FIRST GLIMPSE: Hitchin Nub News are huge backers of local business in our town.

We feature a regular series named First Glimpse that specifically highlights exciting new businesses opening in Hitchin and North Herts.

Hitchin Nub News champions brilliant businesses new and old and want to see OUR community thrive as the pandemic recedes.

Our stories are seen by our many, many thousands of readers on our website and our Facebook page Hitchin Nub News.

On top of that we have nearly 4,500 newsletter subscribers specifically in North Herts that read our selected stories every Friday - which include news businesses.

So, if you are starting a new business in Hitchin or North Herts, please do get in touch as we'd love to highlight your work!

In the meantime, read on to learn more about Hitchin's first Vietnamese restaurant - and keep an eye on our more in-depth Up Close feature on Pho Me shortly.

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Hitchin is renowned for the quality of its restaurants offering mouth-watering fayre from all over the world.

Yet, despite the culinary excellence - not to mention succulent grub from all corners of the globe - our town has yet to experience the delights of a Vietnamese restaurant. Until now that is...

Visitors to Market Place in the heart of Hitchin may have noticed a new sign overlooking the famed cobbles of the square.

Namely: Pho Me.

[H2]Pho Me in Hitchin[H2]

Billed as a dine-in restaurant at 23a Market Place, overlooking Jamie's key cutting and shoe repairs and next to Allingham Butchers, Pho Me is set to bring a taste of Vietnam to hungry Hitchin punters.

Ph or pho is a Vietnamese soup dish consisting of broth, rice noodles, herbs, and meat. Pho is a popular food in Vietnam where it is served in households, street stalls and restaurants countrywide.

So much so, that Pho is considered Vietnam's national dish.

[H2]Pho Me[H2]

Open Tuesday to Saturday, 11am to 9pm and 11am to 8pm on Sundays, the restaurant offers food that will wow - including dishes familiar to anyone who has visited Vietnam (NOTE: The editor of Hitchin Nub News spent two months in Vietnam long ago and absolutely loved the country - and its food).

The cooking in Vietnam is done with minimal use of oil and dairy and relies more on light, fresh flavours from herbs and vegetables. As such, Vietnamese food is acclaimed as one of the healthiest cuisines in the world.

As anyone who has visited Vietnam will attest, the French influence remains, with Pho Me offering daily baked Vietnamese-style baguettes with fresh herbs, home-made mayonnaise complete with Sriracha sauce and pickled salads - to be eaten with grilled pork, chicken satay or beef, chicken or prawn curry.

Hitchin town centre boss Tom Hardy is already a big fan. Our town's tireless advocate told Nub News: "Although Hitchin has seen a large increase in eateries over recent years, it's always refreshing to gain a new business offering food that you can't find anywhere else in the town centre.

"This new businesses is being Vietnamese street food to the town and we are really excited to welcome another innovative refreshing new business to a Hitchin town centre."

[H2]Coming soon: Watch this space for a special Up Close feature with Pho Me[H2]

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PREVIOUS FIRST GLIMPSE STORIES

First Glimpse: New bookshop set to open in Hitchin very soon - find out more!

First Glimpse: Hitchin Market Place set to host 'Mediterranean Artisan Cafe' called Ziba

First Glimpse: Luke's Patisserie at Offley Hoo Farm

First Glimpse: Cafe 77 - A brilliant haven for burger purists set to open in Hitchin

First Glimpse: Petculiar - A Raw and Alternative Health Store For Pets at Offley Hoo Farm