DateCafe – Pho, Coffee & Bubble Tea — Restaurant in Shoreline

I've walked past this place several times wondering what it was. Well, they opened recently and it turns out that they are a Vietnamese restaurant. There is already a good place near me (Phở Hà) but it never hurts to try other places. I live a little over a mile from Date Cafe, so I decided to take a walk up there. There is parking, but I didn't try it myself. There is also a drive thru. Again, I did not try that. The dining room is spacious and clean. In fact it is a bit sterile and cafeteria-like. I looked around to figure out what the procedure was, but there were no signs. A guy came out to tell me I could sit anywhere. There was a QR code on my table, so I prepared myself for technical challenges. Happily, the QR code took me to a menu that seemed clear and usable. That is until I picked a Bánh mì sandwich and looked around for a way to tell them that I do not like cilantro. I ended up looking for the guy who was busy dealing with other folks before he got to me. He said I should submit the order and he would put in the special request. I call that a challenge of technology. I ordered the sandwich and a spring roll appetizer. The guy was good about keeping my glass full, so I stuck with water. The sandwich came out first. It looked a little tired. The bread was partially squished, the jalapenos looked dried out and the cucumbers came in various thicknesses from paper thin to chunky. The good news was that there was no cilantro. I rearranged the insides and cut down the thick pieces of cucumber before taking a bite. Not too bad. I was half done with my sandwich when the appetizer came out. I'm not too picky about the order for eating a meal, so I did not worry too much. The spring roll was perfectly cooked and the sauce was good. The filling was a bit tasteless so I'll give it a 7 out of 10. When I was done, I looked around to see about getting my check. I was about to call the guy over again when I saw another customer go to the cash register. I followed him and let the guy press a million buttons so that I could put my card on the reader. So, here I am in a restaurant that wants me to seat myself, get myself a menu, figure out how everything works, and come to the counter to pay. What's the right tip? The default I was offered was 20%. The lowest single button option was 18%. I grew up paying 15%. It's a complex issue these days, but I just couldn't see myself paying more than I was used to for less service. I think I'll stick to Phở Hà. Maybe if I really need Vietnamese food on a day when they are closed, I might give Date Cafe another try, or I might just go to...

My friend and I went there for our 1-hour lunch time. We ordered grilled pork & grilled shrimps over rice with a fried egg and beef brisket & beef flank pho. The decorations of the restaurant and the restrooms are stylish, tidy and clean, but the food and service are deeply disappointed me.

Attitude issue 1 The orders were taken around 11:45am, but only the rice came at 12:13pm. When it was like 12:05pm, we asked the waiter politely to follow up our orders because we might not have enough time to eat. The waiter was like "Yeah.... the food will be ready in 15 minutes, we are still soft-opening". When it was about 12:13pm, only the rice arrived. I told the waiter, "if the pho is not ready in 2 minutes, please cancel it". The waiter was taking orders for other tables and giving out more food for other customers, and came back to me like "I just cancelled your order". I was like "What the heck"???????????? I waited for almost 30 minutes that I was hungry, impatient and not in a mood. I did not need apologies on knee, but the waiter's attitude was cold and just said "you can order something else if you want to wait". I was upset with the customer services like this.

Food quality My another two friends also got the grilled pork & grilled shrimps over rice with a fried egg, and my friend shared some rice with me. I grabbed some rice, the fried egg, and the grilled shrimps. The fried egg was fine, but the rice was in room temperature!!!!!!!!!!!!! OMG Please walk a mile in my shoes - starving, waiting for 30 minutes, the pho got cancelled - When I got my first bite of rice from my friend, the rice was not hot! Then I tried the shrimp, I bite the shell off that the shell was still stuck with the shrimp meat, and the shrimp meat was not fully cooked.

Attitude issue 2 The waiter checked with our table and asked, "Except the pho (which got cancelled), the rest of the food okay"? I reflected the opinion and said, "the shrimp is not cooked". The waiter replied, "oh you need to use your finger to peel (off the shell)". My reaction was like ????????????? I was so mad. No matter how I peeled off the shell, it would not change the rawness of the shrimp meat. I replied the waiter firmly, "no I used my mouth and tongue to peel off the shell, the shrimp is not cooked".

The food quality was terrible and customer service was not acceptable. One of my friend and I had to leave first because it was the time we had to go back to work. My another friend told me that she argued with the waiter, and the waiter freed...

Room for Improvement Despite Good Intentions

The café shows promise, with attention given to quality ingredients and a modern aesthetic, yet ultimately falls short where it matters most: in the flavors.

Spring Rolls with Peanut Sauce The spring rolls were presented well, with balanced portions of noodles, shrimp, and lettuce. Unfortunately, the experience was marred by a glaring error: the peanut sauce was mistakenly replaced with mắm (fermented fish sauce). While this was quickly addressed once brought to the kitchen’s attention, it was a concerning oversight that speaks to a lack of attentiveness in execution.

Cold Cuts Bánh Mì The bánh mì arrived with well-prepared vegetables—thinly julienned and fresh—and a respectable portion of cold cuts. The bread struck a balance between softness and light toasting, though the base was slightly soggy. Where the sandwich faltered was in the seasoning: the spread lacked enough depth and volume to tie the elements together, leaving the flavors muted.

Bún Bò Huế A personal favorite, this dish was the greatest disappointment. The bowl arrived with fresh ingredients and ample cuts of meat, but the broth lacked the robust, layered profile essential to bún bò huế. What should have been aromatic and complex came across instead as flat and underseasoned.

Vietnamese Coffee (Classic & Salt Foam) The highlight of the meal was the coffee. Both versions were strong, aromatic, and satisfying. The only drawback was the heavy-handed use of ice, which diluted the experience slightly.

Ambience The café employs an open-concept design, allowing clear views of the kitchen and bar area. While the space is modern and well-kept, closing off the kitchen could create a more intimate, inviting atmosphere.

Conclusion There is evident care in sourcing ingredients and investing in the café’s presentation, but the dishes lack the refinement and depth expected at the given price point. The coffee alone demonstrates potential; however, the kitchen must sharpen its consistency and flavors to elevate the overall dining experience.

Rating: C+ — worth a visit for the coffee, but the food still has a...