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Target 11: Pho 66 is now closed
Address: 3663 East Hastings St (map)
Phone: 604-229-3860
Menu: Page 1; Page 2; Page 3
Price: $6.95 – 7.75 large
Condiments Photo

Visit date: February 25th, 2007
Visit time: 5:25 PM

–ratings–

Jason’s ratings (#30 rare beef) –

Broth: 7.5/10
Beef: 6/10
Noodle: 6/10
Condiments: 5.5/10
Other factors (service, atmosphere, etc): 8.5/10

Jason’s total: 6.7/10

Dan’s ratings (#30 rare beef) –

Broth: 8/10
Beef: 6.5/10
Noodle: 6/10
Condiments: 5/10
Other factors: 8/10

Dan’s total: 6.7/10

Total Score (averaged across both raters, all variables) = 6.7/10
Quality per dollar (based on large pho) = 1.037/$
—

Description from Dan:

Well, the Great Phodown is about to enter its fourth month, but I think I speak for the Chairman when I say it feels like its been a LOT longer than that. Along the way we have had some spectacular pho, some terrible pho, and of course a lot of middle of the road pho. Reviewing all that mediocre pho is what really starts to drag on you. What can you say about a place like Pho 66? It was thoroughly average.

My main complaint with Pho 66 was the beef; not the quality of it, which was excellent—in fact, many other Pho restaurants would do well to find this tender, low-fat beef—but rather the quantity, which was puny. On the other end of the spectrum were the noodles, which comprised probably 85% of this pho. Not bad flavor-wise, but just way too much. I have often heard Iron Chef Mario Batali say that in his pasta dishes, he wants the noodles to be the star, and maybe the folks at Pho 66 agree. But for me, when I get BEEF Noodle Soup, I want to know it. The broth was actually pretty good, the atmosphere was good, the service was friendly but slow. The condiments were pretty weak, with wilted basil, a very sketchy looking chili oil and nothing else but the basics. All in all, this may have been the Vera’s Burger Shack of Pho restaurants, as the pho was mediocre, and, at $6.95, overpriced.