Not the usual authentic veitnamese food more like a fusion and small portion and very expensive and they didn't have beef pho available
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 1
Service: 3
Sally Madigan
Wow wow WOW! Pork and beef bun, eggplant, and snaking beef are can’t misses. Highly recommend the cardamom cola and lime and salt soda!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Kamal Moursy
Despite the website stating half the restaurant is reserved for walk ins, we arrived at a restaurant that was 3/4 empty and told by the very unfriendly server that there would be at least a 45 minute to an hour wait as they were fully booked. We would have graciously accepted the wait but the servers hostility was a let down for a restaurant we'd heard such good things about. Went across the road to Izakaya Minato which was amazing.
Service: 1
Beau Lewis
So fire. Mezcal cocktail and smoky eggplant dish are a must. Amazing
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
John Daley
CTB truly inspired my love for food. I started back in covid getting takeout when they were also making meals for first responders. Ever since, I have brought my best friends here for birthdays, first visits to Maine, and any night I want to feel special. To the spectacular team and owners Jessica Sheahan / Vien Dobui, THANK YOU FOR YEARS OF FOOD LOVE!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Rachel Brander
overall, I did not enjoy my experience here. I wanted to give it another shot after having a mediocre experience last year. Food was overpriced and had very small portions. I found the staff unfriendly. I used to love this place, but sadly will probably not come back.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 3
Service: 2
Hoang Nguyen
12/10 service 7/10 food 9/10 atmosphere
Our table ordered the bun cha, eggplant, and banh beo for savory dishes, followed by the che ba mau parfait and apple-guava sorbet for dessert. The overall experience was lovely. The staff were warm and attentive, and the atmosphere was welcoming, but wished that the seating can be more spacious. Dish-ware reminds you of Viet restaurant. The co-founder was also incredibly kind and personable, which made our visit even more memorable.
Bun cha: The seasoning on both the meat and meatballs was spot-on, though the meatball was slightly over-charred. The fish sauce was served cold. I think serving it warm could help mellow the vinegar aftertaste. The pickled veggies were excellent, and I’d love to see green papaya added. The complimentary herbs and greens paired well with the dish. Overall, flavorful and fairly authentic.
Banh beo: Freshly steamed and nicely presented. A sweeter sauce might pair better with it, but it was still enjoyable.
Eggplant: A standout dish with rich flavor that pairs perfectly with rice. Great for a quick, satisfying bite. I would ask for more seasoning if I was to order it with rice.
Apple-guava sorbet: Bright and refreshing. I usually don’t go for sour desserts, but I would definitely order this again.
Che ba mau parfait: I personally liked this version. While the strawberry might not appeal to those looking for traditional che, it added a nice balance to the usual sweetness. A great choice for those who enjoy trying something different.
Drinks: The basil soda was unique and delicious. The jasmine pandan tea was essentially tra da—simple, clean, and refreshing.
Would absolutely come back to try more. The care and thoughtfulness behind both the food and service truly stood out.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 4
Service: 5
Dan McDonald
Very welcoming team and the food is amazing!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Cherny Darling
Food disappointed. Although the service was great and the atmosphere just fine, the food was mediocre. The twice-cooked eggplant was watery and way too salty, even for someone who loves pickled foods. The cabbage salad was ok, but nothing special. And the garlic fried rice was bland and dry despite the fried garlic chips. In winter, bring something to sit on as the metal chairs are cold. At these prices, you can do better in Portland. I wouldn't eat here again.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 3
Service: 5
Jake P
I mean… incredible, just knocks your socks off. Menu highlights were the Pho, the Shaken Beef, and the eggplant. Such a great atmosphere, and such friendly staff. An authentic and unique take on Vietnamese food. Best pho in New England.
Noodle smells burnt and tease burnt, way too salty on half of the food that I ordered. Pho soup was not hot enough at all. For that price I’d expect higher quality standard. Everything just trying too hard.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 1
Service: 3
cole siefer
Good dishes for sharing and nice staff!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Hunter Nolan
some of the best food I’ve personally had in portland, best served on a cold night.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Cabbage Salad, Pho GA, Garlic Fried Rice, Bun Cha
Quinn McLean
We stumbled upon Cong Tu Bot expecting something totally different. We thought they had different types of pho but they didn't but we still decided to see what they had to offer since it looked like a cool spot. I got the pineapple fried rice. It was 28 dollars and honestly it was not worth 28 dollars. While they give u a decent portion the food lacked flavor. I had to add extra lime to my dish. A lot of the food prices were too high in my opinion. The vibe of the place was very average nothing really stood out to me. It was an open kitchen so you can see the chef cook.
