NEW SAIGON PHO VN — Restaurant in Town of Newburgh

I must say my experience at New Saigon Pho was absolutely horrible. We ordered two pho soups and pork chops for dinner. There were pictures on the menu to describe how the dish would look like. The waiter that helped us (a young man) asked if I wanted the pork chop grilled or regular, so I said grilled. When the order was being entered in their system behind the counter, the Vietnamese lady asked: “Do you want it with bone or boneless?” I said it doesn't matter. I was thinking to myself, ‘That’s a strange question, nobody ever asked this many questions about a pork chop order!’

I’ve order pork chops at Vietnamese restaurants MANY TIMES in the past, and they always serve a few palm-sized pieces of meat marinated in fish sauce, with rice and some pickled veggies. It usually is a very tasty dish. However, when I got my pork chop dish at New Saigon Pho, the meat was very thinly sliced (like tiny chips of meat) and barely had any flavor. Not to mention that the quantity of the meat was very little. So I asked the lady, “Is this really the pork chops I ordered?” The waiter and the lady in a loud voice said to me, “You said it doesn't matter!” Looking back, I guess I should have known better how the words, “It doesn't matter” would be understood by the restaurant staff. What I meant was, it doesn't matter if the bone is still in the meat or not… But I still expected to get pork chop meat, and not a totally different dish. I at least expected it to resemble the picture on the menu.

When it was time to pay (and payment was not an issue), I kindly mentioned that the pork chop meal was not even close to how it was described on the menu. But the response from the lady in charge was so rude and obnoxious, She screamed at me in front of other customers! I didn't want to make a scene, so I wanted to quickly pay and leave. But she made me wait by attending to other customers who came in for pick-up orders. I don't think I will ever return to this restaurant even though I live in the area. By far, this was the worse experience ever. I felt compelled to leave this review. Hopefully they will learn some manners and how to treat customers in a respectable manner.

Because there are no other Vietnamese restaurants in the area, I feel that the quality of the food is pretty bad. The Vietnamese flavors may be intriguing and viewed healthy by some, but this restaurant definitely was not honest and the way they treated their customers makes me question how they will handle the food in the kitchen that the...

I must have been Vietnamese in another life. How else can I explain my infatuation with Phơ?

It was a Sunday. Wifey and I were out for a quiet jaunt around the greater Newburgh area. Suddenly, we became quite peckish and decided it was time to feed ourselves something rich, tasty, and filling. We were in an unfamiliar area, in a town we generally tend to avoid, down a back road neither of us were familiar with. In layman's terms: we were lost. Up ahead in the distance, I saw a shimmering sign. I recognized a single word on the building front and told the wife to pull over.

'Phơ'.

We stepped inside, and immediately, both our nostrils were filled with all the rich savory spices of southeast Asia.

Olfactory overload. Salivatory glands: activated.

We nestled into our seats, tucked our napkins into our shirt collars, and ordered our lunch.

To start: Little Spring Rolls. Fried to crispy golden perfection, served with a cheeky, spicy apricot sauce.

Next, chicken and veggies with Rice for her, and for the more adventurous type - i.e.: me - House Specialty Phơ.

The broth was delicate, rich, and silky, loaded with intense scent of lemongrass and star anise. Small shimmering globules of rendered chicken, pork, and beef fat mixed with the faint aromatics of ginger, garlic, and basil. The toppings were a mix. Chewy beef tendon, thinly sliced filet mignon, sliced fatty brisket, springy dense meatballs, and crunchy honeycomb tripe.

The noodles were cooked perfectly. Chewy and slick. The other toppings - bean sprouts, jalapeños, basil, and lime - were fresh and added great elements of heat, sweet, tart, earthiness, and crunch. Standard fare Sriracha hot sauce and Hoisin stored in squeeze bottles top the table and add a needed salty, spicy kick to the broth. But in truth, the broth doesn't need any of that. It was perfect on its own.

Atmosphereically (I know that's not a word, but I'm using it) the place had character. Very swank. Very Saigon chic. I totally dug it.

Our waitress was well-mannered, polite, and very attentive. A little slow, but otherwise, the service was great.

Would I go back? Oh, without a doubt. This place was great!

Sometimes, being lost brings you to the most unexpectedly delightful finds that feel familiar; and once you've found something familiar, you're not lost...

A Bright Spot on Our Road Trip: Delicious Pho in a Sparkling Clean Setting! Our long drive from Vermont to Maryland on Route 84 was made significantly better by stumbling upon this gem of a pho restaurant in Gardnertown. What immediately impressed us was the spotless environment – it felt so fresh and clean, a real treat for road-weary travelers. The service we received was truly top-notch. Our server was attentive and genuinely welcoming, making us feel like valued customers. We were seeking a light and flavorful meal, and this place delivered! The Pho Ga was a bowl of pure comfort – the broth was fragrant and satisfying, and the chicken was perfectly cooked. My companion thoroughly enjoyed their sandwich, declaring it a highlight of our stop. And let's not forget the iced Vietnamese coffee – a rich and energizing pick-me-up that was simply perfect. If you find yourself traveling along Route 84 and are looking for a delicious and refreshing break, this pho restaurant is an absolute must-try. Clean, friendly, and serving up fantastic pho and more, it's a real oasis...