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| - Pho 1
Pho 1 was introduced to me by a friend, and what a delight. We ordered the Number 12 Tai Nam Gau. The broth was flavorful, and the "extras" to put in the soup were all fresh, and nothing wilted, which I have experienced at other establishments, thus making me question the food The egg rolls were phenomenal and flavorful The peanut sauce was outstanding. Pho won my heart, however there were several ambiance issues that strained the dining experience.
While we ate, a kitchen assistant set up a work station next to our table, where he proceeded to refill bottles that are placed on the tables. It was distracting to hear the final sounds of various sauces being ejected from each plastic bottle. There were at least 20 that were refilled. When I thought it would be over, out came another set of bottles. I hope that if management reads this, prepping will be done in the kitchen. Another distraction was the lighting. The room could use a screen on the front window. The afternoon sun cast a light, and as I talked to my dining partner, she was like looking at a shadow. When I placed my glasses on, all she could see was the reflection of the overhead lights and we could only laugh that wearing glasses made one look like an alien. We began a discussion on restaurants and ambiance. I realized even a food truck has it's ambiance and if there was a jack hammer performing roadwork next to the truck, it would ruin the experience. We had our final laugh as a busboy began to clear tables and managed to stack dishes and toss in the silverware to create a cacophony of tableware sounds I realize these are minor issues, however it does make a difference to improve the entire dining experience.
I am not a fan of plastic bowls as the soup did not retain it's heat. The server never returned to offer a refill on out tea or offer dessert.
I will definitely return to Pho 1 as I enjoyed the soup, however, if I was bringing a friend to enjoy a meal and to talk, it would not be my number one choice due to the ambiance issues and the lack of service.
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