Pete R.
Yelp
Craving a good Pho fix, my wife and I tried this place out last night. It is close to our temporary digs, and I had read the reviews to see if we might like it. We arrived around 6:00 pm and the place was packed. We put our name down on a wait list and within 5 minutes we had a table. The decor is minimalist with very cool wall murals. It does have an industrial feel, and the high exposed ceiling causes the ambient noise to be a bit amplified. Our table was a little small (even though it was designed for 2 people) as the condiment tray took up a bit of space. Condiments include Sriracha sauce, Chili sauce (in a squeeze bottle), Hoisin sauce, salt, pepper, chopsticks, forks and spoons.
The menu provides plenty of options to include some Wagyu beef options. Intrigued, I ordered the $22 Pho Wagyu and my wife had the $15 Vermicelli Phenominal. Both portions were large. Below is my feedback:
- Pho Wagyu (10/10). It was presented with the raw Wagyu beef placed on top of the noodles (I assume so the customer can see the marbling). The server then poured the hot (delicious) broth over the top of the meat and filled the bowl. A plate of bean sprouts, lime wedges, Thai basil, and sliced jalapeños accompanied my Pho. After loading up the bowl with the garnishes I dug in.
- Vermicelli Phenomenal (9/10). This dish included vermicelli with char grilled pork and chicken and was accompanied by a pork eggroll. Her dish also included some greens and shredded carrots, crushed peanuts, and a small cup of vermicelli broth (which was a little too sweet for her taste). When the server was pouring my broth, she asked if he would pour some over her vermicelli, which he graciously did. She didn't care for the eggroll as it was a little greasy and the pork was more like a paste than ground pork (what she expected).
Bottom line: We will definitely be back for more. we'd like to try some of the other dishes on the menu like the rice options and the Hu Tieu specialty. Do yourself a favor if you're craving some great Pho and stop in for some at Broth & Basil!