Regulars at Pho and Grill seemed to know to use the letter and number on the menu associated with the dish, rather than identifying it by name. I’ll get it right next time.

Yes, A applies to appetizers; B is for Bowls, P is for pho, but C is less obvious: steamed and fried rice plates. It’s a good system not just for staff, but also for frequent diners.

This is a small, family-run business in the heart of First and Main Town Center on the east side of Colorado Springs. It does a steady dine-in and takeout business and it’s easy to see why. Service is friendly and efficient.

From a choice of five spring roll options we selected those with grilled pork, oops I mean A2, ($5.50 for two). They were crammed full of rice noodles, diced pieces of pork, shredded lettuce and bean sprouts. The semi-translucent rice paper that encased everything was chewy and gummy. Fortunately, the fillings were flavorful, particularly the pork. Spring rolls were served with slightly sweet and creamy peanut sauce.

From appetizers the listings move directly to the Ps for pho: There are 22 options for proteins, including combinations. A choice must also be made regarding the size: small, medium or large. After looking around at other tables, the small looked to be just right. It was. Our A19 ($12.50) was a hearty serving of beef broth filled with rice noodles and grilled well-done slices of flank and skirt steaks. Of course, pho is not complete with the accompanying accoutrements of Thai basil, bean sprouts, lime wedges and jalapeno slices.

The meat was tender and the broth was savory and had just the right amount of saltiness. There’s really only one way to enjoy pho and that’s to do a lot of slurping. It doesn’t look pretty, but it’s the best method to get the flavor of each element from bowl to mouth. I’m a Thai basil fan and was grateful for the generous amount provided.

We considered ordering egg rolls, too, but realized B7, aka the house special ($15.75), a rice noodle bowl, came with them along with shrimp, chicken, beef and pork. The array of components was not only colorful, but palate pleasing. The grilled proteins, egg roll pieces, thin pickled carrots, cucumbers and strips of white radishes were plentiful enough to practically hide the noodles. Topped with cilantro and served with sweet and tangy fish sauce to pour over the top. (I also added some of the peanut sauce because I liked it so much.)

Now, going back to alphabetical order, the C3 grilled chicken plate ($14.75), like all the dishes, was colorful and mouthwatering. (Not all C dishes have chicken.) Chicken breast adorned with perfect charred grill marks and cut into nearly-bite size pieces rested on a bed of steamed rice. Slices of cucumber, tomato, lettuce, carrots and white radishes cut as matchsticks provided the color.  The sweetened fish sauce, for pouring over everything, was salty and flavorsome. The peanut sauce worked well here, too.

There’s nothing fancy or pretentious about Pho & Grill, which,  with the food, is a large part of its appeal.

Pho and Grill

Vietnamese cuisine

Location: 3357 Cinema Point

Contact: 1-719-597-1451

Prices: $5.50 to $15.75

Hours: 11 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. daily except closed Tuesday.

Details: Credit cards accepted. Alcohol. Wi-Fi.

Favorite dishes: House Special (B7) and pho with flank steak (P19)

Other: Gluten-free and vegan options available.