Holy Pho! A Restaurant In Matlacha Not Seafood Driven Or Fried Food Focused!!
Matlacha, Florida, USA
Cuisine Style: Vietnamese
Average Price: $
Overall Rating: 3/5
Dined: October 2019
By Sean Overpeck (CFE)
**A full article and index glossary of restaurants, wines, recipes and travel for
Wine Dine and Play are in the pages section above, or by following these links:
Island Pho Grill Zomato rating:
The Island Pho Grill is a nice break away from the other restaurants on Matlacha which are seafood and fried food driven with the exception of one Italian place. Matlacha is one of five small communities near Cape Coral and is located on a small island in Matlacha Pass, east of the larger Pine Island. It is an "Old Florida" fishing village, home to many colorful art galleries, island boutiques, restaurants, and traditional Floridian cottages that have murals matching the “hippy” vibe of the village itself.
Vietnamese cuisine encompasses a combination of five fundamental tastes and has a distinctive flavor that reflects the natural elements in nature. Common ingredients include fish sauce, shrimp paste, soy sauce, rice, fresh herbs, fruit, and vegetables along with lemongrass, ginger, mint, Vietnamese mint, long coriander, Saigon cinnamon, bird's eye chili, lime, and Thai basil leaves. Traditional Vietnamese cooking is greatly admired for its fresh ingredients, minimal use of dairy and oil, complementary textures, and reliance on herbs and vegetables making it one of the healthiest cuisines worldwide. Vietnamese restaurants are becoming more popular in the United States along with the fusion of Vietnamese and Cajun which is popular all around the Gulf States, and they are moving from the traditional shopping plaza locations to more prominent stature and prominent menus. My wife had a glass of pinot noir to start which unlike the wonderful food of Vietnam was a house wine that was not very good. So when you do come here to Island Pho and Grill, avoid the house wines until they build a better wine list. The beer selection does not include any from Vietnam, however, besides the typical American beers, they do have a few Thai selections and the Japanese Kirin ichiban, which I had with my meal. According to tasting notes from Alcohol And Aphorisms the Ichiban is a light honeyed gold color with diminishing frothy head. On the nose, it has light hops, lime, and orange. The body is smooth and hoppy with a bit of malt, but quite light and sweet and a slightly fruity core. Hints of ginger and a bit too sherbet-like feel, plus the bitterness feels artificial. To finish the taste is burnt and bitter, with a lime, jelly, and dry aftertaste.
Island Pho and Grill Menu:
- Lunch Specials
- Ăn Chơi - Appetizers
- Phở – Rice Noodle Soup
- Cơm - Rice
- Bún -Vermicelli Noodles
- Hải Sản - Seafood
- Lẩu - Hot Pot
- Desserts
We started with a crab Rangoon from the appetizer menu. Though derived from an authentic Burmese recipe with hints of Chinese fare, the crab Rangoon was invented in the United States and was on the menu of the "Polynesian-style" restaurant Trader Vic's in San Francisco since at least 1956. Crab Rangoon is a deep-fried dumpling stuffed with cream cheese, crab meat, scallions, and garlic. The filling is wrapped in a Chinese-style wonton wrapper in the shape of a star before being deep-fried in oil. Though the dish tastes wonderful, it is not true of Asian origin, as cream cheese is essentially nonexistent in the cuisines of China and South Asia. Our Rangoon came four to the plate with a side of Thai sweet chili dipping sauce.
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| Island Pho and Grill / Crab Rangoon |
For entrees, my wife had the traditional Phở Gà, a Vietnamese chicken noodle soup with Thai basil, green onions, rice noodles, and chili peppers. The traditional base or chicken stock has cilantro, fish sauce, ginger, garlic, star anise, and cloves. The broth had a semi spiced taste but not hot unless you got a bite of the chili peppers with it. The dish was presented with the large soup bowl of broth with chicken, noodles, and scallions. From there you can add the chili, basil or even bean sprouts for yourself.
