Pho Pasteur Restaurant

Eric Grossman

Citysearch

The Scene
Located just off Needham's town center, in a space that has seen numerous eateries pass through, Pho Pasteur satisfies area families with large portions of affordable Vietnamese cuisine. A pleasant, if quiet, waitstaff delivers fruits concoctions and wildly inexpensive bottles of house wine from a tiny bar, and, besides the nondescript dining room, patrons have the option of sitting at an equally small sushi bar or on a shaded outdoor patio.

The Food
Many first-time customers make the mistake of ordering too many dishes, as most entrees are large enough for two. Straightforward pho (noodle soups) prove popular, and many diners create their own entrees by pairing a meat or fish with any number of vegetables (the lemongrass and bell pepper option leaves tongues tingling). Bowls of vermicelli, topped with grilled meats, shredded lettuce, mint and roasted peanuts, are exceptionally filling. Traditional desserts include chilled Asian fruits and creamy rice pudding.