Pho. A Noodle Parlor opens tonight ....Artwalk too

[02roadking]

Get Downtown....OK

[Bridges]

This is the old Chew right?  Anyone know what their normal hours will be?

[fsujax]

Yes. it is the old Chew.

[ben says]

Glad to hear they opened up on time. Wish them all the best.

[fsujax]

went for lunch yesterday. It was pretty good, the small bowl of noodles filled me up. Packed. Service was a little slow.

[Captain Zissou]

I went last night.  I loved it.  Not very crowded and the service was very prompt.  2 entrees, an app, 3 drinks, for less than $40.  Not bad at all.

[fsujax]

it is probably better to go at night. Lunch time is crazy, there were people waiting outside to get in.

[ben says]

I know I'm the guy known for being a buzz kill, but I just want to ask a few things, to see if anyone can corroborate..for what it's worth, I had a great meal, and will continue to go back.

1) anyone notice a really strange smell? Like...worse than new paint?

2) scuff marks and painting errors on the walls...

3) I read in the JBJ and Jacksonville.com that this place was supposed to be cheaper than Indochine...they didn't want to compete w/ themselves...I get it, rent sucks in downtown jax, but wtf is up with 12 dollar bowls of pho?!

4) the music is insanely bad...like they're playing 97.9 or 95.1 on repeat. I'm not saying they have to have the same music as Indochine, but play something neutral or don't play it at all

I know they wanted to open up for the first Artwalk, so I understand if they're a little behind on repairs...but it seems like they did the LEAST amount of work possible to get the place up and running.

AGAIN, FOOD WAS GREAT!!!

[Non-RedNeck Westsider]

I know I'm the guy known for being a buzz kill, but I just want to ask a few things, to see if anyone can corroborate..for what it's worth, I had a great meal, and will continue to go back.

So do you wear a tophat and a monocle?

http://www.youtube.com/v/f68VXKMZT1Q?

[Tacachale]

^I always find Ben's restaurant-related posts easier to get through when I imagine them in this voice:

[ben says]

Haha. Glad I can laugh at myself. Those 2 posts are quite funny...

I mean is it THAT much to ask that when I pay 400-4000% upcharged food that I want it to be good and served in a nice environment???

They're selling soup people....at $9-12 dollars a bowl....yeah, I want it to be an all around great experience. I don't settle for mediocrity if I'm paying to eat out.

Again, the food was great, but they have some issues to work out. God forbid

[Bridges]

I know I'm the guy known for being a buzz kill, but I just want to ask a few things, to see if anyone can corroborate..for what it's worth, I had a great meal, and will continue to go back.

1) anyone notice a really strange smell? Like...worse than new paint?

2) scuff marks and painting errors on the walls...

3) I read in the JBJ and Jacksonville.com that this place was supposed to be cheaper than Indochine...they didn't want to compete w/ themselves...I get it, rent sucks in downtown jax, but wtf is up with 12 dollar bowls of pho?!

4) the music is insanely bad...like they're playing 97.9 or 95.1 on repeat. I'm not saying they have to have the same music as Indochine, but play something neutral or don't play it at all

I know they wanted to open up for the first Artwalk, so I understand if they're a little behind on repairs...but it seems like they did the LEAST amount of work possible to get the place up and running.

AGAIN, FOOD WAS GREAT!!!

I agree with everything Ben said.  Went last Friday.  The smell is from what they are using to clean the tables.  I don't know what it is, smelled like bleach....a lot of bleach.  But we were eating and they cleaned the table next to us.  The smell was stifling and we couldn't eat for a few minutes while we waited for it to dissipate.

The walls and scuff marks were bad.  Broken lights (not just out, but broken) over the bar and in the ceiling.  The bar was bare.  They reused the chew tables and chairs which is fine, but that coupled with the disrepair of the place gave the whole place a very weird and unwelcoming vibe. 

I chalked it all up to them forcing the opening.  But, at the same time, someone should have made the executive decision to wait a month.

As for the food, I guess I'm more of an indochine man.

[fsujax]

yes, the broken lights at the bar, that i sat under was intriguing, i was like they cant fix these?

[ben says]

I know I'm the guy known for being a buzz kill, but I just want to ask a few things, to see if anyone can corroborate..for what it's worth, I had a great meal, and will continue to go back.

1) anyone notice a really strange smell? Like...worse than new paint?

2) scuff marks and painting errors on the walls...

3) I read in the JBJ and Jacksonville.com that this place was supposed to be cheaper than Indochine...they didn't want to compete w/ themselves...I get it, rent sucks in downtown jax, but wtf is up with 12 dollar bowls of pho?!

4) the music is insanely bad...like they're playing 97.9 or 95.1 on repeat. I'm not saying they have to have the same music as Indochine, but play something neutral or don't play it at all

I know they wanted to open up for the first Artwalk, so I understand if they're a little behind on repairs...but it seems like they did the LEAST amount of work possible to get the place up and running.

AGAIN, FOOD WAS GREAT!!!

I agree with everything Ben said.  Went last Friday.  The smell is from what they are using to clean the tables.  I don't know what it is, smelled like bleach....a lot of bleach.  But we were eating and they cleaned the table next to us.  The smell was stifling and we couldn't eat for a few minutes while we waited for it to dissipate.

The walls and scuff marks were bad.  Broken lights (not just out, but broken) over the bar and in the ceiling.  The bar was bare.  They reused the chew tables and chairs which is fine, but that coupled with the disrepair of the place gave the whole place a very weird and unwelcoming vibe. 

I chalked it all up to them forcing the opening.  But, at the same time, someone should have made the executive decision to wait a month.

As for the food, I guess I'm more of an indochine man.

I noticed the broken light thing too....kinda weird....

I guess to sum it up....I kind of felt like I was eating in the old Chew space, not the new Noodle bar space. Except Chew didn't have broken lights and weird smells 

As for the food, I guess I'm more of an indochine man.

Agree..

[Captain Zissou]

While I was there, they had this playing
Kings of Leon
Ratatat
Modest Mouse
Regina Spektor
Kings of Leon (I guess they like them)
The Strokes
Digitalism

I haven't heard any of those songs on 95.1.

It was very apparent that they have tried to save money on build out costs, but I am guessing that they will tend to those in time.