Saigon Bistro

Great customer service
Great broth
Good location
It seems like they could use more business, but it might have something to do with the Korean place and Japanese restaurants beside it. 3 asian restos in a row? Who thought that would be a good idea?

The Broth!
By far the best in Tonroto and second only to my phở experience in Vietnam. Forget about those faux phở (pun intended) in Vietnamese joints on Spadina.
I live in New Jersey. I worked for a company in the area, so I was making a trip every other week for about five months early this year. This was my regular stop and I’d eat their phở almost every other day.
The owner knew my preferences; two thai-​chilis, extra basil and a wad of extra napkins to wipe away my sweat.
After a bowl, I was good to go and face the cold Canadian winter air.
I miss it. Tremendously. Just the other day I walked into a Zagat rated Vietnamese joint in NYC and walked out gagging.

The broth here is definitely the highlight of the phở I had here. I suppose being used to Chinatown phở it wouldn’t be too hard to do that, but it was a real pleasure not having to throw in copious amounts of hoisin and Sriracha into my soup.
I had the oxtail phở, which had 4 really big slices of oxtail and even more beef slices to top that. I had initially thought they were on the pricier side until I saw the amount of meat in my phở. The service is a little slow because at the time there seemed to be only one person handling the store, but nothing I would deem horrid.
Also, the crunch on their rolls was on point

Excellent spring rolls and very good food at affordable prices. Many good choices on the menu.

I work in liberty village, so I’ve eaten in every single restaurant in 2 km radius. Saigon Bistro tries to be upscale with the menus and the new furniture, but the food and service are not that great.
The best thing on the menu is the Phở, which comes in not so many options like other Vietnamese restaurants, but it has good meat, good ingredients, and is overall ok.
The rest of the dishes are worse. Rice dishes come with pre-​plated rice pyramids, which are dry and crunchy by the time you receive it. The vermicelli are usually dry and the rest of the selection (pad thai is sooo overpriced) leave something to be desired.
This would still result in higher than 2* review if the service was not absolutely horrible when it is crowded. When it is empty — it is ok, but when over 60% full everything starts to fall apart, all wait stuff are angry and rushed, the manager starts yelling and good luck enjoying your lunch in such atmosphere!

Terrible service. Takeout took 45 min and delivered with attitude. Beef vermicelli tastes like old socks. Will never return!

Was good and cheap but raised prices with only noticeable difference being fancy new menus and outrageous prices. Service is slow and forgetful. Food was good before price increase but now not worth it, I’m not even full from the Phở there anymore. They think just because they are in Liberty Village they can hike the prices without doing anything but they are losing customers and respect.

So I’ve worked in Liberty Village for 4+ years and this is the 1^st time I’ve stepped into this place. I always wanted to go but for some odd reason, I just defaulted to sandwiches, burritos and fast food.
I want to make this clear that Saigon Bistro, menu-​wise is not a phở place. After reading the menu, I’m left with the impression it’s South East Asian food that’s been elevated and catered to a more broader audience. Be prepared to drop around $ 12 — $ 25 for your lunch. As I was scanning through the menu, I was seeing Phở items served with Lobster, and rice platters with steaks as well. So I got to say there are so very intriguing items on the menu.
Saigon Bistro, appears to be renovated recently, and I got to say that the interior looks gorgeous. It’s really clean looking, and the environment makes you feel really comfortable with the dark black/​brown tables. From the looks of it, the restaurant should comfortably seat 50 people (includes the outside patio).
So I ordered the lemongrass chicken rice platter which came with a side salad, pickled daikon and carrots and quail eggs. I was intrigued by the addition of quail eggs, since I’ve never had them. The rice platter ($ 11), presentation wise, looked STUNNING. Very beautifully plated and I had to picture it immediately before I delved into. As for the dish itself, overall it’s a pretty solid dish though it doesn’t really segregate itself far from the standard dish that I’m very well used to at typical phở places (which run around the $ 7 – 8 range). The quail eggs were yummy and well cooked. The only nitpicks I have with the dish is really the disporportional ratio from rice to chicken. I know it’s really odd for anyone to complain that there’s not enough rice, but I feel that I must address it. The ratio for chicken to rice was like 3:1. It was a small fancy pyramid rice mound that was served with 2.5 chicken steaks. While I was happy at its generosity, this disporportion took me a bit off guard as I had to conservatively eat my rice so that I could eat it with my chicken. Also, the chicken, to me, was a tad overdone/​dry and I think the chicken steaks were flatten way too thin so really there’s very little leeway of getting the chicken perfectly moist and juicy. The chicken, still had a good amount of lemongrass flavour in it, so it was well seasoned for the most part. The pickled carrots/​daikon was so yummy, I wish that there was more! Crunchy, tangy and really flavourful.
The service, is VERY good. They’re extremely attentive and they stand at their «post» overlooking the entire restaurant ensuring that they are taken care of. Guests besides me who were being seated had their respective waiter asked whether the bill would be together or separate. While they are not overly friendly, they get the job done well. Plus they poured me water right away when I asked them to.
So, after over 4 years of finally breaking the silence and actually having my 1^st time there, I think it’s safe to say that I’ll be there again. And again. And… well you get the picture.

