Pie Reviews Bowl of Pho on Old Baymeadows

Bowl of Pho

9902 Old Baymeadows Rd
Jacksonville, FL 32256-8103
(904) 646-4455

 The chain of cheeseburger restaurants known as ‘Cheeburger Cheeburger’ lasted in Jacksonville for only less than 2 years, partially due to the lagging economy. Some might would say it was the lack of advertising or the location. The location might be the reason that I would say that they could not stay opened. Now at this point you may be asking yourself, ‘Why is he talking about a failed cheeseburger place when the review is to be about a Vietnamese restaurant?’. Well, the reason for that is the new restaurant Bowl of Pho has opened in the old location of the former ‘Cheeburger Cheeburger’. This seems to me to be a perfect location for this restaurant.

 The neighborhood on Old Baymeadows Rd is a very culturally eclectic area. With many apartments and a very centralized location, the area has been a favorite for many different ethnic backgrounds. When you look at the different restaurants and shops in the area you will see the influences I speak of. Indian seems to be the main ‘ingredient’ of the neighborhood. Mexican, Asian and Italian also seem to be drawn to the area. Bowl of Pho will be a great addition to this community.

Bowl of Pho

This review is from my second visit to Bowl of Pho. It was a Friday night at almost 9:30 pm when we decided to go for a late dinner. Upon our walking in the door we realized that this place has become an instant hit. With only 2 tables available, the hostess sat us in the back of the restaurant near the restroom entrance. The table itself was fine, however… it was very apparent that they wanted to make the most of the room they had available. We were sitting right behind a wait staff station. The station was clean and well kept. Another plus for us was that the station was not a ‘hang out’ spot for the wait staff. The only complaint about that is that we really felt like we were away from the restaurant, and not in a romantic intimate kind of way.

 Our waiter introduced himself as Leo. He had a very difficult time understanding the English language. So much that we needed to point at items on the menu to place our order. To start with I had ordered a Diet Coke, and Rhonette ordered a hot tea. The hot tea was so good that I sent my Diet Coke back. I also got a water. I decided not to order any appetizers due to the fact almost all of them had cucumbers in them. Yes I do realize that I could order them without the cucumbers in them, but the food here is also of ample portions. Oh yeah, I also wanted to try a dessert this time.

Most of the specialty items at the Bowl of Pho are the Vietnamese soups. This is a traditional food for their culture and the restaurant does make it tasty. Beware though that the portion sizes are large. Even the small is more than enough for most people. Leo brought a plate of bean sprouts, basil, cilantro, jalapenos and lime for the soup that my girlfriend had ordered. When you get the soup you add the items to your taste. I decided to go with the Chicken Fried Rice. When our food came it looked wonderful. I was a little disappointed in the amount of food I had received, but realized soon that there was more than enough there. As I always do in Asian places, I ate with the chopsticks. The chopsticks at Bowl of Pho are the best I have ever used. I would never recommend a place due to just their utensils, so it is a good thing that the food is dynamite there.

Chicken Fried Rice

After finishing my wonderful meal I decided to try a dessert. All of the desserts here are served as a crushed ice item. The 2 main choices you have are either a fruit dessert or a bean dessert. I went with the Red Bean Dessert. This was the most unusual culinary experience I have ever had. The bottom of the dish was filled with chilled red beans, then a layer of green jelly, then a layer of ice, finally topped with coconut milk. As I ate this I thought to myself that there is literally no way to explain it. It was just unusual for the flavor and the texture. The only reason I would recommend this dish is for the experience. On my previous visit I ordered one of their ‘Bubble Drinks’. This is a smoothie that is made with large tapioca pearls which they call bubbles in it. That is an item I will get again. But as far as the bean dessert, I was not excited about it.

After my meal I went to the men’s room to wash my hands.  The hallway to the men’s room is a complete contrast to the decor of the rest of the restaurant. But the bathroom itself is amazing!  The bathroom is large and very stylish. It consists of one stall and one urinal. Also has a sink in the stall as well as in the main area of the room.

On the way from leaving Bowl of Pho, there were a few members of the staff sitting outside sharing some beers. Which brought to my attention that the restaurant did not have beer, wine, or liquor on the menu. After asking the guys outside about it, they let me know that there are plans to get a beer and wine license soon. For a nice and almost upscale restaurant I would expect the chance to get either a glass of wine or an ethnic beer.

If you like Asian food and especially Vietnamese food then you really should try Bowl of Pho on Old Baymeadows Rd in Jacksonville, Florida. This is a perfect place for friends or a date. The menu is extensive and not too pricey. For the both of us including one appetizer, one dessert, two meals, and a hot tea our bill was less than $25.00. Bowl of Pho also has a facebook page. Enjoy your visit and enjoy your meal!

Review by Pie, email: pie@piesplate.com