Pho Kingston — Restaurant in Ontario

My initial foray into the world of dining in at a Vietnamese restaurant marked an exciting adventure, and Pho did not disappoint. This renowned establishment, primarily known for its takeout options, promised to deliver a unique and memorable experience. As we entered the restaurant on a warm weekend, I couldn't help but admire the tastefully designed decor and the ambiance that was a perfect blend of tranquility and cultural authenticity. The safe and spacious seating arrangements complemented the contemporary expectations of comfort and safety, setting the stage for a delightful dining experience.

However, the promising first impression began to wane as we encountered a noticeable shortcoming—customer service. For a restaurant of such stature, I anticipated a warm and inviting reception. Regrettably, our arrival was met with indifference. The employee behind the counter, absorbed in their computer, provided only a cursory nod in acknowledgment. Our party was left to our own devices, with no one extending a greeting or guiding us to a table. After seating ourselves, a considerable amount of time elapsed before a server finally attended to our needs and initiated the order-taking process. Oddly, the restaurant was far from crowded during our visit, with only two other tables occupied. This made the lackluster service even more perplexing.

The sluggishness of the service extended to every aspect of our dining experience. Our inquiries for recommendations, especially considering my limited knowledge of Vietnamese cuisine, yielded disappointingly sparse information. The lack of guidance left me questioning whether I would return to this establishment.

The true litmus test of any dining experience, however, lies in the food. In this regard, Pho did have its moments. Several dishes from the à la carte menu presented generous portions that were challenging to finish, even for my adult son. The flavors were generally good, with a delightful taste that teased the palate. Yet, the devil was in the details. Regrettably, my order for spicy fried rice with extra hot sauce left me wanting. The dish that arrived at our table was far from the fiery delight I had anticipated, and I had to request additional hot sauce to salvage the spiciness I had hoped for.

In conclusion, my inaugural experience at Pho was a mixed bag, defined by both highs and lows. The exquisite decor and ambiance, coupled with the delectable flavors of some dishes, provided moments of culinary delight. However, the subpar customer service, lack of guidance, and inconsistencies in food preparation marred what could have been an exceptional dining experience. While I appreciate the positives, it is clear that improvements are needed in areas critical to a memorable dining adventure. Whether or not I return to Pho in the future will depend on the degree to which these issues are addressed. I hope to see the restaurant reach its full potential, offering a consistently outstanding experience to diners who seek a taste of...

Great meal, great price, and great staff. What else could you hope for?! Our family of 4 (2A2C) stopped in just by chance as we were in Kingston to see the eclipse. What a bonus to happen by this wonderful restaurant! We went in to the aroma of deliciousness and fresh ingredients imn the air and the food was a 100% match. Our server was a pleasnt and smiling young man who helped us find a few good items to share on our quick (we didn't want to be late for the eclipse) lunch. Two appetizers of spring rolls with a bright dipping sauce and shrimp wrapped in spring roll wrappers with a sweet and spicy dipping sauce were devoured without delay. Big flavours without being greasy (for they were both deep fried) was a good sign of things to come! Our main meals arrived shortly thereafter. One, an assorted meat fried rice, was laden with large amounts of chicken, beef, a few shrimp was not shy with the vegetables either! Fresh carrots and cabbage on the side were the perfect foil for the fried rice platter. The beef and vermicelli was a beautiful bowl filled with again the fresh veg and lots of beefall atop perfectly cooked noodles in sauce with some fish sauce on the side to you to add. My wife also ordered a vietnamese (slow drip coffee with condensed milk that happens at your table!) and the server was kind enough to make it like an informative show which made something as simple as a coffee something fun for the kids and us as well! Fast kitchen, clean restaurtant, pristine bathrooms, bright flavours, and wonderful staff sums up this place. If you're going to kingston or even driving by on the 401 stop in (it's only about 3 min off of the 401) and treat yourself to a great meal at a...

So, I want to be as positive with this review as possible, but I did want to share. I haven’t tried Pho before and thought I’d try it out. It turns out I don’t like pho. That being said, I think the staff are very nice. The atmosphere is beautiful. Service was slow and they didn’t have some of the things we requested (I wanted a bubble tea and my guy wanted a beer, but neither were available) and that’s ok. Also, if you are a veggie person like me, you won’t find really many options at all. I do eat meat occasionally (rarely, only if I’m in a social situation where I pretty much don’t have an alternative) but really prefer not to. I ordered the chicken pho dish. I didn’t realize it has a lot of ginger as seasoning (not listed on the menu) so right away the flavour wasn’t pleasing to me. I think if you love pho it probably is very good, it’s just not something I ended up liking. I ended up getting the veggie rice spring roll and it was very large and I was pleasantly surprised it had tofu as this wasn’t mentioned on the menu and I do like tofu. It was pretty good and with the size of it could almost be a meal in itself. I was happy I tried it so I would at least know whether pho was something I would like. I guess it’s not my thing, but if you’re looking for a beautiful restaurant to relax in you really like pho I’m sure you will...