There is no set menu or special on the opening night of Pho Season. Diners reading about its opening on Smart Shanghai arrive in a steady stream hoping for something remotely authentic including a couple other photographers for the first reviews. Fresh spring rolls with pork and shrimp are 32RMB for two and a standard bowl of pho is 48RMB. There are no variations on their one version of pho.
The spring rolls are actually really nice, tasting fresh and prettily wrapped to feature the three shrimp lined up along the roll. It is kind of disappointing there are only two rolls for how much we were paying for an appetizer. It is part of the experience.
Now for the actual pho. It was presented with two sauces and a small bowl containing half a lime wedge, shoots, basil, and mint (no chilis). The size of the accompaniments is somewhat larger than what is given at other pho establishments. The broth was a little dark and if you look closely at the broth on your spoon, you could see a couple little bits of meat that would theoretically come off bones steeping for hours for broth. The broth tasted somewhat meaty, but more salty than it should. As we think back to the cheap bowls in Saigon, in comparison the broth tastes less fresh and more salted. ::sigh:: However, this is a better bet than the other bowls of pho sampled in Shanghai. The meat was alright, a little tough. There were no meat balls or tendons.
This is still the opening. Whether or not Pho Season will improve or worsen with time is another question...Just like with the other establishments in Shanghai.
Pho Season. 427 Dagu Lu, near Shimen Yi Lu (大沽路427号, 近石门一路). Shanghai, People's Republic of China
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