Mother Phở — Restaurant in Athens-Clarke County Unified Government

I’m not one to write reviews on places because I’m generally satisfied with most things. Unfortunately, the experience I had with the staff (I’m pretty sure she was the owner as this is a family owned local business which is one of the reasons I loved to support mother pho!!) was very uncomfortable for me and has made me not want to go back even though I have been a handful of times. Firstly we were placed in a corner cramped table not even five inches away from the table next to us. Which again to me is not a big deal, my friend asked to move to the tables that were completely empty behind us but she said no as they were for four people. The tables we were sitting at that were cramped together were the same tables that were for four people that she pulled apart five inches, which is fine whatever her reasons were for what she wanted to do was none of my business. Then there was hair on the table that I did not notice and later the same woman came up to me and commented on how my hair was on the table I was sitting at? Firstly, was not my hair as my hair is long and dyed and this is short black hair but clearly she felt a certain type of way with me so I removed the hair from the table I was sitting at ?? And tried to carry on with my meal. Service consisted of me getting scolded by her for hair that was not mine at a cramped table I was dining at? Her bringing my food and that is all which is fine it’s the equivalent service for take out and then some extra unneeded scolding. Later we go to pay and honestly I did not enjoy the very little service I was given and for whatever reason as a college student with a college student budget did not feel as though I should tip. But fret not!! As she had a major issue with that and directly asks me to my face as I’m filling out my receipt why I’m not tipping and if my service was bad and that’s why I’m not tipping and that this makes her so sad and she goes on and on. I take my receipt back and of course I leave a tip. Food was mid and service was uncomfortable. I don’t understand why I was treated like this as I have dined here a few times but I will not be coming back as this experience was uncomfortable for me AND THE PERSON I WAS WITH AS I WAS NOT ALONE!!! I don’t know this made me uncomfortable because I don’t know what about me made her want to keep picking on me but it’s okay because I prefer pho from...

I just left this restaurant and what an absolute waste of money. I have NEVER been so disappointed by a pho restaurant. To start, when I walked in the hostess or owner was very rude and inattentive. Then the young lady that was serving me was inappropriately dressed. I understand that it is very hot in the summer time here in Athens, but not hot enough to warrant your butt to hang excessively out of your shorts. I had the Vietnamese fresh spring rolls and they came out as if someone had made it blindfolded or drunk; extremely sloppy presentation. Then I ordered a regular size bowl of broth that they were passing off as the Vietnamese noodle soup. There was no meat in my dish and less than half of a handful of noodles. And my server did not come by to check on me at all after I had received my food, which she didn’t even bring out herself. I don’t typically write reviews for restaurants, but my dining experience today was absolutely terrible and outrageously priced for subpar (and I’m being generous) food and underwhelming service. As a former food services worker, I’ll say this: If the food is good, I can ignore bad service. If the service is good, I can excuse bad food. But when both are TERRIBLE then I will never pay an establishment another dime. Please, if you’re looking for good Vietnamese food and friendly service, go to Just Pho & More...

If I could give zero stars I would. I went in one afternoon with a friend after I saw that my GO TO for Vietnamese--Just Pho off of Baxter was closed on Mondays. I have been here before with my boyfriend and it wasn't very good compared to other pho places I've been to around Georgia.. Came in looking for a warm bowl of pho and I asked for extra extra extra lime and basil since I like a ton of lime in my pho and basil and the server went to the woman(I think owner) and she started giving my friend and I dirty looks. The girl comes back with three limes and nothing else..mind you the first time there was only 2 lines for two people and a sliver of basil...if I am paying 9$ for a small bowl of soup I should be #1 served as a costumer and human and #2 should be able to get more limes for my friend and I to use. I politely asked for more and the owner told me if I didn't like it then my friend and I need to leave so I got up and left. Very unprofessional, rude, and inconsiderate to costumers...and all I asked for was extra lime and basil..shows how cheap they are..I wonder how good the ingredients are that go in the soup considering their skimpiness. Save yourself the bad and expensive food and costumer service and treat yourself to Just Pho off Baxter where the owners really care and greet you with a smile. Plus their pho is the best I've ever...