Lunch with the Cackling Barmaid, who throws her new, mid-length, chestnut hair over her shoulder as our twelve-year old waiter takes your order. I’m sure he’s a few years closer to voting, but not by much. There are six staff, three in kitchen white and three in blacks, running service for these slow, afternoon hours, twice what Ginger across the street runs with during rush. Seems a waste, as was the elegant plating for the sides of sprouts, chillies, basil leaves, and lime wedges. Our phōs arrived, or seated with less fanfare and guile than their acoutrements, the sliced beef and chicken in my bowl, the Vistro special, cooked so fast that by the time I’d fished out my first piece from the bland broth, it was already well done and chewy. The Barmaid’s phō was uneventful (though she was impressed by the glass bottle of coke that arrived for her), and we slurped and scooped up our noodles, laughing and chatting as our lunch faded into the background. Pho Vistro should only attract you if you’re willing to spend an extra five dollars per bowl for a prettier ambience with smooth tabletops, well-shaped chopsticks, but don’t care about dull broths and lacklustre toppings. Go to Ginger for cheaper, standardized Vietnamese, or Spadina for better pho.
Phō Vistro
259 Queen St W, Toronto, ON M5V 1Z4