I was really excited to see a Vietnamese restaurant coming to Central Phoenix and have been watching for the opening and a chance to check it out.
I went for lunch on a Friday and the place was packed. I was dining alone so I sat at the bar. One of the two sisters who owns the place greeted me and got me some water. I ordered a Tuna Fresh Spring Roll, the Firecracker Shrimp and at the last minute, when I spotted them neatly lined up on the counter, a Vietnamese Iced Coffee.
The Tuna Fresh Spring Roll was decent and the mango dipping sauce was good too. I had to go looking for the tuna though. I don't expect a whole lot of fish in one of those, but I shouldn't have to go hunting for the one thin little slice that was in each half. A little more would have made a more balanced roll worth the $4.
The Firecracker Shrimp was pretty good too. It was lightly battered and nicely spicy. I like that the tails were off so it was easier (and neater) to eat.
My last minute decision to get the Iced Coffee was the best one. It was strong and rich and luscious! I highly recommend that item in particular!
Now for the reason I only gave this place 2 stars...The food arrived promptly, but no one - not even the owner who was mixing drinks in front of me most of the time I was eating - ever asked how it was. But the biggest reason for my rating however is that all through my lunch, the servers were piling dirty glasses from bussing tables less than a foot from my plate - repeatedly. The owner was mixing drinks on the bar ledge with dirty half filled glasses side by side. I can totally see a barely touched iced tea refill mistakenly going back out to someone else's table like that when it's busy. So gross!! They took my water glass by mistake because it was so close to the dirty cups.
I won't ever eat at the bar again. I might try a table and see how the Pho is.... maybe. I will probably stop in for an Iced Coffee to go - but that's about it. I really want to like this place, but they've gotta clean up their act.