NOTE: My Review of ⁴⁄₅ is based only on Phở.
So I’ve been here now three times and have to say I am impressed with the broth, quantity of rice noodle and meat in my phở. The chili hot sauce has a bit more heat and kick than the other location of Asia 21 a couple blocks away. For that I enjoy it quite a bit with my phở.
I normally order the 21 (Rare Beef and Chicken Phở) and with tax, tip, you are looking at $ 11 in.
Been liking the phở more and more here and love the portion size.
EDIT: Prices went up a lot!

Food is «okay» but the service is horrible. If you’re with a party of more then two, forget about it. Something will be wrong. The food will be late, and you’ll probably get something you didn’t order. Drinks will come at the end, if at all. If you ask your server, you’ll probably get a confused look.

I jumped back and forth from 3 — 4 stars and settled with 3. But based on the rating that means «A-​OK». I’ll say its «A-​OK!» — exclamation mark. See what I did there?
The food is great, hands down. I’ve been here a few times now.
My problem is how excruciatingly slow the service was. I’ve been here when its full during lunch and when it was empty besides a table or two. Both times I felt like I was waiting a very long time for even something as simple as a glass of water. The day I was in for lunch when it was full, i was there for over an hour and felt like I was either looking around for the server or waiting for something I had asked for «decades» ago.
I’m not the most impatient person. But I’m grumpy when I’m hungry and waiting. Simple.

Saigon Bistro has been open in Liberty Village for months, but I could not find it on Unilocal,so I added it. Unilocal prompts for a review in creating the new business record, so here is a brief one.
I would not say that Saigon Bistro is at the top of my list of eateries in Liberty Village, which makes this review my first one below the maximum of five stars (any time I have to spend on writing a review is usually saved for my favourite places).
The food here is okay. Today, I had beef on vermicelli and the cuts of beef were average to mediocre (gristle, hard bits, overly chewy hard fatty bits, etc.). My last visit was better (I think I had a lamb dish).
I went with a couple friends. We went in and sat at a table. It took a while for the staff to notice us and initiate servitude. In their defence [sort of] I can say that we came in near the end of the lunch rush (~1PM) — the place was nearly full, but in the process of thinning out. The staff is nice and courteous.
Saigon Bistro has a nice selection of food — different kinds of noodles, curries, meats, etc. Their Vietnamese coffee is as good as any I’ve had.
They also have plenty of booze — beers, whiskeys, bourbons, cognacs, etc.
One thing I was disappointed in not seeing was an XO cognac. Despite Luxury Village’s propensity for pretentiousness, the only place where I have found XO cognac (among many other very fine spirits that no other places seem to have) is the Academy of Spherical Arts, which is within eye-​shot of Saigon Bistro. You’ll be torn between XO cognac and Asian/​Vietnamese food if that is the combination you seek!
Saigon Bistro’s interior and décor is also nice. There are standard tables & chairs, booths, and an outdoor patio in front.
All in all I would say Saigon Bistro is worth a try. Some might say the prices are a bit inflated, but this place is located in Liberty Village, so it’s to be expected.