The Pho Lexington — Restaurant in New York

This is the 423rd food venue I visited in NYC. I went for a quick weekend brunch as a solo guest and tried the Summer Roll with Shrimp and the Fried Catfish with Vegetables and Rice. In my opinion, the food was okay, but not up to an acceptable quality. It wasn't fresh and lacked flavor, which is why I don't think I'll ever return there. I would rate it 3.5/5 based on my experience. Here's a more detailed review: Food (5/10): The rolls were okay, but a bit dry and lacked flavor. However, the sauce on the side helped to improve the taste. The catfish was not freshly prepared, as it came out too quickly and was too dark and dry. It had obviously been reheated. At first, I even thought about returning it, but took a risk and ate it anyway. Service (8/10): The service was friendly and quick. My food was delivered to the table in less than 5 minutes. Interior (7/10): The restaurant had two dining areas, one in the front and one in the back. It was a decent option for a quick meal. However, the wooden furniture was not very comfortable for long periods of sitting. Restroom (8/10): The restroom was ADA-adapted, gender-neutral, and single. It was clean, but I don't know if they had hot water as the water didn't warm up until I finished washing my hands. Prices (7/10): My check for two items was $30 with tax and a 20% tip. It's not too expensive for a check, but the quality of the food did not...

Ambiance (3/5): The restaurant is very bright with low volume of guests/music. The furniture is not very comfy and has no backing unless you are against the walls. Service (3/5): The restaurant has a front dining area and then a narrow hallway that leads to a dining area in the back. Since we sat in the back, the service was pretty bad. The opportunity to order or ask for something happened only when an order was coming out. Sadly, when we ordered 2 Pho bowls, only 1 order was placed because the same person ordered for the table and caused some confusion that only 1 was ordered. We ended up canceling the second one after the first bowl was consumed. The bowl of pho also came before our appetizers which I wasn’t too happy with. Duck Spring Rolls (4/5): The 2 duck spring rolls were piping hot when served! The outer crunch of the spring roll was flakey and warm. The inside was deliciously seasoned but not too much duck. My suggestion would be to chop up the meat a little more and spread it more evenly across the spring roll. The duck sauce is better than your Chinese takeout standard packet; this sauce was spicy and less sweet. Flank Pho (2/5): The pho bowl is gigantic! There was plenty of noodles and a medium amount of meat. Sadly, the cuts of beef were not very tender. The broth could have used more...

You have to just adore a cheeky thursday night bowl of pho.

After a measly 2 mile run in central park, I started in my walk home. As per usual when I run in central park, often around dinner time, whether I had planned a meal to cook myself or not, there is always real possibility that my eyes in collusion with my feet will find end me up in some joint for dinner. Tonight’s culprit: The Pho.

Naturally, i ordered the pho. Now, pho is one food that i have the pleasure or trying time and time again wherever I find myself. I owe that joy to my dear friend Jackson. I’ve sworn my honor in provindinh these reviews, so I must say I give this pho a 7.9/10.

Now, now, settle down. You’re probably thinking “geez that’s a bit harsh innit?”. You’re right but I look for greatness in pho. This pho lacked the quantity of bamboo shoot I look for. It didn’t include jaleoenos, nor enough basil. The broth was decent, I enjoyed it. It’s not a bad pho, but there’s room for improvement.

I cannot forget the good parts. 1) This was the fastest i have ever received my food after ordering. I want to say it took 53 seconds. 2) it was a huge amount of pho, good value. 3) they played some banging...