hampstor
01-27-2009, 05:52 PM
Restaurant: Taurus Vietnamese Restaurant
Location: On Country Hills Blvd NE, next to the Sobeys
So I was wanting Pho and driving around my area when I remembered there was this place I haven't tried up by the Sobeys.
http://i277.photobucket.com/albums/kk71/hampstor/IMG_0137.jpg
Food Rating: 0/5
I ordered a regular Pho Dac Biet and 4 Spring Rolls.
http://i277.photobucket.com/albums/kk71/hampstor/IMG_0133.jpg
Here's what I thought of the pho: There was very little noodles and meat. There was 2 halves of a meatball, the rare beef was good, the tripe was old and dried out, and the well done beef .... you know when you make soup, and you let it sit out for a bit, the meat exposed to air gets all dark and hard?:barf:
http://i277.photobucket.com/albums/kk71/hampstor/IMG_0134.jpg
The broth tasted nothing like Pho, in fact, it tasted more like Wonton soup broth. The hoison and hot sauces was so watered down that i tipped the bottle over and it ran out of the bottle on it's own!
My conclusion was that it was not pho - it was an unnamed noodle soup.
Spring Rolls:
http://i277.photobucket.com/albums/kk71/hampstor/IMG_0136.jpg
Bland, no flavour to it. It literally tasted like pork, with some noodles, the black fungus mushrooms found in spring rolls normally - thats it. They had not seasoned it or put carrots in it. The fish sauce used was ridiculously watered down. It had almost no taste to it, definately no garlic was used in it as well. Further, one of my spring rolls showed signs of freezer burn and actually tasted like it (it was a puffy white section on the wrap that was soggy). How long have they been in the freezer for?? :barf:
Ambience: 1/5
It was a hole in the wall place - it was reasonably clean for a vietnamese place. However the front counter was fairly cluttered. The music was a bit loud but mangable.
http://i277.photobucket.com/albums/kk71/hampstor/IMG_0135.jpg
It didn't help that part way through the service, a guy wearing sandals comes out of the kitchen with a bowl of rice and pork, sits down at the table next to me and starts eating it. He smelled like he needed a shower to boot - I hope he wasn't the one preparing the food. :barf:
There were 2 girls (who i guess were the servers - i only saw them when i ordered and when the food was brought out) who were behind the counter speaking in one of the chinese languages very loud.
Additionally, why was there chinese translations in the menu? I can understand English and of course Vietnamese, but chinese translations for everything?
Service: 1/5
There was 1 other table there besides me yet my Pho took 15 minutes. My spring rolls came out 5 minutes later. I never saw either of the girls come to my table other than to drop the food off. Sure they smiled and were friendly, but with only 2 tables in the place including myself, I shouldn't have to get up and ask them to refill my pot of tea.
Conclusion:
I paid just over $12 for the meal - which I completely regret eating. I've never had "Vietnamese" food so bad before.
Avoid if you are wanting Pho or Spring Rolls. As far as I'm concerned, they broke the cardinal rule of Vietnamese restaurants: the hole in the wall places are supposed to have good food. I think i'll stick to the overpriced (but decent) food at Green Papaya from now on up in my area.
Location: On Country Hills Blvd NE, next to the Sobeys
So I was wanting Pho and driving around my area when I remembered there was this place I haven't tried up by the Sobeys.
http://i277.photobucket.com/albums/kk71/hampstor/IMG_0137.jpg
Food Rating: 0/5
I ordered a regular Pho Dac Biet and 4 Spring Rolls.
http://i277.photobucket.com/albums/kk71/hampstor/IMG_0133.jpg
Here's what I thought of the pho: There was very little noodles and meat. There was 2 halves of a meatball, the rare beef was good, the tripe was old and dried out, and the well done beef .... you know when you make soup, and you let it sit out for a bit, the meat exposed to air gets all dark and hard?:barf:
http://i277.photobucket.com/albums/kk71/hampstor/IMG_0134.jpg
The broth tasted nothing like Pho, in fact, it tasted more like Wonton soup broth. The hoison and hot sauces was so watered down that i tipped the bottle over and it ran out of the bottle on it's own!
My conclusion was that it was not pho - it was an unnamed noodle soup.
Spring Rolls:
http://i277.photobucket.com/albums/kk71/hampstor/IMG_0136.jpg
Bland, no flavour to it. It literally tasted like pork, with some noodles, the black fungus mushrooms found in spring rolls normally - thats it. They had not seasoned it or put carrots in it. The fish sauce used was ridiculously watered down. It had almost no taste to it, definately no garlic was used in it as well. Further, one of my spring rolls showed signs of freezer burn and actually tasted like it (it was a puffy white section on the wrap that was soggy). How long have they been in the freezer for?? :barf:
Ambience: 1/5
It was a hole in the wall place - it was reasonably clean for a vietnamese place. However the front counter was fairly cluttered. The music was a bit loud but mangable.
http://i277.photobucket.com/albums/kk71/hampstor/IMG_0135.jpg
It didn't help that part way through the service, a guy wearing sandals comes out of the kitchen with a bowl of rice and pork, sits down at the table next to me and starts eating it. He smelled like he needed a shower to boot - I hope he wasn't the one preparing the food. :barf:
There were 2 girls (who i guess were the servers - i only saw them when i ordered and when the food was brought out) who were behind the counter speaking in one of the chinese languages very loud.
Additionally, why was there chinese translations in the menu? I can understand English and of course Vietnamese, but chinese translations for everything?
Service: 1/5
There was 1 other table there besides me yet my Pho took 15 minutes. My spring rolls came out 5 minutes later. I never saw either of the girls come to my table other than to drop the food off. Sure they smiled and were friendly, but with only 2 tables in the place including myself, I shouldn't have to get up and ask them to refill my pot of tea.
Conclusion:
I paid just over $12 for the meal - which I completely regret eating. I've never had "Vietnamese" food so bad before.
Avoid if you are wanting Pho or Spring Rolls. As far as I'm concerned, they broke the cardinal rule of Vietnamese restaurants: the hole in the wall places are supposed to have good food. I think i'll stick to the overpriced (but decent) food at Green Papaya from now on up in my area.