My friend and I went to Pho Cot in Denison for dinner last night, and it was one of the worst restaurant experiences I've ever had.
We both ordered pho, and I ordered a Dr Pepper. When the can was placed on the table, the top was covered in dirt and hair. I cleaned it off with my pants because I didn't want to make a scene, but I was already pretty disgusted.
My friend's food came out first, and he started eating. When my bowl of pho arrived, I immediately noticed a long black hair in the broth. I pushed the bowl away and waited for our server to return. When he came back, I pointed out the hair and told him I wasn't going to eat it. He asked if I wanted something else, but by that point I had completely lost my appetite and declined. He took the bowl away.
A few minutes later, he returned and told me the restaurant had a "no refund" policy and that I would still have to pay for the meal. I explained that I wasn't willing to pay for food I couldn't eat because it arrived with a hair in it.
The manager came over and offered to have another meal made, but I told him I no longer felt comfortable eating anything from the kitchen. We said we were happy to pay for my friend's meal and my drink, but I wasn't going to pay for the bowl of pho that I never ate because of the hair.
Instead of resolving the issue, the manager said he was calling the police. We then waited about 30 minutes for officers to arrive.
When the officers spoke with us, they said the manager wanted me to either pay for part of the meal or receive a citation for theft of service. I explained that I didn't understand why I should have to pay for food that I couldn't eat because it arrived with a hair in it.
A police sergeant was called to the restaurant. The manager had apparently told the officers we were trying to avoid paying around $40, but I explained that my bowl of pho was about $15 and that we were already willing to pay for everything else.
The manager also suggested they didn't know what happened to the food after it left the kitchen. Fortunately, I had taken a photo of the hair before the bowl was removed and showed it to the sergeant. After seeing the photo and discussing the situation with the manager and staff, the matter was resolved, and we were allowed to pay only for the food and drinks that were actually consumed.
The entire experience was disappointing. Finding a hair in food is bad enough, but what really upset me was how the situation was handled. Rather than apologizing and making things right, I was told I still had to pay, was accused of causing the problem, and had the police called over a meal I never ate.
As for the food itself, my friend said his pho was just average and not worth going back for, especially considering there are much better pho restaurants in the area.
I won't be returning, and based on my experience, I can't recommend eating here. read more