Nem Viet Cammeray — Restaurant in Sydney

I've gone here before to get a classic chicken pho, the first time I went I got the steamed chicken takeaway; unpleasant with fat and bone cartledge. So i went again and got the grilled chicken....again just not great quality chicken (the soup and noodles are nice but the meat is foul, I was picking hard chunks out of every bite.) Today, I went and I sat in with my boyfriend; i got the rare beef pho (which has nicer meat than the chicken), it was good but there where white things floating in the soup, my boyfriend got the grilled chicken as I hoped it would be better in person rather than takeway... it wasn't. He is a gym rat and eats protein every chance he can get, but he refused to eat the chicken. I got a "side" (there are no real sides) of salt and pepper squid for $28.90. The squid had less flavour than if you bought it frozen from the supermarket, it was plain, dry and had a gross texture, they served it with sweet chili which revived it, BUT as were finishing up i went to go snack at the salad that came with my $30 salt and pepper squid AND FOUND A DEAD SPIDER IN THE LETTUCE!!!!! my boyfriend and I were already not going to comment on the revolting meat and floaters in my soup, but a spider???? I went to the girl working (who was pretty rude for customer service... not responsive and not cooperative; this is also coming from someone who works in customer service) and hailed her over to not create a scene and ask for a refund as we had already not touched the squid. She refused at first, saying that she, nor anyone working in the kitchen had the "code" to give me a refund. At this point i had spent $70 dollars that i regretted and demanded a refund fro the bug in my food. She gave me cash after i told her it was a health and saftey violation and my and my partner left, honestly...

We ordered food and sat down, and since Maggio is next door we got a coffee. One staff came and said no coffee allowed in the shop. No indication or sign anywhere. Really? But fine.

After bringing the wrong order to the table, and on her way back. She lectures us again with no coffee again. We said the other staff already told us and we are not drinking it. Nevertheless, she continues on to lecture us on how “not nice” it is to drink coffee. So we ask if they have coffee, which she replied “we have ice Vietnamese coffee”. But we don’t want an ice sugary coffee in such a cold windy day which they left the window open to create a wind tunnel?

Ok, so food. Taste, yea I’ve had Nem for years and it’s average at best. But for $24.80 “Special Beef”, I slurped in the noodle once and extremely small cut beef ball (which I assume it was just one), I finish the food in no time without having myself filled. I’m lighter than average weight.

Damn Nem, many other good Phos out there with much better service.

** Added response since the owner’s reply

Adding response since it didn’t let me reply. Well, I didn’t think I would be writing added response but here it goes. Just factual checks. We didn’t intend to consume cake. It was a cookie btw, and it has never been out of the bag. Took the sip of the coffee because it was overflowing. Didn’t think it needed a lecture that’s all. We didn’t share the meal, I was given additional left over from my partner because I wasn’t full.

I’m sorry that it had to come to this, but I am writing an honest review. It’s also not nice being accused of not being honest. Simply as a customer, it wasn’t a...

Unfortunately I’ve had to change my review from 5 stars to 1 star. The staff member was extremely rude and not trained properly. We drove 1 hour to eat here and the staff member at the restaurant made a wholly inappropriate comment. My wife had a coffee we bought 60 minutes prior in our home town prior to embarking to the restaurant and set it on the table. And the staff member warned this is not allowed and next time it would be banned. This is last thing you should say to a loyal returning customers who has recommended their restaurant. It’s a shame when staff are not trained and skilled in delivering proper, superior customer service. It detracts from the experience and is a reason to pick a different Vietnamese restaurant - of which...