[Meglion]

Have tried both. Pho Mai was the worst Pho I've had in the area - the tripe was gamy, the broth unflavorful. I love CN station, and the man and woman who run it are hysterical: the woman in particular is this great combination of overbearing and truly concerned that you have a good meal. The thing about CN Station, though, is that it's kind of pan-Asian: the best dishes I've had there were their Ma-Po Tofu (which was excellent) and their stir-fried rice cakes with beef (also excellent). I'm not entirely sure whether their culinary background is Sichuanese, Hunanese or Vietnamese, but I've enjoyed everything. At Vietnam Palace, the husband and wife are Vietnamese, and the husband does much of the cooking and delights in recommending special dishes to patrons. I loved their Pho - I thought it was rich and beefy and aromatic with star anise: I'm sorry others haven't felt the same.

As for the Danbury place, I've read that it's very good but haven't been there yet. Stay tuned...

[Stratford, Ct. Resident]

Re: Pho Saigon and CN Station. These places are absolutely located in sketchy neighborhoods. Perhaps if one is of Vietnamese/Japanese/Hispanic/etc. descent they will fit in better.

Long story short, out of the 3 Viet places in Bridgeport, a "typical" CT suburbanite would only find the area surrounding Pho Mai to be "fair".

[Meglion]

Originally Posted by Stratford, Ct. Resident

Re: Pho Saigon and CN Station. These places are absolutely located in sketchy neighborhoods. Perhaps if one is of Vietnamese/Japanese/Hispanic/etc. descent they will fit in better.

Long story short, out of the 3 Viet places in Bridgeport, a "typical" CT suburbanite would only find the area surrounding Pho Mai to be "fair".

And it's comments like this that help keep it "sketchy," if that's how you'd characterize it. You're entitled to your opinion.

[jesse_f]

Originally Posted by Stratford, Ct. Resident

Re: Pho Saigon and CN Station. These places are absolutely located in sketchy neighborhoods. Perhaps if one is of Vietnamese/Japanese/Hispanic/etc. descent they will fit in better.

Long story short, out of the 3 Viet places in Bridgeport, a "typical" CT suburbanite would only find the area surrounding Pho Mai to be "fair".

Wow. You should be absolutely ashamed of yourself.

[mlassoff]

Originally Posted by Stratford, Ct. Resident

Re: Pho Saigon and CN Station. These places are absolutely located in sketchy neighborhoods. Perhaps if one is of Vietnamese/Japanese/Hispanic/etc. descent they will fit in better.

Long story short, out of the 3 Viet places in Bridgeport, a "typical" CT suburbanite would only find the area surrounding Pho Mai to be "fair".

Pho Saigon is not in the best neighborhood in town, but, I certainly don't mind going there. It's damn good food. I see people of all different races in the restaurant-- Hispanic, Vietnamese and even African Americans! They all seem to be (surprise!) eating!

Outside the restaurant, unless you're strolling around the neighborhood talking to strangers, the people really should be of no concern.

Unless you can show me some Death by Pho stories in the Connecticut Post, I'll just assume you're paranoid.

[Stylo]

I don't mind the Pho Saigon area. Not attractive, but I spent a few months going there consistently for a side project and it was fine.

[Stratford, Ct. Resident]

Originally Posted by Meglion

And it's comments like this that help keep it "sketchy," if that's how you'd characterize it. You're entitled to your opinion.

Originally Posted by jesse_f

Wow. You should be absolutely ashamed of yourself.

Originally Posted by mlassoff

Pho Saigon is not in the best neighborhood in town, but, I certainly don't mind going there. It's damn good food. I see people of all different races in the restaurant-- Hispanic, Vietnamese and even African Americans! They all seem to be (surprise!) eating!

Outside the restaurant, unless you're strolling around the neighborhood talking to strangers, the people really should be of no concern.

Unless you can show me some Death by Pho stories in the Connecticut Post, I'll just assume you're paranoid.

Originally Posted by Stylo

I don't mind the Pho Saigon area. Not attractive, but I spent a few months going there consistently for a side project and it was fine.

To each their own. As a lifelong resident of this general area, i'll very comfortably stand behind my statement regarding the neighborhoods where Pho Saigon and CN Station are located. Politically correct or not.

[Stratford, Ct. Resident]

Originally Posted by mlassoff

Unless you can show me some Death by Pho stories in the Connecticut Post, I'll just assume you're paranoid.

CT Post eh? Do you remember that innocent little boy B.J. Brown? The 8 year-old boy that a drug dealer had executed so that he wouldn't testify against him. That drug dealer had a selling operation on Iranistan Avenue at the time. And no, the neighborhood has not improved in the intervening 15 years. It has remained static or declined a bit since.

The murderous saga of Russell Peeler - Connecticut Post

If you're a bit scared right now, great.

If you're shaking your head saying that i'm paranoid or a racist, well, i wish you luck during your travels in the neighborhood.

[Meglion]

Stay in Stratford.

[Stratford, Ct. Resident]

Originally Posted by Meglion

Stay in Stratford.

There are areas of Stratford that i would avoid walking around in the evening hours. It's not that i'm scared or paranoid, i just have common sense about these things.

But as i stated to someone else in this thread, best wishes to you on your journeys through the cesspools of various cities.