Restaurants près de East Side Plaza Portsmouth

We had a great evening, we were celebrating my friend’s 60th and I did say on the booking it was for a birthday, but nothing happened. Restaurants I’ve been to have always come out with something and made a bit of a fuss for a birthday.

The welcome at Pho was spot on. Helpful and attentive staff who made us feel very welcome. They know their menu well and are happy to advise on drinks and meals. The meals themselves were delicious and filling. As the food is freshly cooked they know the ingredients they are using and it all tastes fresh and fragrant. Able to cater for dowry needs easily and with minimum fuss.

Just a few niggles, with food Ham Hock terrine lovely but pickles very sharp would have been better with sweet pickle or apple chutney. Fish and Chips excellent but all piled on top needed a bigger plate had to eat through fish to get to chips. Cheese Board All the crackers were the same and not particularly good, no grapes just slices of very sour apple and no pickle the gherkin and picalilli from the terrine would have been perfect here. All in All the quality of the food was excellent but 🤷 Also the music that was playing was depressing, a recording of someone doing very bad covers of what originally were miserable songs

The fish soup was great unfortunately the steak was not good half of it was rare and half was medium it all should have been medium rare. It was taken off the bill but I would have preferred a perfectly cooked steak. Pistachio soufflé was as good as it always is but the crumble lacked crumble on top and there was not enough custard Service was very good. Overall it was a shame the food wasn’t great today.

Obi recommended the small plates, which were reasonably priced and very tasty. Hayley was also very friendly - I’d recommend visiting to all my friends :)