Robert G.
Yelp
I was really looking forward to trying a couple Thai places in London, ON, and this was actually third on the list [one closed at 5pm, the other (Siam Cafe) was outright closed for business]. From the street, the place looks small inside and it is: 25-30 people max. Right inside the front door is a 5 x 8 waiting room for a tables--they don't want you to enter the eating area if you have to wait for a table: breezy in there when the door opens [cold today]--felt sorta caged, especially with heavy glass doors peering right into dining room. I got seated right away at 5pm as I was only the 3rd person there [when I left, there were 10]. Decor is OK and not overwhelming, but a little too dark for my taste [both in colors used exclusively and in lighting] but maybe a good date place if you're trying for the hip/sophisticated approach.
I had to venture a bit for an appetizer without my Crab Rangoon, so instead I opted for the Tom Yum Soup (gai--chicken, no mushrooms; $5CDN). It was little bigger than a cup and while of decent taste, the lemongrass was a bit overpowering--couldn't really taste the onions or the onions by themselves either. Next I did manage to get a Pad Kee Mao equivalent: Drunkard Noodle ($14CDN, beef hold the sprouts). I was a little dissappointed with this too: it was smallish and even smaller looking on a big plate; they used the thin egg noodles instead of the wide rice noodles; there MAY have been 1.5-2.0oz of meat if I was lucky; celery [!?!?!?] and peppers were each still crunchy; and it wasn't very spicy. When I asked for prik pet (hot peppers) all that was available was chili sauce, which made the noodles swim when I put enough on to get medium heat. I also ordered two Diet Cokes ($2CDN each).
Menu is probably more Thai fusion given some unique things (Mongolian Maki, Bangkok Red Light District, and 'canned' dinner specials [price fixe] which look like you can save a couple bux --good for Thai starters probably)--this is not a full Thai menu. Presentation and service in general was good, but I'm not hip to plastic chopsticks. I also appreciate the server understanding my Thai--an unusual event, but nice: maybe I'm making sense. There is a full bar though it probably takes up 20% of available floor space--should have moved to the back and put more tables or just keep a constant decor. Prices for takeout run $1-3 less for identical items, and sodas are half the price :( The difference on meal alone would have been $5.92 ($20.07 to go v. $25.99 eat-in, pre-tip)--imagine a family or date meal difference: encouraging me to NOT eat in further encourgages me not to eat there at all. While food in Canada generally runs a bit higher than US equivalent (in my humble travels), price was still a bit high for quality and size [i.e., value was lower than expected]. There was one pickup while I was there: smart move chica. I won't be going back and while I know Thaifoon is a chain, I'll probably think twice about trying another location.