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| Island Pho and Grill / Phở Gà |
For my entree, I had the grilled lemongrass chicken with vermicelli better known in Vietnamese as Bún Gà Nướng. The dish includes chopped roasted peanuts, Vietnamese basil, and coriander all sautéed into the chicken, then tossed with the lemongrass and noodles, with a final touch plus extra on the side of nước chấm, an addictively sweet, sour, salty and spicy Vietnamese dipping sauce. In place of chicken, you can have pork, fish, shellfish, or beef with the dish. It can also be served cold as a salad dish in some Vietnamese restaurants. Incredible flavor with the help of the nước chấm sauce, and lemongrass making the dish melt in my mouth. The chicken was perfectly cooked and still very juicy into the centerpieces, and the noodles were not overdone either. This dish truly hit the spot.
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| Island Pho and Grill / Bún Gà Nướng |
Dessert:
We did not have dessert during this visit.
But check out some of these wonderful selections from Wine Dine and Play:
Please see these guidelines for Tipping in Restaurants and on following proper etiquette, customs, cultures, and avoiding assumptions when you dine out.
Other noteworthy Vietnamese cuisine articles and restaurants similar to Island Pho Grill:
Vietnamese cuisine encompasses the foods and beverages of Vietnam and features a combination of five fundamental tastes in the overall meal. Each Vietnamese dish has a distinctive flavor that reflects one or more of these elements. Vietnamese food is considered one of the healthiest cuisines worldwide.
Basil Asian Bistro Pan-Asian favorites from China to Vietnam with sushi specials in Canton, Ohio
Junsui An eclectic taste of Asia with buffets at the Burj Al Arab Hotel, Dubai, UAE
Pho Pier 77 A casual spot for classic Vietnamese favorites away from the tourist traps in Panama City, Florida
Simply Phở, Contemporary Vietnamese in modern digs in Tampa, Florida
Sparkman’s Wharf An outdoor Channelside venue with a beer garden, coffeehouse, and 10+ restaurants including Vietnamese in Tampa, Florida
Tasty Phở Second review with another tasting of some Phở dishes in Pinellas Park, Florida
Wat Mongkolratanaram A Thai / Asian market eatery and a Buddhist temple on the banks of the Palm River in Tampa, Florida
See the whole list by visiting “The Wine Dine and Play Article Glossary”
Other Matlacha and Pine Island restaurants or articles on Wine Dine and Play:
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Waterfront Italian restaurant in a unique artsy town
Matlacha, Florida, USA
|
Drunken most point in the southern USA
St. James City, Pine Island, Florida, USA
|
2nd review of the Italian restaurant I
Matlacha, Florida, USA
|
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Breakfast plus coffee beans from around the world
Matlacha, Florida, USA
|
A Marina with seafood stand, market, and gulf view dining
Matlacha, Florida, USA
|
Seafood with the essence of-place
Matlacha, Florida, USA
|
A few Florida restaurant favorites:
|
Laid-back pizza bar featuring
stone-baked artisan pizzas
Indian Rocks Beach, Florida, USA
|
Centric Cuban Restaurant
Gulfport, Florida, USA
|
A colonial-style British tavern
St. Petersburg, Florida, USA
|
See the whole list by visiting “The Wine Dine and Play Article Glossary by country”
Final notes, review basics, observations, and more pictures:
Most reviews are subjective, depending on the writer; but they should also be responsible, and respectfully written, upholding the truth, and accurately conveying the experience to the best of the writer's knowledge, even if it includes metaphors the restaurant may not like to read about. My ratings are by the stars I award (from 0 to 5). The rating is calculated on a point accumulation of six separate factors based on individual experience. They include wine and other beverage selections, plate presentation, customer service, restaurant or café ambience, food quality, and wow factor.
To see more details of this rating list, read this article:
Overall from this experience and the score factors outlined in the ‘about page’ section, based on my individual experience and rating, I give Island Pho Grill a 3 out of 5 stars, meaning that they exceeded my expectations and were far above the average dining experience of most restaurants.
