Pho Now — Restaurant in Toronto

I am a pho-natic so I was excited to find a new place so close to home. I go out for pho four times a week and usually rotate between two places, one at Dixie and Dundas in Mississauga and the other at Black Creek Road and Lawrence. Each is a 25 min. drive but Pho Now is about 4 minutes flat from door to door!

As pho fans know, the secret to a great bowl is the broth - if it's simmered for hours and has a rich complex taste yet remains clear, that's my gold standard. Pho Now's broth is just ok, a 7 out of 10. Portions are ok. Meat content is inconsistent. Sometimes a good amount, other times skimpy. So sometimes I leave still a little hungry.

I could be ok with just ok pho when it's so close to me, but something happened not once, not twice, but three times before I decided to invoke the "three strikes and you're out" rule.

For some reason, the person at the cash always assumes you want to leave a tip, and just rounds up your bill for you. This is done without asking, and when you question it, they act like that's a normal practice and you're the one who's weird.

Now, I happen to be the kind of person who always tips no matter how bad the service is, so it's not that I don't want to tip. It's that I do not like how presumptuous they are. And how aggressively they are about getting that tip.

This is how they do it: Say your bill comes out to $11.24. You give them $15 and they give you back $2 (meaning they add 1.76 tip or 15%) If you look puzzled, they stare at you like you're nuts or cheap. The first time it happened, I had already left a $2 tip (18%) on the table. But at the cash I get ambushed for another $1.76 meaning my total tip is 33%.

I have gladly paid 33% or more for a multi-course meal, but it is not warranted when service means just plunking a bowl of noodles in front of my face.

The second time, I was prepared for it to happen so I didn't leave a tip on the table first. Sure enough, they pulled the same trick but at least I didn't tip twice.

The third time I tried something to really confirm they do this all the time.

My bill was for $12.37. I deliberately gave her $25.37 expecting $13 back She asked, do you want ten back? I said , I want my change back. She hands me the 10. I said I want my change. She said I asked you that - if you want $10. It was a standoff. Because in her mind, $10 is the right change and 24% tip is the right tip. Sorry, I think the customer should decide?

So that's the long story of why my nearby Pho Now became my Pho Never Again

Tips for a new pho hangout (Fangout?) in the west end...

Poor hygiene. Poor service. The washroom has a reputation to always be in a disgusting state with an odor and the waiters always had airpods on, which created a very unapproachable attitude. This time for us, the waitress did not greet us when we stepped in but instead stared at us until we said the # of ppl then used hand gesture to point at a table. The waitress did not speak a single word to any table, just came by to drop off the drink, food, utensils, etc. to the tables then walked away. At this restaurant, we just needed to write our orders in a piece of paper then the waiters will collect them, to which our waitress just took the paper and left. Out of habit, we always say thank you after they took the order paper, bring out the food, or after asking for help grabbing extra stuff, etc. Our waitress, every time without fail, just listened then walked away to grab the items, there was no "okay", "for sure" or "you're welcome", etc. After we had paid (we still tip out of respect but tbh we didn't who or what we were respecting), the one who cashed us out only asked "do you need a copy?" but did not follow up with a thank you or goodbye. If by now you think they have had a long or bad day, or maybe the waitress couldn't speak, I can say for sure that the waiters gathered at the area close to the counter/kitchen to joke around and talk to each other constantly. They basically stayed there to the point where it became difficult to get their attention and we had to either get up in the middle of our meal to call them or wished that they bring someone's orders out to speak to them. We definitely are not people with high standards, especially for a non-luxury restaurant like this, but we are against poor manners and behaviors. From now on, we will take our business elsewhere. I am a Vietnamese myself and am ashamed to think that others may be treated poorly going to this restaurant then develope negatives opinions on our...

My 7yo daughter and I came here to get coconut bubble tea with tapioca, it’s her favourite! She was so thankful, she kept saying how it was the best day ever as it did cost close to $10. At the Walmart entrance, she accidentally dropped it on the ground ( guess the plastic cup was squeezed too tight and it slipped from her small hand). She looked so distraught I felt bad. Knowing how much she loved it, I decided to get another one and called in to order. When I went in to grab the second order, I was ready to pay, but the sweet man was kind enough to replace it for free, I couldn’t believe it!!! It was such a kind gesture because I really didn’t want to pay another 10 bucks. I have been making empty promises to my daughter about buying this drink (for the longest time) since winter and never actually got it since it’s way too expensive. However this time, with the summer heat and stuff, I decided it was time : ). Andddddd, the divine gifted her as well through this kind staff : )) so it was a great day for both of us, thanks to Pho Now, it’s always a pleasure to visit this restaurant with family and friends. Every time we crave Pho, this is our go...