Benjamin Franklin Centre Coffee Corner

Coffee con, oh coffee con; i dont get why every CU people when asked to choose between coffee con and Franklin, the majority would pick the former and despise the later. Indeed, the food the 2 places serve are entirely different. Coffee con, although having the word «coffee» in it, has basically nothing to do with coffee; that is to say, coffee is not their signature item on the menu.
Rather than coffee, actually i reckon are the vietnam or thai inspired noodle dishes that sets it apart. Vietnamese thin rice noodles or Phở as it is more commonly known in served only here in coffee con all around CU. Coming in either hot and cold, it sure gives variation to the otherwise limited options of starch between rice and pasta. Phở unlike other forms of noodles is a lot lighter and ethereal, especially when it is served cold, an ideal option for a hot summer lunch when appetite is in short supply. Cold phở is normally bathed in a vinegar and fish sauce based dressing flecked with freshly minced garlic and chili flakes. The sweet and sour tangy liquid makes it even more refreshing on the palate and counterbalances the fried meats of your choice, pork chop, wings etc that tops the dish.
Other than the phở, i think another specialty worth mentioning would be the baked pastas and it is the pastas i guess that draw people all around CU to stand for Coffee con but not Franklin. Served in tin dishes, the baked pastas are covered with cheese and each strand is coated with thick sauce; however I am not a fan of pastas and that’s not something that I would choose whenever I’m in coffee con.
Up till this moment, i still have trouble understanding why the line at the entrance of coffee con is constantly long while the seats in Franklin are always in huge supply; personally I would rather go elsewhere than waiting in such a long line.