Jennie Pho — Restaurant in Broomfield

Deliberately unwelcoming behavior from a staff member prompted me to write this review.

Short version: I walked in without a mask to place an order since mask mandates are not in effect, nor are any signs posted at the entrance stating their required. A staff member sprayed the air around me with Lysol while I waited for my order, sending a clear message.

Detailed Version: I've patronized Jennie Pho since we moved to Broomfield when it had a different name (Pho 78 I think). I've had a good experiences thus far, and have enjoyed their rare steak, tendon, and brisket pho. On this specific occasion I came in to order a couple of boba teas. There were two staff members present at this time. The cashier who prepared my teas, and an older man who came from the kitchen who I'll refer to as Lysol Man.

For context, both staff members were wearing face masks, and I wasn't. We were the only people present at the time.

While I waited near the checkout counter Lysol Man got a can of (you guessed it) Lysol from behind the counter started spraying it into the air. What I took note of was how he seemed to be spraying it specifically around my general vicinity, including the counter where I had stood only moments ago. He eventually pauses to tell me that a woman had been there recently and said she was sick. He then goes back to spraying, and eventually winds up standing near the entrance as if he's waiting for me to leave. Once I received my teas I passed him on the way out and heard him spraying behind me.

I called the restaurant on my way home once I realized that several things in Mr. Lysol's story didn't add up. I managed to speak with Mr. Lysol himself and let him know what I thought about his actions. He got a bit defensive, but he did manage to add that the alleged sick lady had been in the restaurant 2 hours prior!

Some things I noticed: No one was in the restaurant when I arrived, nor did I see anyone coming out. The cleanliness of the tables indicated that it had been at least 10-15 minutes since the last dine-in customer left. Assuming the sick lady story is plausible, it seems quite odd for someone to go into a restaurant and state that they're sick. If the alleged sick lady had been in the restaurant 2 hours before me, why did he feel the need to spray while I was there? Why not wait until I left? His story just doesn't add up, and seemed like a poor justification for his behavior. Furthermore, Broomfield County isn't currently mandating indoor masking, and they didn't have a sign posted stating customers are required, or encouraged to wear one.

I can only think that this behavior was done out of fear, and perhaps spite. Either way, I cannot continue justifying my continued patronage of...

I’m glad to see that people are starting to see that this “pho” place isn’t traditional pho at all. I’ve been here twice and it was genuinely a mistake thinking that this place would get better. First thing that seemed out of place was that the boss John, came up to me to start a conversation and there’s no problem with conversing but when he started talking to my daughter his tone completely changed. His creepy smirk made my daughter really uncomfortable and when she tried to stop talking to him, he kept going and going even though we were just trying to finish our food. After getting home it made me question how often does this guy make people uncomfortable when they come in, and while scrolling through their instagram page I saw that there were teenagers who were girls, and it kinda seemed like he records these people and they all look so uncomfortable and it looks like there were forced to sit there and talk about how great Jennie pho is but in reality we all know that this place is far from great. Second thing that stood to me was that I saw the servers cleaning a table and in the cart that they were using there is a separate bucket where they would throw the vegetables into. This made me wondering if they reuse their bean sprouts, limes, and jalapenos because why would you need to put them in a separate bucket so this made me question the sanitation of this restaurant. Lastly, while reading the reviews I saw that the owner responded to some of the bad reviews and it was baffling to see how the owner takes no accountability at all. We people talk about the price, he brings up each little detail of how certain products increase in price or how inflation is causing his business to slowly decline so he has to raise prices. No one cares about any of that, no one feels any remorse that you can’t properly run a business and profit from your margins, get a grip of yourself and focus on the quality that you’re providing instead of the quantity. Don’t get me started on how they have the same reply when a customer complains about the taste of the pho, “We recently hired a new chef, he was terminated today.” Jeez seems like you guys have a lot of new chefs each week. Also, stating that you were awarded the best Asian vegan restaurant doesn’t help your case im any situation, and probably you were competing against less than 10 other restaurant which isn’t that impressive. Hopefully other people will read this review first before considering coming...

First off for anyone wanting to go to a pho restaurant that has good food you will not be dissatisfied. This place has amazing food! The reason why I’ve given this place a 1 star review has nothing to do with the food and more so the service. Yesterday my girlfriend and I went in here for our 3rd or 4th time hoping we’d have a better experience but it seems as if nothing changed. I ordered a medium rare steak with extra rare steak and was extremely excited to get my food. Typically we go to the other Pho 78 branch in Westminster and let me just say the other restaurant is amazing! Great food and great customer service. So the waiter brings out my bean sprouts and basil leaf and there’s just 1/4 quarter slice of a lime for a medium bowl of pho. So I politely ask, “ does this just come with 1/4 lime wedge and the waiter said, “yes.” Showing 0 remorse or emotion. So I don’t say anything and then he goes would you like more and I said, “yes please.” (Thinking that would be a complementary service)! He then brings out 3 more quarter sliced limes so I was happy. My girlfriend and I finished our food and are just sitting, and sitting, and sitting, and sitting until 25 minutes later I get up and walk to the front and ask to pay. My bill looked extremely high compared to what I normally pay. So I ask was I charged for the lime. They had the audacity to charge me $4 for 4 lime quarter slices not 4 whole limes. Then I ask the guy hey did you add the half off coupon for the Tuesday boba special and he said I forgot after I asked him the moment we sat down, after already messing up my girlfriends boba when we specifically asked for dairy free and they put on whip cream. He says I’ll give you 1/2 off next time you come in. Need flash I’m NEVER EVER going back to this pho 78. The kid with the short buzz cut is extremely unempathetic and rude. There’s one younger kid who has a fohawk and earrings in and is the only person in that building with somewhat of a personality. If you guys want to have a great experience food and service wise drive the extra mile and go to the Westminster location it’s 100x better all around. I’ve been going to the other location and not once had I had any issues...