In my quest to visit restaurants that have remained in business for a relatively long time, my recent stop with Hugh was at Pho Point Loma & Grill on Midway Drive, across from the TJ Max, Home Goods, etc. shopping center, and sharing the same parking lot as Smart and Final.
We arrived at 11:45 a.m. and the place was absolutely packed. All of the three dining rooms were filled; there were people waiting in line for a table. The servers needed roller skates to get to all of the tables, yet no one seemed rushed or upset. After the servers took the orders, many different people delivered the food to the tables. It is truly a well “run” organization.
The menu is extensive, with offerings of appetizers, pho beef noodles, rice and entrees, French sandwiches, summer salads, veggie delights, vermicelli, stir fry noodles, desserts, beer and wine, and a variety of beverages, including boba.
Hugh and I decided to try two appetizers and share one entrée offering. We started out with two fresh spring rolls for healthy eating, no oil with steamed shrimp and lean pork thinly sliced, rice noodle, bean spout, paired with special peanut plum hoisin dipping sauce.
And because this was so healthy, we decided to go to the other extreme with Muc Chien Don, translated to be “deep-fried calamari” that was lightly battered and deep-fried, tossed with garlic, pepper and scallions. The back page of the menu offered special entrees, and we elected to have their CC Do 8 Khom Dua, which was shrimp, scallops, crab, rice, scallions, and peas in a wonderful sauce made from pineapple and coconut. There was more than enough for Hugh and I to share.
The three items that we ordered were cooked to perfection. The calamari was served hot, with a spicy-sweet sauce; the spring rolls were served cold with a delightful peanut sauce.
Somehow, in our ordering, the server thought that we had ordered a chicken and cashew meal. We did not, and he took it back without question. I did take a photo of it because it looked like something we might order in the future.
Although we took home one spring roll and a fair amount of the calamari, we managed to finish the entrée because it was that good.
By the time we left the restaurant at 1 p.m., there were some empty tables, but until that time there was a steady stream of diners with take-out orders as well as dine-in orders. I asked if they were always this busy and was told that lunch and dinner are always packed. I was also told that they have been in that location for the past seven years. With what we saw today, I presume that they will be there for many more years. We will be back! Pho Point Loma & Grill
Where: 2788 Midway Drive.
Info: phopointlomagrill.com, 619-226-6502.
