Maybe it was our mistake for not getting the Pho or maybe it was because the B-Team was in the kitchen that night - but about the only good thing at our visit was the service.
The food was remarkably flavorless, which for a fresh cuisine like Vietnamese was a first for me. The shrimp that appeared in a number of our dishes was soggy and flavorless, reminiscent of the too-cheap frozen variety. The shredded pork was dry, gritty and tasted off. Our food was only occasionally punctuated by the fresh taste of basil or mint - but otherwise was just not good.
The service, however, was excellent. Our waiter was cheerful, efficient, and welcoming. He switched right to English when he heard my girlfriend and I trying to work our dubious French.
I have to wonder if something was off that night in the kitchen, especially given the other reviews and an experience like this in a city known for its excellent Vietnamese cuisine.