Cassandra C.
Yelp
On Friday at 3:30pm, we are the only two patrons. It's like an episode of Highlander in here but with extremely sweet service, which we did recieve. No beheadings required. I believe I came here once or twice long before my yelp days and was not excited. However, places change and faces change and these reviews have changed.
Pho. We just went for the Pho. I live nearby so of course I go further to get my Pho fix because I make everything harder for myself, up to and including this review. I've already found my perfect bowl but trying others' is the spice of life.
And you know, it wasn't bad at all. It was a bit lighter than the average Pho broths I've found around PDX and make at home but it was unmistakably beef. You could smell the beef fat (yes, in a very good way). The herb provided was fresh and cardamom was definitely in the air. The beef was tender (we did flank and brisket) and shaved thin. The noodles were cooked well, not crunchy or slimy. Perfect actually.
Price point was nice to see in Oregon City, low. $6.00-$13.00. You can afford to have some apps with your main and not blow the bank.
I would have loved some cilantro but they did not short change on basil, jalapeno or sprouts.
Our one fatal flaw was the salt level. Extremely salty. My recipe calls for fish sauce to act as the salt agent for Pho and other establishments when I've asked have more often than not followed this practice. I did not taste the abundance of fish sauce it would take to produce that much saltiness without leaving traces of a lot of fermented fish (yummy) in the broth. It tasted like salt water beneath the delicious beefy goodness. It was just too salty for my party and myself and I do enjoy (shamefully) a heavy hand of salt in my food. About an hour later and my tounge is still burning of it. Perhaps an off day or the slip of a salting hand?
I'd give the Pho 3 stars for it's high points. It wasn't a bad bowl afterall and everyone has a different taste for salt. Try for yourself. Plus, the service was very sweet and professional. Decor was nice. Place was clean and prices are excellent for Oregon City! I would feel nasty inside for not popping on an extra star for those attributes.
They may not be quite for me but maybe you. Pho is a private love affair after all. Give em' a shot.