During college, I was fortunate enough to work at a Vietnamese restaurant and develop a deep appreciation for Pho. I usually go to Pho Van to fulfill my Pho cravings but after my last trip, I am going to explore other options. I am not ruling Pho Van out and I acknowledge that every restaurant has an off day but the service and flavor solidified my 3 star rating. I came by myself during lunch on a Friday. It was a chilly day and I knew Pho would hit the spot. I started with fresh shrimp rolls. They are a staple at most Thai/Vietnamese restaurants and they are my favorite appetizer. Pho Van's are delicious and will continue to order these everytime I go back. As my main course, I ordered the veggie pho with steamed instead of fried tofu. Usually, the broth has great flavor and I don't need to add anything other than the basil, jalapeño & bean sprouts that come with the dish. Unfortunately, the broth was bland and desperately needed Sriracha. The veggies were skimpy, too. Bok choy, carrots, a few mushrooms and the tofu. No broccoli and the bowl was majority noodles and broth. My waiter was friendly and service was fast but I wasn't approached once during my meal to ask if everything was okay. Granted, I was working on paperwork but as a former server, I found the lack of interaction disappointing.
Like I said, I am not blacklisting Pho Van but I am looking forward to experiencing the other Vietnamese restaurants around Pitt.