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Target 10: Vietnamese Restaurant
Address: 4136 Main St (map)
Phone: 604-872-3455
Menu: Page 1; Page 2; Page 3; Page 4
Price: $5.99 one-size-fits-all large
Condiments Photo

Visit date: February 15th, 2007
Visit time: 6:00 PM

–ratings–

Jason’s ratings (#P6 medium rare beef & tendon) –

Broth: 8/10
Beef: 7/10
Noodle: 8/10
Condiments: 6.5/10
Other factors (service, atmosphere, etc): 7/10

Jason’s total: 7.3/10

Dan’s ratings (#P4 medium rare beef and well-done beef) –

Broth: 8/10
Beef: 7.5/10
Noodle: 8/10
Condiments: 6.5/10
Other factors: 7/10

Dan’s total: 7.4/10

Total Score (averaged across both raters, all variables) = 7.35/10
Quality per dollar (based on large pho) = 1.227/$
—

Description from Jason:

Although I tend to support the notion that taste is king, the area that sets Vietnamese Restaurant apart from the rest (besides the unfortunate name) is the service and atmosphere. Decked out with an avalanche of bric-a-brac and enough potted plants to reforest Amazon Basin, some might call the ambiance at Vietnamese Restaurant charming and homey. I’ll be as diplomatic as I can be and simply call it different. Then there’s the matter of the host, so outgoing that he actually referred to me as his friend and his brother in one sentence. It might have been nice had our table not been neglected for extended periods of time, something that rarely happens at pho places. But then again, it’s not like we were there for the service; we came for the pho.

The condiments at Vietnamese Restaurant are average: just the basics, very fresh basil and bean sprouts that have seen better days. Dan and I agreed that the pho broth was very good: not very rich or deep in flavor, but with a very nice aroma and not-too-salty taste. The noodles separated well and were not gummy in the least. The beef, however, was not as fresh as I’ve had at other places, with a bit of a refrigerator aftertaste.

Although it’s not the best, the pho at Vietnamese Restaurant is quality stuff. So if you like over-the-top décor and an an over-the-top host, this could be the place for you.