NH Eatery Pho Keene Great Approved After Controversy

KEENE, NH — Keene's newest restaurant — Pho Keene Great — is an obvious play on words and city officials appear to be joining in on the jab after initial objections that it's profane. Officials approved the restaurant's sign Friday, clearing the way for the French-Vietnamese restaurant to open in March. Earlier this month, City Manager Elizabeth Dragon ordered the restaurant to take down its sign over concerns it's offensive but she reversed course this week.

"We are excited to have a new restaurant open in the community," Dragon said in an email, according to NHPR.

The restaurant is located in Central Square in downtown Keene near the city library and officials were concerned over the restaurant's seemingly profane tone in such a public space.

Restaurant owner Isabelle Jolie argued the name of her restaurant isn't offensive.

"We liked the name because it's lighthearted and fun," Jolie wrote in a Facebook post. "It's a name that reflects Vietnam's National dish, comfort food and our most popular culinary product, pho! Keene, of course, is the location."

Jolie ran a poll on her restaurant's Facebook page asking if the name is offensive and 97 percent of more than 3,400 voters said no.

Jolie said Dragon "did the right thing" by approving the sign Friday.

"Now let us focus on Pho," Jolie wrote.

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Photo credit: Pho Keene Great