. . "2014-05-15T00:00:00"^^ . "3"^^ . . "Pho Tien is the kind of place that 's been around forever, that you've passed a thousand times and wondered how they stayed in business. \n\nIt's located across the street from Toronto Western Hospital and down the block from a funeral home, so maybe the place survives by feeding lunch to the 'Before' and 'After' crowd. \n\nThis makes sense, since Pho Tien has a kind of limbo-esque quality to it; a Vietnamese restaurant where the only competition includes lonely McDonalds and Tim Hortons outputs, and a cafeteria so miserable it makes the food served to patients seem palatable. \n\nPastel walls and white-painted fixtures seem at odds with dark fake-wood tables and office-grade chairs. A quick google search suggests that a murder may have allegedly occurred here some time ago. \n\nThe food itself is pretty standard Toronto Viet Noms. Pho arrives with a standard tangle of rare beef and beef balls. The soup itself tastes more of salt than anything, but on a cold day it's plenty good. Spring rolls are much better; properly crisp and porky, a welcome contrast. \n\nService is rude, but when you're visiting a sick relative, what kind of mood are you in? \n\nWhether or not Pho Tien is a portal to the next world, it reminds one that there's always comfort to be had in good food."^^ . "1"^^ . "3"^^ . "1"^^ .