" Best Pho On Taikang Lu... "

Value for money		Suitable for...
The food		.. a date
The service		.. business dinner
The decor		.. with friends

Hien, one of Smartshanghai regulars wrote about this place, http://www.smartshanghai.com/blog/1065/Pho_No._1_–_The_Sequel.html. I\'ll add my 2 cents from a non pho fanatic point of view. I went for lunch all by my lonesome. The place had only one other group of customers. The big menu, (physically too,) has way too much stuff. And much of it isn\'t Vietnamese. Shaved red bean ice seems out of place. Anyhow, I ordered the fried spring rolls and a small bowl of pho with beef. And a coconut for a drink. (Have you ever wonder if those coconuts are just recycled and its some canned coconut drink you\'re really having?) While waiting for my food and drink to arrive, I felt I was in a kindergarten! The place has a section with kid toys, picture books and chalkboards! I felt as if I was being punished during recess and couldn\'t go out and play with the other kids. My coconut arrives first in saran wrap. Must be fresh from the wet market. Soon my spring rolls and bowl of pho arrive. The small pho portion was just right. The beef comes on a separate plate and the gracious staff puts the beef, basil,and bean sproats into the bowl of pho. Attentive staff. The rolls came with fish sauce and lettuce. Presentation of food was decent enough. While waiting for my beef to cook I though the spring rolls were great! The fish sauce was not fishy enough. I waited and waited for my beef to look less raw. The soup in the bowl of pho was not hot enough. Since I\'m not crazy about pho, it wasn\'t a disappointment, but it just wasn\'t that good. The slow cooking beef didn\'t quite ruined my experience. I\'ll try the place another day. Cuz I still liked the spring rolls!