Simply Phở — Restaurant in Citrus Park

HORRIBLE! RAW BEEF PLACED ON TOP OF THE NOODLES (photos)! I ordered an order of beef pho and chicken pho. The beef was raw and the chicken was cooked but it was so chewy you could not eat it! I admit that I’m not the most cultured person in the world but I have been eating pho from truly authentic Vietnamese restaurants for 20 years and never been served raw beef ! The fact that it was on top of the noodles making the noodles pink was even worse! At least they could have separated the raw from meat from the items that were already cooked! We didn’t discover this problem until we got back to our room, which was all the way in Clearwater, when we started to heat it up in the microwave so we could eat! I called the restaurant to let them know the situation & the girl who answered the phone told me “that’s how it is supposed to be” and I could “cook it if I wanted ”. Or , I could “bring it back and they could cook it”! We were staying in a hotel in Clearwater so that was not an option. Besides, why would I place a “to go” order for something I needed to cook? Last time I checked you order take out expecting to eat your food as is! Moreover, the menu said nothing about “we prepare-you cook Pho”! As if that wasn’t bad enough, the containers of broth weren’t even full! And, it was nearly double the price of every other place in the area (inflation factored in). I explained why bringing it back was not an option and asked for a refund and was told “no but I could call the manager on Tuesday but they would say no too as refunds are against their policy “ (apparently cooking is too)! This was a Sunday afternoon but I went ahead and called to speak to who I think was the manager anyway- that’s who I asked to speak with! At any rate, the girl I talked to on Sunday was right bc the manager said no to the refund ! I spoke with my bank and they agree that I meet the criteria to dispute the charge. I will give the restaurant another opportunity to make this right before doing this as I know disputes are hard on businesses.

In summary—-go somewhere else unless you like raw beef and rubber chicken (or you want to cook it yourself—may as well use Instacart to order fresh organic food from Publix if...

Simply Pho & Grill – A Brothy Treasure Worth Plundering!

Arrr, gather ’round, me hearties, for I’ve sailed the seven seas of flavor and dropped anchor at Simply Pho & Grill, where a bounty of broth and beef awaited me! Let me tell ye, this was no mere meal—this was a voyage to pho-nomenal bliss!

The Server – Nhi, The High Priestess of Pho

The moment we set foot inside, Nhi welcomed us like long-lost sailors returning from the storm, guiding us to our table with the kind of grace ye only see in legends. Attentive, swift, and sharper than a pirate’s cutlass, she ensured our cups were never empty and that our orders arrived faster than a cannonball flyin’ off the starboard side. If every ship had a crew member like Nhi, we’d all be sailin’ first class!

The Feast – A Brothy Masterpiece Worthy of Kings • Filet Mignon Pho – Listen, matey, this ain’t just soup—this be a potion brewed in the cauldron of the gods themselves! The broth? Richer than a chest full of Spanish doubloons, infused with a symphony of spices that whisper sweet nothings to yer soul. The filet mignon? Tender as a mermaid’s kiss, floating in that golden elixir like jewels in the sea. One spoonful, and I was ready to trade me ship for a lifetime supply! • The Herbs & Garnishes – A plate o’ freshness fit for a jungle expedition! Crisp bean sprouts, fragrant Thai basil, fiery jalapeños, and zesty lime—a perfect arsenal to customize yer broth like a true sea captain chartin’ his own course. • Fried Cheesecake – If the sirens ever wanted to lure me to my doom, this would be the dessert they’d use. Crispy, golden perfection on the outside, molten, creamy delight within. A dessert so dangerously good, I’d gladly risk mutiny just to have another bite!

The Verdict – The True Hidden Gem of Tampa!

Simply Pho & Grill be no ordinary tavern—nay, this be a sanctuary for those who crave bold flavors, hearty portions, and legendary service. If ye be seekin’ pho so good it’ll have ye questionin’ yer life choices, set sail for this fine establishment and let Nhi be yer guide to soupy salvation.

🌊 Five outta five anchors—would...

UPDATE: 9/20/16 Decided to give them another try. The experience was much better. The waiter from last time was not there, and we were not bothered so much. Today I tried a new dish and I was just as satisfied as anything else I have tried here. Their food is always great, and I'm glad the service was better. Will increase the stars evaluation from 3 to 5 based on my most recent experience.

I am a frequent diner here. I love their food it's all good. The staff needs better improvements. Either they never come by to ask you if you need anything, or they end up being too over achieving. For instance last night my waiter was kind of odd, every time he walked past our table he would ask if everything was good (every 3 minutes it seemed like at times) then he would awkwardly just stand there as if he wasn't sure as to what to do next, then right after he left our side the other waitress would walk past and ask the same thing, 2/3rd of the time I would answer with noodles from my Pho hanging out my mouth and the other 1/3rd I'm concentrating on using the chop sticks. What made it worse was when we asked for a refill on the soda. The waiter brought back my husbands cup and when he sat it on the table, I guess it was proper for him to safe the straw from floating up and out of the cup since he proceeded to grab it with his hands and put it back in the soda. That was disgusting, why would a waiter touch the clients straw with your bare hands. I don't know if we will continue to go there or find another restaurant...