I've been eyeing this place up for a few weeks after I saw it while biking down the Trail. Second day they were open, I happened to be nearby and grabbed a really good pork belly summer roll ("Fresh Roll") to go. I enjoyed it a lot, but I figured I'd hold off on reviewing the place til I could have a proper sit-down there. That was today.
OVERALL (tl;dr)
I rate this place a solid 8/10, but I'm giving it five stars because the food quality far outshines the logistical issues. If you want to dine in, feel free to go for the sandwiches and rolls and everything but the pho. Everything I've tried has been really good, especially the pork belly. If you want pho, order it to go becauce the outside seating makes it just too hot to eat a big bowl of soup.
Pros:
-From my experience, really damn good pork and food overall
-Great location for walkers and bikers near downtown
-They accept cash and all cards
-Very personable, very helpful employees
-Fast service
-Well-priced (most expensive: $10 very large soup, least expensive: $1 pair of veg spring rolls)
Cons:
-Odd location for drivers
-Outside seating makes it too hot to eat pho comfortably
LOGISTICS
Getting to their actual parking lot is a lil odd (from Main, go south on Douglas a block and then west on Scotland, it's at the Trail), but it's wonderfully easy to get to if you're in downtown or spending some time on the Pinellas Trail. You order at a window in the front (was a bit hot at first, but they've put an umbrella out there that fixes that), they take cash and all cards. They take your name and you go sit in their covered seating area. It's a small place, but they've got a pretty decent amount of seating. They have chopsticks and soup spoons and sriracha and soy and such out there, at your disposal. Since it's outside and it's Florida, it's a bit warm. I went in on a very hot day and I was actually quite comfortable, but I had spring rolls, summer rolls, and banh mi. If I had pho, I can imagine that it could get a bit uncomfortable
SERVICE
The place is run by a handful of real nice girls and a guy. The owner (forgot her name) has been there, taking orders, both times I've been. She's really friendly and talkative, makes the whole deal feel like you're eating a friend's place. I ordered a meal for two and it was out in about five minutes. The employees were readily available if I needed anything, but everything was done perfectly, so I didn't.
FOOD
Oh my, was I pleased. I ordered the pork belly Banh Mi (on the recommendation of the owner, $6), a pork belly Fresh Roll ($2.50), two veggie spring rolls ($1), and a pork belly spring roll ($1.50). The summer roll was excellent: the wrapping wasn't too thick, the pork belly was rich and tender, the veggies were fresh and bright, and the peanut sauce was my favorite of all the places in the area (though I could've used more of it). The veggie spring rolls surprised me with how flavorful they were, and they were perfectly fried. The pork belly spring roll was the same excellence, but with the added bonus of their great pork. And the pork belly banh mi, oh boy, the banh mi: the bread was just the right level of crusty; the pork was cut and seasoned so well that it was even easier to eat than the veggies; the sriracha and mayo(?) sauce melded to highlight the flavors of it all and give it some bite; and the veggies were well-proportioned and cut thin enough that the whole sandwich had a really distinct, really cohesive taste. I think I have a new favorite place for banh mi. read more