What makes a good restaurant? As I think back to the evening we spent at this ordinary little Thai restaurant, which sadly was quite a few weeks ago, my recollections of the food are not of specific dishes and stunning flavours but more of a mood. Lots of people family, friends children, 15 of us in all. Two noisy tables which ranged from hearty indiscriminate eaters, children who want food food to look and taste familiar and the inevitable palates.
This restaurant may not have produced food which rises above the ordinary but it produced food which satisfied everybody.
Isaac aged 6 "chicken is yummy" his brother aged 12 was more discerning. "The Tom Yum soup tasted like pasta but it needed more flavour and some parmesan cheese would have helped." I should add that these two particular palates are visitors from Rome so perhaps more used to parmiggiano but they too left satisfied and happy. Not much Thai in Rome said their mother.
"Teabag tea!" said the aesthete" "jaunty stripped mugs" said Pollyanna "too much rice" the no carbs contingent. "I don't need the TV but if we have to have it put on League" who said that?
What we ate
Fish cakes
"A bit rubbery" but I who am not a great fan of Thai food, think that rubbery is what they all are. "Pneumatic" said Stephen or was it Dave.
Samosas
"A bit bland"
Spring Rolls
"Crisp and corny?"
Wrapped prawns (Choo chee king prawns)
"Well made."
Tom Yum Soup
Missing something maybe more chilli (or parmesan)
Missing some punch said the pugilist.
Not a great tom yum said Yaya.
Basil beef
"The flavour was good but the texture of the beef was too braised."
Satay chicken
"Tasty tender can taste the peanuts."
Crispy chicken wings
"Very good good hand food."
"Nice and crispy."
"Very crispy, quite tasty,very hot deep fried"
BBQ chicken
"Chicken and fresh salad was good. There was too much, but the flavour was ok."
Kra Prao
Mixed seafood with with fresh basil and chili "Very spicy and fresh. The way I like it."
Pad see ew
This was stir fried flat rice noodles. Kate said "not bad, a variety of vegetables including mushroom and cauliflower which is not usually found in in pad see. Not the best in Glebe but decent value for money ($10)."
Sour Curry
"Good tasty intense."
Jungle curry
"Very thin but hot."
Nerida on the other hand "oh this is divine"
Stir fried tofu with snow peas tofu and egg
There's always a vego but it only cost $9
Cashew nut chicken and basil $10
"Very bland and uninteresting."
What we thought
What did we agree on? The crispy chicken wings were very good. it was cheap (the most expensive dishes are the seafood dishes at $14) and yes it had lots of very accommodating and cheerful staff. A good place to go with a motley crew.
