Pho Thien Phat — Restaurant in Tuckahoe

I came based on the reviews and the food did not disappoint. I ordered a pot of tea, the shrimp rice paper rolls and the Tai, Chin Pho, which was the pho with eye of round steak and well done brisket. My son ordered the same pho, but with fatty brisket instead(it's called something else but it's slipping my mind). The broth was light, yet rich and flavorful and the steak was tender and finely sliced. The noodles were perfectly cooked. The only thing I wished I had more of was lime on my little plate of add-ons which leads me into service.

I can't complain because the guy who took our order literally told us that once he took our order he wouldn't be back and he was telling the truth. I just didn't know that no one would come. Not a single person came back to our table to ask if everything was ok, if we needed anything, if we needed more water, more tea... Literally nothing. It was our first time there but my son and I are pho restaurant regulars so I'm not sure if the lack of continual service is common place at this particular restaurant.

When it comes to paying, they do leave you a little ticket on your table to go up to the counter to pay when you're ready. They had 4 options at the little pay terminal, No tip, 20%, 25%, or 30%. I'm usually a great tipper but I didn't think either one of those options were appropriate since I've waited tables and have worked in food service before. I didn't want to leave a zero dollar tip but the service didn't match 20% of our order either. I'd read previous reviews that the percentages I mentioned above were the only options when paying by card, so I asked the cashier. He said if you pressed the down arrow on the terminal it gives the option for a custom tip, so that's what I did.

Overall I'd definitely come back. The food was good and I know not to expect any service so I am...

Overall Rating: 3.9/10 The service and food did not meet the expectations typically associated with a Vietnamese restaurant, resulting in a disappointing dining experience.

Service: 3.6/10 The two ladies attending to water were polite and attentive but generally silent. Customer service was lacking, especially from the person taking orders, and another server seemed distracted, wearing a wireless headset. The payment process was confusing, requiring patrons to pay at the front desk without clear instructions. Cleanliness was an issue, particularly in the bathrooms. Additionally, the staff failed to notice or address the untouched rice plate, indicating a lack of attention to diner satisfaction.

Food:

Spring Rolls: 3.9/10 The spring rolls were oddly warm, suggesting they had been left out for too long, which was off-putting. The absence of peanut sauce was a noticeable drawback.

Pho: 5.9/10 The pho was slightly better than average with tasty broth, providing some redemption to the meal.

Beef Rice Plate: 2.2/10 This dish was a major letdown, dominated by the taste of frozen vegetables and excessive beef fat, leading to an overall unenjoyable experience. The lack of freshness was evident, resulting in the plate being left uneaten.

Value: 2.2/10 At over $70 for three people, the cost was steep given the subpar quality of the food and the overall experience. The meal failed to provide the freshness, quality, and satisfying experience expected...

Authentic Vietnamese food in Richmond! I have been to over a half dozen Vietnamese / Pho restaurants in the Richmond area and my family and I continuously gravitate to this location. We have an excellent Vietnamese / Pho restaurant less than two miles from our house, yet when the topic of going out for Pho arises, my kids ALWAYS ask if we are going to the "good Pho place"? Even they are willing to drive thirty minutes out of the way to eat here (and my children have very little patience when it comes to long drives when hungry). Every Pho restaurant in Richmond serves a nearly identical bowl of noodle soup with the obligatory plate of bean sprouts, Thai basil, jalapenos and lime wedges. What sets this place apart from all the others is their broth! Though all of the other broths have good flavor, the depth that they manage to achieve here sets them apart. It takes hours of simmering bones and spices to generate that kind of mouth feel. I will also comment on the service here. Many reviews offer a negative view of the service here. I will answer them all by saying that most if not all of them have never been to a restaurant in Southeast Asia. People there want their food and then to be left alone! If you need something, you flag down the server. It is a completely different eating experience compared to most Western...