Pho Hoang — Restaurant in Riverview

This is the best Pho I've had in the states however the service and staff need some help . The key to success is the overall experience so I enclosed details to better train your staff I've owned three successful restaurants so I speak from experience.

1 Assist guests before they even get to your tables. Opening the door and greeting a guest also gives you a chance to check them in with the hostess. Knowing and using a guest's name is an important first step in creating a valuable repeat customer who may request your station when they return, and they usually tip much higher. This might not be possible on busy shifts. That said, you can still help your guests by having waters ready and at the table, for example, right before they sit down.[1] Checking in quickly to say "hello" or "welcome, as they sit down is a quick, small way to make a connection before the meal begins.[2] Advertisement

2 Anticipate your guest's needs. If your table orders fries, you might be wise to bring ketchup (these are often called pre-sets or pre-drops). If your table orders messy food, bring extra napkins. Be a great waiter and anticipate their needs, don’t make them ask. Keep an eye on the table whenever you pass by, and make a mental note of any pressing needs -- empty water glasses, dropped forks, etc. -- and step in when needed.

3 Do not pester your guests. Checking on them verbally every time you visit your section may backfire and become irritating. Your guest will let you know if they need anything when you are walking through. Providing refills, napkins, etc. will ensure that the only thing they should ask you for is the check. There is a fine line between anticipating needs and annoying your guests. To help, imagine that your guests are always in the middle of a very important conversation. They don't want this conversation to be broken up or interrupted unless completely necessary. Refilling waters quietly, placing silverware, etc. are fine, but stopping them to ask "if they need anything?" every 5 minutes will quickly grow old.

4 Make yourself seem approachable when taking orders. People will have questions, want to make substitutions, and may even want recommendations. When taking orders, stand close to the table, and even consider crouching slightly so that you're nearer to eye-level. In some studies the closer a waiter gets to the table, the higher their tips became. Ask kids and women for their orders first. This is basic, but most waiters and waitresses miss it. When you follow this basic cultural rule you will be amazed how the tips just seem to roll in.

5 Repeat the order exactly. Several studies have discovered that you earn more tips if you repeat the order of each guest exactly - not paraphrased. Your guests will then (unconsciously) think that you are similar to them and it will help to make a connection. This also shows lets them feel like they are being paid attention to, and assures them that they will be taken care. Advertisement

6 Never let their drinks run out. This is so basic, but when not done well it can really hurt you financially. If you know they suck those things down, you might consider bringing them two at once. Don't feel the need to ask them for refills: if it gets low, bring another. When the whole table orders water, bringing extra doesn't hurt either.[3]

7 Have the check ready to deliver once you've sent for dessert, coffee, etc. Print their checks after you send the order, desserts, coffees, etc. and place in a check presenter. No guest wants to wait for their server to return with their check so it helps to always have it on the ready. One minute to a server may feel like five to a guest. Once the check is presented, don't disappear. When people get the check they're ready to leave, so you need to get it processed and finished to move them...

Food: 4/5 Service: 0/5

Shocking experience. Let me explain why:

It's January 1st. My gf and I were calling a few Vietnamese restaurants in the area because we wanted pho. To my surprise, Pho Hoang answered. Yay... but everything went downhill from there. The young girl on the phone said, "Yes, unfortunately we are open. I mean who wants to be working on New Year's Day." My gf was the one on the phone with her and just chuckled. It was just kind of odd the employee was being so straightforward, and that wasn't the only time she was.

We decided to go to the restaurant. We quickly realized who the girl on the phone was, it was very clear by her body language. She turned out to be our server. After waiting a while, she finally shows up, and immediately asks, "so what made you guys decide to come in on New Year's?" We were flabbergasted. We couldn't believe this employee was being so blunt with us. Is it because we are "younger" looking (32 and 29)? Did she speak this way to all her customers? It was evident she REALLY did not want to be at work that day. Just because it's the first of the year? We didn't really know how to answer, just kind of chuckled awkwardly again.

I mean, we are hungry, the restaurant is open, and we want viet food. We truly felt like we did something wrong, it was extremely off-putting. We tried to order Vietnamese iced coffee and she told us they didn't have any because she didn't prepare it because she didn't have enough time and it would take 2 hours. Interesting. My gf and I make viet coffee at home, you literally don't have to prepare much because it is made at the table. Later we realized others ordered coffee and their young male server didn't tell them there wasn't any. Our server lied to us. Throughout the whole service my gf and I were respectful, and didn't even complain because she wasn't around.

The food took a really long time but we didn't even mind that much because clearly they were understaffed.

We won't be back because the service experience was extremely shocking.

3 stars because the food is pretty good, but the service...

I visited this restaurant yesterday with hopes of experiencing a vegetarian pho, but to my dismay all pho options were beef based. Although this disappointment initially inclined me to leave, I was compelled to remain due to the exceptional level of customer service provided. In a surprising turn of events, the staff invited my parents to share in my culinary adventure, extending warm hospitality to them even though they brought food from outside. They graciously provided my family with refreshments, their genuine kindness bridging the gap between expectation and reality. This extraordinary display of kindness and accommodation moved me to, at the very least, explore another dish on the menu, prompting my decision to order a tofu broccoli and cabbage noodle bowl. This dish far surpassed my expectations and left me feeling gratifyingly satiated. My waitress, a young woman of African descent, possessed an inherent beauty that radiated both inside and out. With a genuine warmth in her voice and a twinkle in her eye, she showered me and my daughter with undivided attention, offering invaluable suggestions and patiently addressing every inquiry that crossed my mind. The customer service experience she bestowed upon me was nothing short of extraordinary and kind. Her unwavering dedication to making my dining experience unforgettable made me feel cherished, valued, and appreciated. While it is regrettable that the vegetarian pho is absent from their menu, I wholeheartedly endorse this establishment for individuals seeking vegetarian options, particularly their assortment of delectable noodle bowls. Assuredly, this restaurant will not...