Song Que

As a former employee of the local college, I used to regularly visit Song Que and had continued to do so until around 12 months ago, having always been most impressed by the high standard of food at very reasonable prices. For years, I have been recommending it. Not any more after last Friday’s experience. It has obviously grown way too big for its reputedly ‘so popular’ boots! I arrived with a friend at 6.30p.m. when the restaurant was quite empty. We had made no reservation but were told we could not sit at the empty tables by the window but had to take one in the middle in a row of cafe style tables. Menus were delivered and, despite an abundant number of waiters standing around chatting, we eventually had to call one over to place an order. We had not even been asked for our drinks’ order at that stage. No sooner had the starters been brought than the main course dishes were also placed on the table and an ‘eat up, clear off’ mentality was already being established. We were brought the bill - unasked for - before ordering desserts (most of which turned out to be unavailable) and then, at just after 8 p.m., whilst finishing our tea, we were asked if we could leave as people were waiting to come in. The service was perhaps the most contemptuous and rude I have ever experienced in London (or Vietnam). On requesting to speak to the manager, the waiter I had asked told me he was “the manager”. No concern for giving service – but an attitude of ‘three/four sets of diners’ at every table per evening... “sorry, thank you, bye bye”...?? There needs to be a clear sign by the door saying “You are only allowed to stay here for 90 mins. maximum and, please, you should preferably eat up within the hour”. As for the food, the vegetable spring rolls and spicy squid were both excellent; the satay chicken and main course chicken dish average - suffering from the use of ‘cheap, water injected chicken’, I suspect; the sea bream and vegetable dishes both lacked the flavours one would expect from quality Vietnamese food. My advice would be to avoid at all costs – and choose somewhere like Que Viet a few doors away where, for approximately the same price, a group of us recently had outstanding food and excellent service in a congenial, relaxed atmosphere. There are, in fact, a substantial number of very welcoming restaurants in “Pho Mile” serving similarly priced food. By-pass Song Que!

My husband and I had a meal at the Song Que, upon entering the restaurant we were greeted by a member of staff and seated, we were given a menu and placed our order, Platter (ribs, crispy seaweed ++) and a main meal. The platter arrived and we started to tuck in, the crispy seaweed did not live up to its description it was soggy and tasted stale, I told the waiter who seemed not to understand what I was saying so I asked to speak with the Manager, The Manager (a woman) came over, I explained my grievance and she kept repeating "yes its crispy seaweed" I asked her to try it and altho you could tell she knew I was right she still stood her ground and told me it was correct. NO APOLOGY NO OFFER OF TAKING IT OFF THE BILL, very rude, unappreciative of customers in the economic climate I WILL NOT BE RECOMMEDING THIS RESTAURANT TO ANYONE and would kindly like you to send a shopper to this restaurant to re-review. As I can already see from comments below the service has been mentioned on quite a few occasions. I was not put off by the decor, the food we ate was adequate but what happened to customer service and the customer is always right.......

I've been coming here for years, for what is the best pho, summer rolls, beef in betel, and spicy squid I've tasted west of Hanoi. However the last 3 times I visited the service was so rude and unpleasant-and I dont mean brusque but actually rude, that it has put me and my friends off returning. This has broken my previously unblemished loyalty to song que. It also has to be said that while those dishes i have listed are superb, most of the main courses here are disappointing. I have always ended up feeling sad when I've been tempted to stay away from the pho. It would make my day if Song Que sorted out their service and I could tempt my friends back for another lovely pho.

AVOID AVOID AVOID - RUDE Service.... This restaurant is a gem, great food and wont break the bank. However, the service by the front of house 'man' is poor and rude. I asked for a table for 3 people, a friend was on the bus on 10 minutes away. However, the man could not stop asking 'where your friend'.... this went on even when we were seated. We can to order food (friend was still stuck on a bus) and the same guy rudely again said 'wheres your friend' ? 'wheres your friend?' ..... at this point I lost it and called the manager over.

My first experience with Vietnamese food- the food is ok but this restaurant is a disgrace to the restaurant catering industry. The rude woman rushed us to get out as soon as we finished the dinner. When I requested for menu for pudding, the woman blantantly lied that this restaurant does not have puddings. I would not step foot in this place if you pay me to! Disgraceful and rude service!

I've eaten here a few times now, and I've found the vegetarian food hot, fresh tasting, a little on the salty side, but absolutely fine. It's somewhere I'll come back to if I'm needing some salty, savoury tastiness. I've also had no problem with the service. The staff don't bow and scrape, but they're polite enough and service has always been reasonably quick.

very bad service, food no so good. They asked us to leave before finished our meal and offered to put our desert in a take away bag because there were people queuing!!! And we had only been there 20-30 mins!

http://3eat.wordpress.com/2011/05/24/songque/ The Spicy Squid (£6.90) arrived searing hot and seasoned to perfection, the batter crisp and the meat tender. Pork with lemongrass, chilli and onion (£6.70) was succulent and highly flavoured, the perfect antidote to a chilly June evening. And at a bargainous £11, the crisp house white really couldn’t be faulted. We'd been warned about the dire service and adopted the view that it was merely there to act as a form of interactive performance art. This just about made it bearable. Read our full review here: http://3eat.wordpress.com/2011/05/24/songque/

You come here for the pho and it's good really good. FACT. Don't bother going if you're going to make a fuss over service, decor or simply good food. This place is a no nonsense, super fast service eatery not a fine dine restaurant. Don't come if you want to lounge around sipping beers with your friends. That's what a bar is for. Anyone one who thinks other wise needs to get their head examined.

whoever thinks this is a 2 star is also the same idiot that ordered the aromatic duck. BEST RESTAURANT IN SHOREDITCH