Saigon

Served warm water but immediately was given big cup of ice when asked. There were no line up during dinner hour which was nice since we were seated immediately. The food came out one at a time, with 15-20 minutes in between eat dish which made it awkward for people eating as one person would finish eating their meal before the others even started to eat. We ended up just sharing everything instead so that no one felt left out. I feel like they are catering too much to the Western population by not adding traditional aromatics and spices, they kind of missed the authentic Vietnamese flavours and spices in my opinion. They’re not prepared for big groups, they put so much effort in the presentation that performance is hindered once a big group orders. The table beside us got a drink for free since the wait was so long; that was incredibly nice of restaurant to do that. It was obvious that tables around us were getting restless though from the repetitive apologies and long waits. For the tartar, the shrimp cracker was under fried and the beef didn’t taste the freshest as it had a sour aftertaste. The seasoning was nice though, was a very subtle seasoning. The papaya salad did not have enough papaya but mainly being pickled carrots and mango. The pickling was not traditional flavouring, but more a strong vinegar taste. The Shrimp was nicely flavoured and cooked, really sweet and savoury. Biggest complaint was that there were no traditional spices such as shallots, peppers, and cilantro. They added mint instead of basil which was disappointing. The chicken wings took a total of 45 minutes to come out and I think it’s because they left it in the fryer and forgot about it. It was difficult to chew and swallow because of how dry and over cooked it was. Both sauces were incredibly delicious though, and I would buy this in bulk if it was cooked correctly. The taco pork belly was awesome and the veggies were a perfect match for the salty/savoury meat. The beef taco had similar flavour but cooked a lot more poorly, it was dry and the burnt end of the beef was difficult to chew. We all agreed that the braised pork belly on rice was the best. It actually tasted authentic but it was not braised though, more just cooked and reduced in its own sauce on high heat. Would come back just for this dish though. A big thanks to our wonderful waitresses, Breanna and Alyssa, they made it such a great experience and were incredibly helpful.

The food was good (beef taco was INCREDIBLE), service was very friendly but also quite slow. They were sold out of pork belly which seems to be their most popular item so I did not get a chance to try it. Vegetarian spring rolls - (3.2/5) Crispy but bland tasting and not worth trying. (Forgot to take a picture) Saigon Tacos Beef - (4.8/5) Absolutely incredible BBQ beef flavor with great toppings. Shrimp - (3.7/5) Shrimp was tender and cooked well but overall the taco was not as vibrantly flavored as the beef tacos and was also more expensive. Saigon sliders - (4.1/5) Fresh soft bun, simple pork patty with a good tasting sauce and crispy toppings for texture.

I chose this spot for an afternoon gathering for my colleagues on a weeknight because the patio is gorgeous and the small plates would work for pre-dinner. Service was outstanding, they proposed a menu in advance and things rolled so smoothly (but I ate too much to have dinner later!) I loved each dish, sliders were spiced so nicely. Skewers were a huge hit. We were too stuffed to try the mushrooms but I can't wait until next time. Cocktails were absolutely incredible too. Having lived in Shanghai and tried cocktails in over 15 countries, I'm familiar with bustling nightlife spots and this one was just the right amount of casual ambiance while keeping flavours and service top notch. LOVED IT!

Great food and better service. A unique menu that's great for sampling the many dishes they offer. The pho bomb and sliders are a must try. They have a tremendous variety of cocktails on their drink menu too! The bartender was more than happy to share his story and inspirations behind each drink . Can't wait to go back!

Overall good experience. The restaurant just reopened 2 days before this review. At this time they appreciate customer feedback. The son has taken over for his parents and has tried to modernize the menu and experience. Experience: Customer service was excellent. I forced to eat a low fat diet due to gallstones, they were happy to accommodate. Constant refills on the water. Quick service. Friendly staff. Menu: It is very diffierent then before they closed. Currently it is focused on modern Vietnamese tapas. Go there expecting to order a few things. Photos of menu (August 2021) are attached. Food: Overall the quality was good. Portions were small but flavourful (as to be expected of tapas style). There is no traditional pho option. The pho bomb (photo attached) is a unique way to eat pho. Its a rice wrap with vermicelli and beef brisket. You start eating with fingers, but the wrap slowly dissolves and turns into regular pho. As of this time I would have liked more broth, but the owner accepted my feedback and will likely be changing this. Drinks: We both ordered the Tiger Shrike. The price was slightly higher than normal ($14), but still within reason for restaurant cocktails. Taste was wonderful, very unique, and the lychee - although not for everyone's palate - added a nice accent once dipped into the drink itself.