Atmosphere: 2
Food: 2
Service: 3
Nick K
Truly spectacular cuisine, worth driving 2 hours from Boston for! We're planning another trip just to eat here again. Had good support for gluten-free options
Not the usual authentic veitnamese food more like a fusion and small portion and very expensive and they didn't have beef pho available
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 1
Service: 3
Wow wow WOW! Pork and beef bun, eggplant, and snaking beef are can’t misses. Highly recommend the cardamom cola and lime and salt soda!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Despite the website stating half the restaurant is reserved for walk ins, we arrived at a restaurant that was 3/4 empty and told by the very unfriendly server that there would be at least a 45 minute to an hour wait as they were fully booked. We would have graciously accepted the wait but the servers hostility was a let down for a restaurant we'd heard such good things about. Went across the road to Izakaya Minato which was amazing.
Service: 1
So fire. Mezcal cocktail and smoky eggplant dish are a must. Amazing
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
CTB truly inspired my love for food. I started back in covid getting takeout when they were also making meals for first responders. Ever since, I have brought my best friends here for birthdays, first visits to Maine, and any night I want to feel special. To the spectacular team and owners Jessica Sheahan / Vien Dobui, THANK YOU FOR YEARS OF FOOD LOVE!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
overall, I did not enjoy my experience here. I wanted to give it another shot after having a mediocre experience last year. Food was overpriced and had very small portions. I found the staff unfriendly. I used to love this place, but sadly will probably not come back.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 3
Service: 2
12/10 service
7/10 food
9/10 atmosphere
Our table ordered the bun cha, eggplant, and banh beo for savory dishes, followed by the che ba mau parfait and apple-guava sorbet for dessert. The overall experience was lovely. The staff were warm and attentive, and the atmosphere was welcoming, but wished that the seating can be more spacious. Dish-ware reminds you of Viet restaurant. The co-founder was also incredibly kind and personable, which made our visit even more memorable.
Bun cha: The seasoning on both the meat and meatballs was spot-on, though the meatball was slightly over-charred. The fish sauce was served cold. I think serving it warm could help mellow the vinegar aftertaste. The pickled veggies were excellent, and I’d love to see green papaya added. The complimentary herbs and greens paired well with the dish. Overall, flavorful and fairly authentic.
Banh beo: Freshly steamed and nicely presented. A sweeter sauce might pair better with it, but it was still enjoyable.
Eggplant: A standout dish with rich flavor that pairs perfectly with rice. Great for a quick, satisfying bite. I would ask for more seasoning if I was to order it with rice.
Apple-guava sorbet: Bright and refreshing. I usually don’t go for sour desserts, but I would definitely order this again.
Che ba mau parfait: I personally liked this version. While the strawberry might not appeal to those looking for traditional che, it added a nice balance to the usual sweetness. A great choice for those who enjoy trying something different.
Drinks: The basil soda was unique and delicious. The jasmine pandan tea was essentially tra da—simple, clean, and refreshing.
Would absolutely come back to try more. The care and thoughtfulness behind both the food and service truly stood out.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 4
Service: 5
Very welcoming team and the food is amazing!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Food disappointed. Although the service was great and the atmosphere just fine, the food was mediocre. The twice-cooked eggplant was watery and way too salty, even for someone who loves pickled foods. The cabbage salad was ok, but nothing special. And the garlic fried rice was bland and dry despite the fried garlic chips. In winter, bring something to sit on as the metal chairs are cold. At these prices, you can do better in Portland. I wouldn't eat here again.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 3
Service: 5
I mean… incredible, just knocks your socks off. Menu highlights were the Pho, the Shaken Beef, and the eggplant. Such a great atmosphere, and such friendly staff. An authentic and unique take on Vietnamese food. Best pho in New England.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Restaurantji Recommends
Noodle smells burnt and tease burnt, way too salty on half of the food that I ordered. Pho soup was not hot enough at all. For that price I’d expect higher quality standard.
Everything just trying too hard.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 1
Service: 3
Good dishes for sharing and nice staff!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
some of the best food I’ve personally had in portland, best served on a cold night.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Cabbage Salad, Pho GA, Garlic Fried Rice, Bun Cha
We stumbled upon Cong Tu Bot expecting something totally different. We thought they had different types of pho but they didn't but we still decided to see what they had to offer since it looked like a cool spot. I got the pineapple fried rice. It was 28 dollars and honestly it was not worth 28 dollars. While they give u a decent portion the food lacked flavor. I had to add extra lime to my dish. A lot of the food prices were too high in my opinion. The vibe of the place was very average nothing really stood out to me. It was an open kitchen so you can see the chef cook.
Atmosphere: 2
Food: 2
Service: 3
Truly spectacular cuisine, worth driving 2 hours from Boston for! We're planning another trip just to eat here again. Had good support for gluten-free options
Dietary restrictions: Had gluten free options
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
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