a Asian fusion, casual dining and quick service restaurant that you'll feel good about eating at. Happen to be a USF student? Sate offers a discount with a valid student ID! Yelper? Check in at Sate for 15% off your meal. Even better... bring 6 or more guests with you at check-in and your meal will be free! Gotta love Yelp deals! :)
Have you tried Sate Southeast Asian Grill? What do you think of these fast casual dining options popping up everywhere?
Steph
Disclosure: I was invited to try Sate Souteast Asian Grill for free in exchange for my review. Yum.
