Pho 79

01/04/08

Rudest waitstaff in Alhambra, arbitrary closing times

by lichee1123 at Citysearch

Used to go here frequently because it was the only good pho place in town, but couldn't stand the attitudes of the servers, who act like customers are a bother, especially the woman who is always too busy counting her dollar bills at the cash register to look up and greet anyone or acknowledge customers. They supposedly are open until 9:00pm but there have been many an occasion that I've come at 8:30pm and have been turned away, the rude waiter saying that the kitchen was closed already. They act like they don't need their customers, even though the customers are the ones they should be catering to. I had about had enough of their bad attitude, that I decided to boycott their restaurant, and was so glad to find Golden Deli, which is just down the street on Main Street, and the food is so much better than Pho 79, especially the golden eggrolls, and the owners are much more pleasant and the restaurant is much more cozy. I'll never go back to Pho 79 agian!!!

• Pros: authentic tasting pho, but the rude waitstaff leaves a bad taste in your mouth; not worth it!
• Cons: Thumbs way down! Waitstaff ignore you; cash only; owners take their customers for granted

07/09/07

Food is OK. Service is horrible

by 955df at Citysearch

I agree with reviewer bay20. I noticed the tip of the waiter's thumb dip into the broth of the beef noddle soup. The question I have that upsets me the most is why they don't place hot bowls of soup on top of plates or saucers so the waiter doesn't have to dunk his thumb in the soup. Just hold the plates, instead of the bowls. Sinking your thumb into the soup is quite disgusting and barbaric.

There were about 3 times that I ordered some sandwitches to go, and I specifically told the waiter that I wanted the vegetables on the side, not inside the sandwiches because I want to freeze the sandwitches and I don't want the vegetables to be ruined. The waiter said "Yes!", then they didn't do it at all. Vegetables inside the sandwitches again, every time. The owner and staff don't seem to care about the customers at all. After they bring you the food, they just leave and never come back to check on you to see if you need anything. If you do need anything, good luck catching their attention. Sometimes they see you waving from the other corner of the room and just keep ignorning you. The only waitress in that place I find polite and helpful is a young woman working there on the late afternoon/evening shift. She's always nice and makes conversation with the customers sometimes, and brings them what they need. Other staff members seem like they hate their jobs so much.

Now you must wonder why I keep coming back while the service is that terrible? I must say I sometimes crave for Vietnamese food, and I really don't have a lot of choices around where I live (about 6 miles away from that restaurant.)

• Pros: Banh Cuon Cha Gio is good. Pho is good.
• Cons: Servive is bad.

12/09/06

Best Vietnamese Pho, Pho 79

by bchk1031 at Citysearch

I have been to this place for the past probably 6 years, it is the best one I have been to. The style has changed slightly since, but overall I like going there for lunch.

I think it's Soup based noodle bowls are ones that top the menu. The soup is the best out of many of the vietnamese pho's I have been to. The one thing you should notice is the aroma of the soup that is really strong even before you walk into the place. The other dish that I like is the mushroom and ground pork vermicelli rolls. They are something. The spring rolls are also good and come with some of the non-soup based bowls of Vermicelli Bowls.

The things to notice your clothes being the smell of the place, and it will probably not smell too good the next day. The service is to get your meal to your table and leave you in peace. If you want something you should raise your hand and maybe even gesticulate what you want. I love going here every now and then.

• Pros: The excellent side dishes and Pho
• Cons: service; sanitation of the restroom, totally Vietnamese standards.