Phomono Vietnamese Cuisine — Restaurant in Clarington

An Unforgettable Dining Experience at Phomono Restaurant!

From the moment I walked into Phomono, I knew I was in for something special. The atmosphere was warm and inviting -- soft lighting, modern yet cozy decor, and a gentle buzz of conversation that made the space feel alive but never overwhelming. The music was perfectly balanced, creating a relaxing backdrop that set the tone for a wonderful evening.

The service was absolutely exceptional. Our waiter greeted us with a genuine smile and immediately made us feel at home. He took the time to explain the menu, offering recommendations based on our preferences, and his passion for the restaurant's food really came through. Throughout the meal, he checked in just enough -- attentive but never intrusive. When my friend accidentally dropped a fork, a new one appeared almost instantly, as if by magic. Every staff member we encountered was polite, professional, and genuinely happy to be there, which made the whole experience feel personal.

Now, let's talk about the food -- because this is where Phomono truly shines. Every dish was a masterpiece of flavor and presentation. I started with the crispy spring rolls, which were golden, perfectly crunchy, and filled with fresh, aromatic ingredients. The pho I ordered was hands-down the best I've ever had -- rich, deeply flavorful broth with layers of spices that revealed themselves with every sip. The beef was tender and perfectly cooked, and the fresh herbs, lime, and chili added a beautiful balance. Each bite felt comforting yet exciting.

Dessert was equally impressive: the coconut panna cotta was light, creamy, and subtly sweet, paired beautifully with a hint of mango sauce. It was the perfect ending to an already flawless meal.

Overall, Phomono exceeded every expectation. The combination of delicious, carefully crafted food, top-tier service, and a warm, inviting atmosphere makes this restaurant a true gem. Whether you're coming for a casual dinner or a special celebration, you'll leave full, happy, and already planning your next visit.

Highly recommend -- 5 stars...

Had pho special and a pork fresh roll and both were actually really good. Definitely impressed with the food.

That said, the service was so bad, I legit thought I was on an episode of Kitchen Nightmares. Everything included, even the screaming in the kitchen. My 3 year old daughter said a couple times that she was scared (lol not a great start). I saw another family with a young kid leave and I assume it was for similar reasons.

Our order was fine but I kept hearing customers complain about not getting their orders, getting the wrong one, etc.. They were visibly and audibly overwhelmed by the 20-25 customers they had at the time. They definitely need to get the ** together because the food is too good for this restaurant to fail.

I suspect their fatal mistake is having a menu with a thousand different items on it. No need to cover the entirety of the asian continent on your menu you know? It's called PHO Mono. Give us Pho and a couple other good Vietnamese dishes, and we'll be back all the time. I really hope they shorten their comically long menu, and focus on the essentials, so we can continue to enjoy their delicious food. We'll definitely be back but service needs to be way, way better, and please, buy a high chair. I've never ever been to a Vietnamese restaurant that doesn't have...

Not authentic Vietnamese, but some good value. They load up the seafood and veggies when you order the nested/noodles. They give two eggs for rice dishes (which doesn't happen normally). Their pickled veggies were good. The fish sauce, and rice side soup was just not authentic. The soup is basically, water, some broth mix and m.s.g. the fish dipping sauce for the rice was not real Vietnamese style sauce. It was just watered down vinegar with M.S.G.. a bit disappointed as Vietnamese Cuisine is known for our fish/dipping sauce.

The sauce for the nested noodles was basically a weak sauce with a lot of salt and M.S.G. for flavouring. Overall it wasn't horrible but it wasn't authentic.

This place is Chinese owned/service. Nothing with it. But it makes a difference on the quality of Vietnamese food at times in my opinion.

I don't hate the food, it wasn't the worst, but it wasn't the best. Either way, I'm happy there are some more Vietnamese fusion places in Durham area. Especially in Bowmanville. Looks like the are doing fairly well for only being opened for 6 months.

The service was great and the atmosphere was spacious and...