Nem Riverwood — Restaurant in Sydney

With the showers of praise pervading throughout the reviews, my first impressions were positive upon entering the warm, family run restaurant and polite service. But when we tried to order a beef and tripe pho, surprisingly, they didn't have any tripe! For an ingredient quintessential to Vietnamese cuisine, it came as a huge shock. So we ordered a crispy chicken with pho, won tons, bok choy and pork egg noodle soup and rare beef pho. The portions are extremely generous and it definitely ticked the box for noodles. The hot, rich broth was perfect for a cold day like today! I was particularly fond of my won ton pho with a bowl popping with colour and flavour, the home made, bountiful won tons indulgently melting in my mouth. However, the chicken pho was bare bones in presentation and thus, taste as well. The only ingredient to supplement the simplistic bowl was bean sprouts. What was most concerning with our restaurant experience was that both the waitress lady and her child, who was playing in the dining room, were coughing severely. I wouldn't mind if it was just a few but it was incessant, worrying my elderly parents and myself for our health whilst the pandemic is still active. Although I haven't tried the rice dishes yet, I don't see the glamour or appeal of the restaurant that will entice me to return back. In a suburb known for its competition between Vietnamese restaurants, I don't believe this place has its head in the game but with all these reviews, at least they're finding some success. Hopefully, food and service improves in quality so that the essence of family love and care can fully extend to...

I usually go to Phusa Vietnamese in Beverly Hills, but it was closed. Tried Nem Riverwood for the first time. Ordered 5 dishes at once during lockdown, pho dac biet (special beef noodle soup), com suon nuong (grilled pork chop w/ rice), bun bo hue dac biet (spicy beef vermicelli soup), bun rieu (crab, pork & tomato vermicelli soup), banh canh cua (crab meat udon).

Pho dac biet: bland broth, not enough toppings Com suon nuong: pork chop was dry and not seasoned well. The "cha" (pork cake) was the only highlight. Bun bo hue dac biet: good, broth had the right flavours, toppings were acceptable. The only standout dish. Bun rieu: tomatoes are the best part of this dish, none in the broth. Crab paste/balls were not good. Bland broth. Banh canh cua: fake crab (seafood stick used), egg white in the broth to fool the eyes that there are crab meat. Bland broth. This dish doesn't have prawns, I asked to substitute pork with prawns. If you must satisfy your Vietnamese food fix in Riverwood, I'd suggest Pho Song Huong. They're pho is on par with some Cabramatta establishments. Out of 5 dishes, only 1 I would order again. The reason I didn't give this review 1 star was because the lady who served me was polite and I reserve 1 star for terrible...

Here we go the review. We purchased grilled pork chop with rice, beef pho and spring roll.

Pork chop with rice Pork chop taste ok but not the best pork chop. I can taste the flavour but the flavour can be increased. I prefer the chop to be grilled longer.Score 4 of 5.

Dipping sauce- taste more freakin better than pho padstow. All in there e.g the acidity, saltiness .

Soup- the companion soup. Go easy on the salt tiger. Your soup is already flavoursome but please reduce your salt.

Overall pork chop with rice is 4 of 5. I prefer fried egg, the score is reduce because of the soup.

Spring roll- home made . What i can say is big. No like other Vietnamese restaurants has small spring roll, skinny/tiny spring roll. Very good to dip in the dipping sauce. Score 4.5 of 5.

Pho- i try the soup and again go easy on the salt. The saltiness ruins the flavour abd make the star anise flavour is weak. My family said they like the pho. Score 4 of 5.

Price- total price for 3 dishes is 34 bucks. Not bad compared to revesby Vietnamese as it can cost 40 bucks.

Do i want to return - why not, still have some menu to be tried. Hopefully i will crispy chicken got plenty portion and...