I actually had high hopes for this place. After seeing the good reviews from fellow yelpers and a recommendation from someone, I had to try it out for myself. Just like a lot of pho places, they're in a strip mall of some sort. This one was part of a mini corner lot with parking available. A small lot but decent.
We were meeting some friends for dinner which we arrived before they did. Friday night thinking it would be mobbed but there were actually loads of tables available. Everyone that was already seated were utilizing the booths that surround the restaurant. In the middle are tables which weren't utilized. We got seated along the tables where the windows are off the street side. At the beginning, service was great. Menus were brought out which they practically had everything on it. Your traditional Vietnamese dishes, hot pot as well as well as seafood boil. It was quite impressive which was also a good thing and something we wanted to check out.
It did take us a while to order as there was so much to go through as they all looked quite interesting. I tend to know what I want but still, everything looked quite good. Started off with some beers while still going through the menu. From there we ordered some starter of the shrimp spring rolls and banh xeo (Vietnamese pancakes). Springs roll, 2 per order but cut in half's to 4 pieces. Nothing special about them. Banh xeo on the other hand was quite tasty with just the right amount of crispy ness and stuffed with shrimp and accompanied by the greens. That was a tasty dish and i do recommend it. The sauces that come with the roll and pancakes were quite nice too.
As for entrees, it was a mixture of everything. I love me some oxtail pho. Which they had the X-Large oxtail pho. First impressions, there was nothing X-Large about it. The size was pretty much basic. But they did give a good option of the oxtail which was nice. Broth was ok, and the condiments that came with it minus the green pepper (jalapeño) which wasn't there is alway good added. It's wasn't what I expected. There was also two order of the banh mi, one with shrimp and the other with beef. Out of the two, the shrimp was way better. I do like it with a lot of the pickle veggies and jalapeño which would have been great. The beef on the other hand, it was a major miss. I expected grilled beef chunks of some sort but when it was brought out, it was basically thin slices. A major fail. Also an order of the fries which had a nice dipping sauce both ketchup and aioli. Lastly, an order of the fried shrimp. That was quite nice with big size shrimp and batter and fried to a nice golden crisp. Served with both ketchup and aioli sauce too.
The food was ok, nothing major to rave about with what we ordered. Banh xeo and the fried shrimp was a hit. The other, oxtail pho and banh mi were a dud. But after the starters came out, we had emptied bottle and the emptied plates that needed to be taken away for room. When one of the servers came out with the pho, we asked if they could clear the table a bit so there would be room for the entrees, he just brushed it off as it wasn't his job. Ok, understandable but he then just pointed to someone else and just walked away. Another entree came out which, we literally had to explain to him
that there were no room for the plates. Even with us gathering them and to show him and with the bottles. We actually had to flag one of the host guys down to actually help clear the table. Mind you, only the booths were utilized and it was still hard trying to get someone's attention. Even with the bill which we also couldn't get anyone's attentions. I had to walk up to get someone's to acknowledge us.
Overall, I expected to much from all the great reviews from fellow yelpers. Could just be the night we went with the service. The place wasn't crowded which it was still a little ordeal. Overall, they'll have a good clientele and regulars. I expected too much from this place with high hopes but I don't think I'll be back. The menu is quite impressive which is a plus. But our visit, it was lacking. read more