Mia G.
Yelp
(FYI- two part review!)
This restaurant was my first, true introduction and love-affair with Thai food... probably 18 years ago.
At the time Asian cuisine was freshly introduced to America, and certainly to my Finnish tastebuds, and to say I was in complete awe would be an understatement.
The gorgeous lady who I believe was the founder, always wore a beautiful, traditional Thai outfit, and would remember details about our, and would refer to conversations you had months, even years past; she would remember a face and your preferences like magic. By calling it magic, I'm simply trying to hi-light her extraordinary memory and excellence in customer service. The place was a SOLID 5 stars all day for all reasons.
I believe the last time I saw her she gently admonished me and said; "you not been here for long time! Why you been away??" (Mind you... I think I hadn't been there for 10+ years, but she remembered me.
The honest to heavens above truth was that life took "a Holt" of me and I was whipped around country and county alike, yet it was a crucial time when Charlotte, NC; Birmingham, AL; Atlanta, GA and the like started to establish a solid "FIRST CROP" of restaurants serving Thai, Sushi, Even Vietnamese.
At the time Asian cuisine was freshly introduced to America, and certainly to my Finnish tastebuds, and I was in complete awe. I was floored in the best possible way.
So back the I suddenly I had the gift of travel and choices: Let it be Said, Heard and Understood that 15 years ago nobody could touch this restaurant for authenticity, taste or quality.
To land the plane I have to explain my current 3 star review:
I am and have always been a super nerd about food, and my career has blessed me with the ability to work local lately, to the tune of last 5 years.
The world wide webs have given me the opportunity to learn about how to cook "exotic food" and I've developed a rekindled interest and ardent admiration for Thai cooking (Marion Grasby) And I've binge-watched all of the social media and I just wanted to go and experience the real deal:
The proprietors are lovely and kind, however what shows up on your plate doesn't necessarily match what's specified on the menu for the dish you ordered.
I had :
Thai Beef salad; (it specified mint as the main herb; the beef was beautifully cooked and tasty, the dish overall veered from its description of mint as the main her by only having cilantro, herb wise. It had a "pepper" next to it on the menu description promising some spice but didn't have any:
I asked for chili oil and dry chili and after adding them made everything perfect.
Pad-Kee-mow (has the little chili thing printed next to it and was described as a spicy noodle dish sautéed with chilies,onion, green bell pepper and basil and your preferred protein)
Arrived with No chilies, zero spice but with the surprise addition of carrots, which I do not hate, but further added to a overly sweet, almost treacle like sauce on the noodles.
I sure miss the lady in the Thai dress is all I'm saying.