Why Do You Think Pho 14 Still Does Not Have a Liquor License?

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01/19/12 12:00pm

Why Do You Think Pho 14 Still Does Not Have a Liquor License?

Back in Sept. ’10 we learned that Pho 14, was expanding at 1436 Park Rd, NW and in May ’11 we also learned their menu would be expanding. So I’m just curious – why do you think they don’t have a liquor license yet? Do you think they should get one?

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43 Comment

John January 19, 2012 at 12:09 pm

On the long list of things the Tivoli/CH Heights area needs more of, ‘alcohol’ is pretty low. Love their pho though.
17thStr January 19, 2012 at 12:11 pm

I kinda like that they don’t have one. Makes me feel healthy eating a big bowl of Pho without it.
Stoney_D January 19, 2012 at 12:11 pm

Only if they will serve beer pho.
mj January 19, 2012 at 12:13 pm

It has apparently 0 effect on their business, so why bother?
MT January 19, 2012 at 12:14 pm

We’ve been told they don’t want one. They’re doing plenty of business without it and don’t want to change the atmosphere of the place.
Anonymous January 19, 2012 at 12:16 pm

It’s more of a family restaurant and less of a place to get drunk. Fine as it is.
- princeofpetworth January 19, 2012 at 12:29 pm
  
  Hahaha, way to take it to the extreme. It’s quite possible to have a beer with dinner without getting drunk.
  - The Dude January 19, 2012 at 12:56 pm
    
    Some people just don’t want to be around drinking at all. Not every place needs to serve booze. There are responsibilities that go along with serving beer and perhaps Pho 14 doesn’t want to deal with them.
    - samosa January 19, 2012 at 1:08 pm
      
      agreed
    - blur January 19, 2012 at 1:08 pm
      
      Puritans, the lot of you.
    - Anonymous January 19, 2012 at 2:04 pm
      
      Right! Sounds like someone is late for their AA meeting….
  - mj January 19, 2012 at 1:17 pm
    
    -1
Jack5 January 19, 2012 at 12:20 pm

Because if you eat a large bowl of Pho, and then drink 4 beers, their bathrooms can’t handle it.
springroadintoaction January 19, 2012 at 12:20 pm

Yeah, I’m agreeing with some of the folks above—because they don’t need one.
cohi January 19, 2012 at 12:22 pm

I heard the church across the street is blocking them.
Jrod January 19, 2012 at 12:25 pm

They have other things besides pho? Definitely doesn’t need one.
dc_chica January 19, 2012 at 12:36 pm

Have you tried asking them?
lisat January 19, 2012 at 1:03 pm

We got the worst pho we’ve ever had from there. Seriously. I dumped the broth down the drain and revamped the noodles and other fixins into another dish. I’d have to be drunk off my ass to ever consider getting pho there again.
- WTPho?! January 20, 2012 at 9:01 am
  
  It sounds like you had takeout or delivery.
  
  If you would eat pho anywhere but fresh out of the restaurant kitchen, I don’t trust your opinion on pho.
sunsquashed January 19, 2012 at 1:04 pm

I wish they would get a liquor license. One of the reasons we rarely go is because we CAN’T drink beer with our pho.
KT January 19, 2012 at 1:10 pm

When they first opened they said they were still working on getting one. I haven’t asked since then. I assumed because they often have a line (even on weeknights!!) of people waiting for tables that they have enough business without alcohol and that maybe serving it would even encourage people to sit at tables longer, thus keeping the people in line waiting longer.
mj January 19, 2012 at 1:18 pm

This simple question has engendered more amusing responses than I thought possible. W00t!
Doug January 19, 2012 at 2:02 pm

Having lived near Falls Church in the past, it never really occurred to me that they were going to get a liquor license. None of the pho joints in FFX serve liquor. I’m not opposed to it, it’s just that soup and beer don’t seem like a natural combination.
- 11th January 19, 2012 at 4:29 pm
  
  yeah, pho and beer don’t really go together at VN restaurants. i think of beer as more a muc chien nuoc mam thing. rice wine and hotpots for sure.
ET January 19, 2012 at 2:15 pm

I would guess that in the early days they wanted one but it never materialized and after a while they decided they didn’t need one.

From what I understand and all of the interweb discussions it may be a big headache and after weighing pros/cons they may not want to bother.
AV January 19, 2012 at 2:16 pm

I know they definitely do a brisk business without a liquor license, but it would be nice if they had one. Or if they were BYOB. I feel like DC needs more restaurants like that.
- orderedchaos January 19, 2012 at 5:19 pm
  
  +1 for BYOB
queenedix January 19, 2012 at 2:33 pm

I ask about it periodically as I eat there at least once a week. They DID apply for a liquor license and are planning on having a separate bar area intended for drinking and people waiting for takeout as well (not where the current bar is, if I remember correctly). It is just taking significantly longer than they originally thought.
o2bncdg@gmail.com January 19, 2012 at 2:35 pm

Maybe one of the associates/owners is a convicted felon. I sure hope not, and don’t expect that to be the case. Maybe a liquor license if more trouble than it’s worth.
Elza January 19, 2012 at 2:35 pm

I’m amused that ONE of the zillions of restaurants in the neighborhood not having a liquor license is considered weird and a huge mystery.
- Anonymous January 19, 2012 at 5:16 pm
  
  +1
Mxfield January 19, 2012 at 2:37 pm

You all know they deliver, too. You could eat your pho right at home and drink there.
Anonymous January 19, 2012 at 3:08 pm

Because pho is a morning/lunch soup. I don’t know any pho places that serve alcohol.
Alger January 19, 2012 at 3:52 pm

You guys like that place? Beer or no, I am not going back. Worst Pho ever.

EVER.
- svi January 19, 2012 at 4:02 pm
  
  its pretty good. not pho 75 though. what is a better pho place in dc?
  - princeofpetworth January 19, 2012 at 4:05 pm
    
    Pho Viet is very good:
    
    http://www.princeofpetworth.com/2010/12/pho-viet-gets-awesome-review-in-the-post/
    
    Incidentally it doesn’t have a liquor license either.
    - svi January 19, 2012 at 4:54 pm
      
      thanks, i’ll check it out
    - orderedchaos January 19, 2012 at 5:17 pm
      
      I second Pho Viet — delicious.
- B January 19, 2012 at 4:19 pm
  
  No way! I love Pho 14!
SF January 19, 2012 at 4:39 pm

I have never understood why anybody would want beer with pho. How much liquid can you cram into your stomach at once?

Beer/alcohol does not pair with everything.
Anonymous January 19, 2012 at 4:50 pm

I prefer Nam Viet (in Cleveland Park or Clarendon) but Pho 14 delivers to my house, so…Never even realized they don’t serve beer. We always get the vermicelli noodles with grilled pork, and the crispy rolls.
Duster January 19, 2012 at 4:53 pm

Well the first thing is that it is really expensive and are limited. Liquor licenses are like property, only so much exist and they cost well over 100 grand.
ao January 19, 2012 at 10:07 pm

I asked this question to one of their waiters last month. He explained that it’s due the zoning issues with the church across the street.

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