Scores are detailed in the factor chart below:
Formula Factor Conclusions and Overall Ratings for Island Pho and Grill
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Max Points Possible:
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Total Points Awarded:
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Total Points deducted:
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Ambience
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11
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11
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0
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Food quality
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11
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9
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2
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Plate presentation
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10
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9
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1
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Customer service
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9
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5
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4
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Alcohol and other beverages
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0
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0
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0
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Total regular points awarded
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41
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34
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7
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Total percentage — less the Bonus
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0.829268292682927
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“Wow” factor BONUS
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5
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0
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0
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Total bonus percentage
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0
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Total percentage and bonus for a final star rating
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0.829268292682927
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Stars Awarded (see chart below)
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= 0 - 5
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3
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**A full break down and explanation of the observations and point disbursement is available in the linked article above. To receive a detailed copy of your score, feel free to contact me at any time and I will provide it to you.**
***
Overall Star Rating:
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3 of 5 Stars:
83% Rating with a 0 point “wow” bonus
Exceeded My Expectations in a Dining Experience
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Corkage fees:
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Island Pho Grill does not list any corkage fee’s however, most American restaurants charge $25.00 per bottle
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Restaurant-style:
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Casual dining
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Cuisine Style at Island Pho Grill:
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Vietnamese
Allergen or dietary accommodations:
Low Carb Choices, Pescatarian, Sustainable, Vegetarian and Vegan Options
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Reservations:
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Not Required, but Recommended
Walk-Ins:
Accepted, but not guaranteed
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Dress code:
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Casual attire
It’s Florida, everybody wears flip-flops!
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Child policy:
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The Restaurants reviewed on this site may have a kids menu or cater to them; however, for full enjoyment of food and wine, it is recommended that kids not to be in attendance, unless they have been trained in proper etiquette.
If not then:
Hire a Babysitter!
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Island Pho Grill Experiences:
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Place for foodies, Contemporary, Modern, Tourist grabber, and a Neighborhood Gem.
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Payments:
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Cash, Visa, MasterCard, Discover, American Express
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Parking:
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Island Pho Grill has a private lot
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Wifi
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The restaurants reviewed on this site may have Wi-Fi, but do not require you to go online, because the excitement of the food and wine alone will keep you too entertained instead of checking your social media and emails.
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Noise level:
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Low
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Smoking:
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Island Pho Grill is a non-smoking restaurant
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Patio or terrace:
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No
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Food Prices
(excludes, alcohol, taxes & 20% gratuity’s)
$£€¥ - Under 50.00 (inexpensive)
$£€¥ x 2 - 51.00- 99.00 (moderate)
$£€¥ x 3 - Over 100.00 (pricey)
$£€¥ x 4 - Over 200.00 (expensive)
$£€¥ x 5 - Over 400.00 (very expensive)
**Currencies reflect the world’s major travelers, restaurant, or wine connoisseur’s**
Currency:
|
Price
|
United States Dollar (USD)
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$
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Great Britain Pound Sterling (GBP)
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£
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Canadian Dollar (CAN)
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$$
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Chinese Yuan (CNY)
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¥¥¥¥
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European Union (EUR)
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€
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Alcohol prices:
$18.00 USD
Island Pho Grill:
4205 Pine Island Road
Matlacha, Florida
33993
Contact Information:
Restaurant website:
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Maître d or host:
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+1 (239) 558-4007
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Website Contact:
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Serving hours:
Eastern Standard Time
(GMT, Zulu, or UTC - 5:00)
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Daily: Mon-Sun
11:00 am - 9:00 pm
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Social Media
And
Accolades for Island Pho and Grill:
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****
The world’s best restaurants is a subjective list of who is writing it and changes on a regular basis. The Wine Dine and Play best experiences are based on my highest rated stared restaurants, meaning that the visit was an outstanding or extraordinary experience. From cafés, chains, mom + pops, hole in the walls, to fine dining including a few Michelin spots. Visit the Top 100 page to see the entire list.
A few to tease you with…
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Landmark Mexican Restaurant
Austin, Texas, USA
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Traditional Spanish & Cuban chain since 1905
Ybor City & Sarasota, Florida, USA
|
Acclaimed soul food spot for fried chicken
New Orlean’s, Louisiana, USA
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Other Island Pho and Grill Pictures:
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| Island Pho and Grill / Entrance |
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| Island Pho and Grill / Sauces |
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| Island Pho and Grill / Dining Room |
“Culinary perfection consists not in doing extraordinary things,
But in doing ordinary things extraordinarily well.”
-Angelique Arnauld (1591-1661)
Who is John Galt?
TTFN
