Q: positive

A: After midnight on a wednesday, a rare miracle occurred and my boyfriend agreed to indulge my noodle soup craving! After we shared a lackluster pho experience in Seattle, he's always resisted any mention of brothy noodles. Upon arriving, the restaurant had several occupied tables. My order was promptly handled and I was offered a complimentary hot tea while I waited. The tea was steaming when it came out, but had the tiny residuals of ice floating in it- a considerate touch since I wouldn't be staying long enough for the tea to cool in the glass on it's own. I enjoyed the tea, it was flavorful, very refreshing and a nice precursor to the meal. I ordered the #10 for myself and the #12 for the boy. My meal came with gelatinous chunks of meat, shredded tripe, brisket and rare steak as well as chopped green onion and raw onion. I really enjoyed the textural variety that the different meats contributed to the meal; the shredded tripe was something I found surprisingly pleasing. The only negative is that the gelatinous pieces were so rich, I doubt I'd be able to have this same dish too often. His had a lot of shredded brisket and some rare steak, as well as the green and raw onion. The noodles and toppings came in a container to themselves, with the broth and additional raw vegetables in separate packages. The vegetables were a huge portion- tons of bean sprouts, lots of fresh herbs [basil and others that I didn't recognize] and chopped jalapeno and lime quarters. There were also several containers of sauce. It was all wrapped up well and stayed hot during the cross-town drive home. I appreciated that the steak was pretty much raw when I got it, so that we could pour the hot broth over it and let it cook in the soup. The meat is more tender that way. The broth had a nice spice level without being obnoxious, was just salty enough and worked really well with a fresh squeeze of lime on top. In fact, the broth was flavorful enough that J finished most of his which is exceedingly rare to see. Early into the bowl he said that he'd be willing to have their pho again, so I am VERY happy! More noodle soups for me! Pho so 1 has converted a pho-phobe. And the generous portion of vegetables and different herbs makes it feel virtuous enough to have instead of burritos, so I can justify eating here again soon. The hours are perfect for me as I often work pretty late. I chose this place because they aren't open 24 hours; I just can't help but think maybe their chefs are happier or something. Their iced coffee with condensed milk is strong and has a unique taste to it. It reminded me of custard with a strong coffee punch. When I recieved my order, the server laughed and asked if I was going to be partying all night. The cup had a lot of ice and the actual amount of coffee ended up being rather small, but that's probably a good thing considering the time of night I was having it. Yay, Pho So 1, you are #1 Pho sho!

Q: negative

A: Most fans of Indian cuisine like the aromatic fragrance of the spices, so walking in the front door and being greeted with an overpowering incense burning - strike one. The visible grease that coagulated on the top of the mushroom curry AND the chicken tikka masala - strike two The flat, obviously frozen at some point naan - strike three. I'm sorry, but even though the actual flavors resembled something good, at noon on a Friday the food should not be this gross. I still can't get over the fact that the only Indian place remotely close to uptown charlotte worth it's beans is Copper - and frankly, I don't think that place is all that either. Where's the originality? Where's the commitment to fresh ingredients? The fact this place is still in business only begs the Charlotte restauranteurs to open a decent Indian place uptown.

Q: negative

A: We came for the much talked about "Main Line" Philly Cheesesteak with Foie Gras. With the price tag of $31.00, you're going to expect one hell of a cheesesteak. Not the case here. I'll give it to them it is edible, but I'd prefer Foie Gras on a Big Mac, and it would be a whole lot cheaper. The beef was dry and over cooked. The presentation was so thrown together it looked like a philly you'd get at a gas station. Perhaps they were having an off night in the kitchen? Perhaps They might make up for it with excellent service? Their service is terrible. Waiter took our order and we never saw him until the check arrived. He charged us for our drinks which never arrived. When we told him, there was no apology, just an ok I'll remove it. There is a nice view of The Strip and the decor is great. Expensive, rude, plain tasting and disappointing. I will never return. I can get the First Food experience at a Mc'D and at a third of the price.

Q: negative

A:
Told us it was a 45 minute wait even though tables were empty. Went on yelp and could make a reservation for 15 mins. Very disappointing.