In my never ending quest for the best Pho -- or at least a consumable Pho -- in Shanghai, I tried out a fairly new place out on Hongmei Lu called . People living out in the neighborhood are lucky because the area is filled with great restaurants right at their doorstep. For the rest of us, though, Hongmei is a little out of the way. For my Pho quest, however, I don't mind trekking out to any distant horizon just as long as there is a chance my longing for the perfect Pho might be fulfilled. If you're like me and are after a good bowl of Vietnamese beef broth you'd venture anywhere. But let me get right to the point: the pho at Phostar is ma ma hu hu at best. And if you're like me when it comes to Pho -- fanatical in every regard -- you may leave disappointed. But if you're after a decent portion, then this is the place for you, as they whip up a huge bowl. However, the quantity of noodles compared to other contents and ingredients was too high, which made this bowl of Pho slightly off the mark.
As I have lamented often in my other reviews, where is my basil? Okay, they gave me some. But three leaves is not nearly enough. Is basil so expensive that some restaurants in Shanghai cannot afford to provide it? The herb is so essential to the enjoyment of the meal, you'd think they would make all efforts to make ample amounts available at any expense. If you're not fussy about your herbs (or if you're not particularly knowledgeable about Pho), then I admit this might be the place for you, as the general taste and portion isn't half bad.
Create a new List