Pho Viet, unrelated to Pho Xe Lua, Pho Hoa, Pho 777, Pho 888 and Pho Xe Tang, all 'pho' restaurants that just happen to be located in or around the same area, is basically your typical Vietnamese restaurant with just a hint of Chinese to spice things up. Pho, which is actually pronounced "fuh" or "fur," believe it or not (don't feel too ashamed if you've been pronouncing it 'faux'; so have we) is a Vietnamese beef noodle soup that's been around for more than 90 years. A small bowl of the stuff will cost you $6.25, while the big—scratch that—huge runs 70 cents more.
While the food quality at Pho Viet isn't life-altering or even better than its neighbors'—the soup is a bit watery and the noodles a bit spaghetti-esque—the design and decor are both top-notch and brand-new. Imagine a bathroom that doesn't remind you of the men's rooms at Wrigley Field. Trust us, it exists, at Pho Viet. Then there are the various hi-def TVs that play random television shows—soap operas if you're lucky—and the dance floor in the back for, well, breakdancing and karaoke, obviously.
Pho Viet seems a little confused as to whether or not it wants to focus on the karaoke and dancing or the food, but the service is friendly enough and the food is on its way up from being "just okay." And frankly, why can't a restaurant focus on both food and dancing? It sounds like a fantastic combination.
Centerstage Reviewer: Benjamin Andrew Moore
