Pho (Restaurant)

London has an excellent reputation for covering every corner of the world with its food offerings and thanks to Pho – with its dedication to serving only Vietnamese cuisine – that reputation has been enhanced still further.

This second branch in Fitzrovia joins the one which opened in Clerkenwell in 2005, and whether you’ve been a visitor to Vietnam or not there’s an excitement and vibrancy to eating here which is pleasantly reminiscent of picking up a hot broth from a street vendor in an exotic foreign location.

The menu lists the Vietnamese names of all the dishes (which the waiter pronounced with consummate ease) and there are both hot and cold starters to get customers straight into the Vietnamese dining experience. One option which particularly caught the eye was the traditional crepe, available either with meat and fish or as a veggie option. The crepe is crisp to the bite and when it’s placed with the other ingredients in the accompanying lettuce leaves it feels like part of the most exotic picnic.

The restaurant’s name is also the Vietnamese national dish (the correct pronunciation is “fuh”), and conveniently it appears as a main dish which is perfect for noodle lovers. It goes particularly well with the succulent tiger prawns and is enhanced by the array of accompanying fresh herbs and chilli which allows each diner to add the personal touch to their dish. Better still, there’s a reassuring feeling that everything on the plate is genuine healthy.

The Vietnamese tea and coffee also offers some unexpected treats. Among the coffees there’s a choice of Weasel coffee which is regurgitated by wild Vietnamese weasels. It might sound unconventional but it makes for a rich and earthy delight. Elsewhere, there are three flavours of wonderfully fragrant teas made of a tea ball which flowers when hot water is poured over them. Tea making has never been so beautiful.

The Pho phenomenon is already hugely popular beyond Vietnam’s borders, especially in France and North America. This exciting new dining experience in the heart of London means that we Brits have no excuse to feel left out....read more