Pho Thin Vietnamese Noodle Lounge — Restaurant in Cottonwood Heights

Would absolutely not return. Not because the food was bad (it was fine), but because they mislead you to the expensive side of the restaurant. Let me explain.

When you walk in, there is one entrance. Having been our first time, we had no idea there were two different restaurants, or really just sections, in the venue. Why would there be? Keep in mind, they have VERY different menus with VERY different prices. We went in, went to the host desk and she sat us in the area/table she wanted to. No questions, no explanation. Just "sit here". Bear in mind we are one of two tables with people at it in the entire place.

We sit and are looking all over at the menu for pho and cant find it. All we see are absurdly priced entrees for lunch. So we ask where the pho is because we say that's why we came here and she points to the one buried option on the menu with two meat choices. The price: TWENTY EIGHT DOLLARS. For a big bowl of soup. $28. We're confused, but are starving from the day so we decide to split the overpriced pho with filet mignon as the meat and some basic gyoza which was also overpriced at 15 bucks. The food finally comes a while later, and the pho is fine. The filet mignon was nothing better than any beef normally in pho (actually a bit drier and less flavorful), so I'm not sure I buy this being a high end cut of meat. The gyoza was good, though only 4 small pieces. The waitress then comes over 90398403903 times to take away our food that is only half finished, and then disappears from coming by after we actually clearly finished our meal as we wait 20 mins to ask for the check.

Confused as to how this was such an expensive lunch at a pho restaurant with only one overpriced pho option, we see a sign by the door on our way out that says something to the effect of "tell us which restaurant you're here for so we can sit you in the right place". It is easily missed, and honestly a bit scummy that the hostess wouldnt ask (notably for lunch) which restaurant you're here for and instead just put you in the overpriced wannabe swank section. We get to the car and look up the "other" section menu and see that the pho is $15 or so and they have a more standard pho restaurant menu with several options. The hostess/waitress (same person) never asked which restaurant we came for (why would we ever assume one restaurant with one entrance has two restaurants? notably since we've never been to this restaurant that looks like it came in an Ikea kit. the whole place looks the same and has all the same design/tables/chairs/etc so its not like some places where there's a restaurant area and a bar area that are clearly separate sections-though the same establishment), and when we asked about pho and looked perturbed by the price, she never said anything about the other section or other menu. We could have been moved 20 feet over and paid half the price for the SAME FOOD. I find this to be extremely disrespectful to customers, and honestly misleading. While the food was fine, we will absolutely not return here - even to the side of the restaurant without the overpriced fake filet mignon.

Be better. You're the establishment with a confusing setup. Take the extra step and ask/inform customers of the options for sections,...

Terrible, unethical management/service. Let me start by saying the pho is not too bad. It's definitely not the best in Salt Lake City, but it's not terrible, though it's really overpriced for what you get. The broth here definitely needs the added condiments (unlike, say, Oh Mai's broth, which can stand on its own). Their menu did offer some interesting extras, such as a shot of egg yolk to make the broth more creamy. Not sure how traditional that is. I've eaten a lot of pho and never had it "creamy", but I'm always up for something different and I opted for it. The pho arrived first. I then waited fifteen minutes for the kitchen to send out the yolk as my soup got cold. The kitchen was actually in full view, and I could see what was going on. I could hear my server repeatedly asking for the yolk while the kitchen staff proceeded to not only ignore him but screw up the order at the table next to us. When our server brought the check, I noticed he hadn't charged for the shot of yolk ($2) due to the wait. Great. Then an older woman, who appeared to be the manager (if not owner) of the restaurant, came and took my card. When it was returned to me, she had ADDED a charge for the side of yolk. I paid it without making a fuss, as it was only $2. But it really bothered me. When I am presented a bill, and I give you my payment, my payment is for THAT BILL. To add something afterward is highly unethical. It was obvious the server had been doing the right thing, but this cheapskate of a woman swooped in and adjusted it. Well, I hope she enjoys her $2. I'm in that part of Salt Lake City a lot, and the pho was actually good enough for me to have returned, but now I'm NEVER going back. No complaints about my server. It was all the kitchen and...

REPLY TO OWNER: You should train your staff, or apologize, rather than finding excuses. She served two tables, and took two groups to tables, so she definitely not the cleaning crew, but probably a host, or a server. A more specific description for you to train your staff: she’s short, dyed yellow hair, with round face, looks around 50. Other waitress was wearing apron, she wasn’t.

I brought mandarin cause I want to borrow the scissors to cut the bag off. She said I cannot bring food, and I explained that I only want to cut the bag. And this happens AFTER she asked me a series of irrelevant questions like the door problem. Still, I brought mandarins should not be the reason of SHE ACTING RUDELY!

OR, if your restaurant have RULES TO FOLLOW to dine in, you should post it on the door, something like “USING THIS DOOR MEANS YOU ARE NOT OUR CUSTOMER”.

Original comment: A HORRIBLE place. that old short lady is extremely unfriendly! The waitress brought us to a table, and that lady then came several times and asked random questions. She first asked why can we use the door we went in. Why should we know? She works here, not us. She then emphasize that door should be locked, we should not use that door. We are first time here, why should we know??? Then she asked if we want lunch here. If we don’t want lunch, why were we there???? Cause she looked at me in an unfriendly way, the only interpretation of that question is that she wants us to leave. If there is a 0 star, I’ll give a zero. This is the most weird and uncomfortable experience I‘ve ever had. I don’t know which restaurant she works for. I’ll leave this comment for both...