Pho Cambridge — Restaurant in Cambridge

My mother and I went to have lunch at Pho, Cambridge last week for the first time. We were seated at a window table in a small room off to the side of the main restaurant. My mother sat against the wall and I sat opposite. A speaker was playing obscenely loud music from a speaker that was mounted directly above my mother’s head. The waitress, who was very friendly, got us some water and left us to study the menu. Neither my mother nor I could hear each other discussing the food options over the music blaring over us. When the waitress returned to take our orders, she also struggled to hear us. A sound, like an alarm, suddenly began wailing over the speaker. I looked up at it and asked, “what is that? Is that a fire alarm?” She sheepishly replied, “no, it’s just this song”, and rolled her eyes. It disgusted me that the restaurant would choose a song which included a sound effect associated with emergencies to play in a public place where customers could be disturbed by emergency noises or mistakenly believe them to be genuine. Please be mindful, there are diners with disabilities, hearing aids, autism, and young children. I cannot believe that whoever chose the playlist had had the sense to think that this song might be inappropriate for a relaxed eating place where one can engage in pleasant conversation without being upset, frightened. We ordered despite all this because we were both hungry. I got a tofu and vegetable rice bowl and my mother got a chicken soup. I was horrified at how unbelievably salty my dish was when it arrived. The rice was soggy and saturated in a sauce that had no other discernible flavour besides MSG. The tofu was similarly sopping wet with the same salty sauce. I couldn’t eat my meal it was so bad. My mother’s soup consisted of a broth, rice noodles, and some chewy, overcooked chicken. In other east Asian restaurants in Cambridge, including Vietnamese restaurants, the soups would at least come with some pak choi or spring onion, but this was just noodle water. Although her soup wasn’t oversalted, she had to spit out the chicken because it was so tough that it got stuck in her throat. Neither of us wanted to finish the food it was so applauding. We told the waitress who was very apologetic. She called her manager who asked us what the problem was. When we explained about the food, he was unfortunately very defensive and insisted that the food is checked for quality every four hours. I asked him if he had personally tasted it today and he only said repeated that “we taste it every four hours.” As a side note, we arrived at twelve in the afternoon. The restaurant opens at twelve, which means that they would have tasted that batch at eight in the morning. When he saw that we were still unhappy and hadn’t found his explanation satisfactory, he became passive aggressive and said, “well, no one else has complained.” I note again that the restaurant only opened at twelve p.m. which is exactly when we arrived to eat. It’s highly unlikely many people would have finished their meals and complained within the quarter–of–an–hour to twenty minutes we were in there. Regardless, this was an extremely poor attempt to save face and left me feeling ignored and belittled. He disappeared after that. We intended to pay the bill even though we were unhappy. We called over the waitress for the bill when she informed us that the bill had been taken care of as a courtesy and she once again apologised. We appreciate that the manager stepped up and did the right thing, but I left feeling very embarrassed and upset about the whole affair. I will NEVER return to this...

The food is pretty good. The system of having to wait by the door for a server to come and seat you if very bad. There is not enough room to wait. It is very cramped and there was not enough room for the delivery guys to get past. Why do you make the restaurant so cramped near the door? Just take away one of the tables there to give your customers a decent amount of respect when they arrive. Also the system of adding a 15 percent tip on the bill which can only be reduced if you bring the waiter back by to the table is pretty cheeky.

RESPONSE TO REPLY FROM PHO: I think the problem with the layout of the restaurant in Cambridge is that there is a very narrow doorway and only room for 4 people (pushed close together) to wait right in front of the door. If you try to advance into the restaurant to leave more space around the door then serving staff will tell you to go back and wait by the door. Four of us were waiting there in our family and a delivery driver started pushing the door into my 9 year old son in order to get in, but there was literally no room for my son to get out the way. Perhaps you could have a separate entrance for your delivery drivers? Alternatively take away a table by the door to leave some space for at least one family to wait, and then put a notice for the doorway to be kept clear. That way one set of customers could wait to get the attention of the servers and the others wait outside.

With regards to the service charge, the problem with Pho is that the server brings the machine and leaves it with you to pay. You then try to choose a tip but realise you have no option to change the pre-added tip without calling back a waiter from whatever they are doing in order to change it. So you are faced with either paying the service charge Pho have imposed, or adding extra work for your server. Why not just allow me to make a change of the tip on the machine without calling...

Pho Cambridge has quickly become my go-to spot for a delightful culinary experience. From the moment you step in, the warm ambiance and friendly staff set the tone for an exceptional meal.

The menu is a tantalizing journey through Vietnamese cuisine, with standout dishes that cater to diverse palates. The Pad Thai is an absolute delight, perfectly balancing sweet, savory, and tangy flavors with a generous portion of succulent shrimp and tender noodles.

For those who crave a bit of spice, the Hot & Spicy Beef Brisket Soup Noodles is a must-try. The rich, aromatic broth, tender slices of beef brisket, and perfectly cooked noodles come together in a harmonious symphony of flavors that is both comforting and invigorating.

Another highlight is the Baby Bún Noodles, a dish that exemplifies the freshness and vibrant flavors Vietnamese cuisine is known for. The delicate noodles paired with fresh herbs and a savory sauce create a dish that's both light and satisfying.

Pho Cambridge also excels in its appetizers. The Wings are crispy, juicy, and packed with flavor, making them a great start to any meal. The Summer Rolls (Goi Cuôn) are fresh and healthy, with a delightful mix of shrimp, herbs, and vermicelli wrapped in rice paper and served with a delicious dipping sauce.

Every visit to Pho Cambridge is a culinary adventure that never disappoints. Whether you're in the mood for a hearty bowl of soup or a light and fresh roll, this restaurant delivers every time. Highly recommended for anyone looking to explore authentic...