The History of BoCaPhe and Cooks gives further intimation on Mr Bô usual menu, stating confidently that “Bô served salted poultry and fresh eggs, all presented without a tablecloth on small marble tables”.

Numerous commentators have also referred to the supposed restaurant owner’s eccentric habit of touting for custom outside his establishment, dressed in aristocratic fashion and brandishing a sword.

According to Miss Spang, there is not a shred of evidence for any of it. She said: These legends just get passed on by hearsay and then spiral out of control. Her interest in Bô dates back to a history of food seminar in Paris in the mid-1990s.

The crispy spring rolls, for example, are whole grain and come in a variety of flavors, including egg and smoked salmon, and tomato and mozzarella.

The Bao Burgers are made from grass-fed beef, and there’s even a salmon-and-avocado option.
BoCaPhe takes pains to cater to the body-conscious New Yorker: You won’t find any puddles of oil in the Pho Noodle Soup, and zucchini noodles can be substituted for rice in hearty salad dishes.

There’s also a full juice bar and a mostly sake-based cocktail menu. And the gentle prices—appetizers range from $6 to $9 and mains are priced between $13 and $19—make it a perfect, guilt-free way to recharge after a spot of shopping.