Review Series: Chinatown Challenge
When I started investigating the various Pho restaurants in Chinatown for this review series I was worried about how I was going to be able to keep every post unique and interesting, it seemed challenging to me to write about the same dish without repeating myself. However, now that we are at the halfway point of this series I have learned that every restaurant, no matter how similar they may appear, offers something that is uniquely their own. Whether it be the size of the noodles, the decor of the dining room or the quality of service, each restaurant shines in its own way. This week I visited Pho 88 located at 270 Spadina and had a dining experience unlike any other I have had in this series.
The windows of Pho 88 are always filled with happy customers
I have walked by Pho 88 dozens of times since I moved to Toronto, it stuck out in my mind because the windows are always filled with tables of people enjoying Vietnamese soups. For one reason or another I have never ventured in, so I was excited this week to go in and give it a try. As I entered Pho 88 a hostess greeted me, escorted me to my seat and gave me a menu. After locating the pho on the menu I searched around the table for a pen and paper to mark off my selection, but, to my surprise I could not find one. Instead a waitress came over and took down my order. While this may seem like a rather unspectacular event I have never been to a Vietnamese restaurant in Chinatown that operated this way. The waitress in a very friendly manner came over, struck up a conversation and offered suggestions before taking my order. The service continued to impress me when my pho was brought out by another employee of the restaurant who again struck up conversation and returned every so often to check how I was doing. The quality of service at Pho 88 far surpassed any I have ever received at any restaurant in Chinatown, I was beyond impressed.
Equally as impressive as the service was the decor of the restaurant. Deep dark browns, and solid grays and blacks set the tone for a modern and sophisticated dining room. The brown leather chairs and dark granite tables bring an elegance that is highlighted by large circular sculptures on the walls that are reminiscent of the number 88. Standing out in this environment is a brightly colored Buddha statue that welcomes you as you enter the seemingly small but surprisingly large dining room. The back of the restaurant is decorated by a large, gold, sandy mural that illuminates the dinning room. The service coupled with this environment made me love this restaurant before I even sampled the food. Not even the hip hop remix of Avril Levine’s ‘Skater Boy’ that was playing in the background could ruin my dining experience.
Pho Dac Biet at Pho 88
The pho kept up with the pace the rest of the restaurant was setting. Dark, sweet beef broth sprinkled with pepper was the first taste that hit my lips. As I started eating I was surprised to see no cilantro or onions in the pho, although it was packed with scallions. The long rice noodles were thicker than they are at most places which is great for those of us who love the slurping. While the pho dac biet did not have beef balls the quality of beef in the soup was impressive. The tendons still packed quite a bit of meat on them and there was not very many fatty pieces lurking under the broth either. The rare beef was cut a little thick so it did not melt in your mouth as it does in some places but, it was delicious none the less. The most abundant meat in the pho was the well done beef which is great when you want to be filled up. Overall this was an incredibly pleasant experience and I would recommend this place strongly to anyone who loves pho.
Pho 88
270 Spadina Avenue
416-746-8646
