Pho 99 Littleton — Restaurant in Littleton

So, I have enjoyed this restaurant several times over the years. I won't slander this place and pretend like the food isn't good. It is good, fast, and inexpensive Ameripho.

However just a few hours earlier I had one of the most unpleasant dining experiences that I've ever had. I'm not being dramatic here. I've waited tables, cooked, bartended, and I feel like I'm pretty tolerant of service industry shenanigans. This was an experience that made me feel really unwelcome.

I walked in thirty minutes before close. Not a big deal usually in a pho place. I order fast, they toss it in the bowl, I slurp, we all leave around closing time no problem.

Tonight, it was a problem. The server practically threw my order at me along with the check. I told my dining partner "We better pay, they're eyeing us pretty hard." Ticket was closed with fifteen to ten minutes to closing time. I sit back to polish off my bowl and the server comes back and starts pulling plates he had deemed we weren't using anymore. I asked if I could have a bit more water and the other server sighed heavily and fetched the water pitcher. I joked he could leave it on the table if it was easier, and he surely did just that.

Few minutes later another round of plate clearing and it was obvious we were impeding the frantic attempts of a dishwasher hell bent on having all crockery clean for the next day. I signaled to the only remaining visible server who was dressed in his coat and backpack that I'd like a box. He brought it over and began to box up my remnants. Politely he asked how everything was and I replied "surprisingly rushed." No response, so I said "I don't blame you fella, I like to get the F out when it's closing time too I suppose, just wish I had a boss who wouldn't can me if I gave off the GTFO vibe as strong as you guys have." nothing.

So I gathered myself and my packages and departed.

I liked this place a lot, and I suppose for a midday pho it would still be good, but if you're looking for pho post sunset, this...

Terrible experience. This place has countless isues and you can tell just looking at the condition of the restaurant from the outside. I was nervous to eat here, though the food was "okay".

First, every surface in this restaurant is disgusting and filthy. Oily hand prints over all the chairs, and condiment containers, all over the doors and windows. Bathroom floor was gross, trash overfilling, floor sticky and dirty. The sink was covered in nasty stuff. The napkin holders are covered in grime and thick dust.

Unnattentive and awkward wait staff. When I walked in everyone that worked there was sitting down and eating, they gave me weird looks then somebody walked up to me give me a blank stare for multiple seconds then to ask if I was only one person. I had to call my server to my table, I had to yell into their kitchen to tell them I needed to pay because nobody was waiting on me. Server never checked in. When my food was brought out the guy was chewing on his own food, then sprinted around the restaurant. Nobody smiled. Absolutely terrible. Will never come here again, and I don't recommend visiting this UNINVITING disgustingly...

Have been here 4 or 5 times now and have only really gone because it's close to where I live, each time hoping they will improve. The price for a bowl of pho and spring rolls is rather steep for what you get, but this is often the case for restaurants in the suburbs. The interior is pleasant and the staff attentive, however the quality of the pho seriously needs to be improved. I've eaten many a pho in my lifetime and the secret to a good bowl is the broth, the noodles, and the various vegetables which come with your meal. At pho 99, the broth tastes like it is made from instant, or to give them some credit, hasn't been prepared very long. The noodles often arrive al dente, something which is unpleasant in a bowl of pho and not fun to chew. Lastly, the vegetables often appear old, almost as if they've been recycled from previous patrons. If they could perfect these items I'd be there every week, but I seem to doubt this will happen...