Review by Collette Dyson
Going by the number of diners we saw during our recent visit to Pho, it would seem that this new Vietnamese restaurant has filled a gap for quality Asian cuisine in the Exeter foodie scene. Pho fits so seamlessly into the new Queen Street restaurant development, one would be forgiven for barely noticing the absence of the building’s previous occupant ‘Polpo’. Add into the mix the fact that Vietnamese food is generally considered to be one of the healthiest cuisines around, and we reckon that Pho might just go the distance..
Our Visit
We booked a table at 6pm on a Thursday evening and were surprised to find that the restaurant was already buzzing when we arrived a touch earlier than planned. Amongst the clientele we observed solo diners, couples, large groups and families of all ages. In fact, judging by the relaxed atmosphere, pretty much anyone who enjoys street food would likely feel at ease in this eatery. The decor is basic but trendy, with painted brick and wood-clad walls, tasteful street art and a blend of moody and neon lighting.
For dinner, we opted to try a selection of dishes between us. We started with three dishes: Muc chien gion (Tender fried baby squid with a salt, pepper and lime dip – £6.95); Nem hai san (A large crispy spring roll of king prawn, crab & pork with nuoc cham dipping sauce – £4.95); and Banh Xeo (£8.25). The latter, was a savoury Vietnamese crispy crepe, with rice papers and herbs. The portion size was huge and it would have quite easily passed as a main meal. The crepe was packed full of tasty chicken, prawns and vegetables and the idea was to take a piece of the stuffed crepe, wrap it in a sheet of rice paper and dip it into the sweet chilli sauce. We thought all three dishes were honestly delicious, however, all three of us found ourselves reaching for knives and forks, as they proved to be a touch on the messy side.
