Tom Yum Koong II

This restaurant was one I drove by for a long time before taking a chance on it. There had been another Thai restaurant there years ago, and it really wasn’t very good. We truly didn’t know what to expect when we went on a family dinner there.
What a good surprise.
We were given a large booth to sit in and they were very attentive to us throughout dinner. Our water glasses were never empty and even brought my daughter’s beverage with a little paper rosette at the end of the straw (little touches make all the difference with kids, in my opinion). The appetizer selection is very good. We usually get the crab rangoons, which are thinner and not greasy at all. They’re served with a sweet and sour style dipping sauce. We also like the beef satay and shrimps in a blanket.
For an entrée we like their mango fried rice, and their duck dishes are fabulous. We had a dessert there that was amazing– I can’t remember the name, but it was mango with sweet sticky rice.
We go there at least once a month and have always enjoyed a fresh, tasty meal and excellent service!

Let’s talk Thai… We list Thai as one of out top two genres of food, the Thai flavors of lemon grass, galangal, basil, coriander and celantro make us giddy… when done right. We were not giddy tonight. We were disturbed and disappointed and even annoyed. In spite of the waitress having written on the check «extra spicy», the food was bland. It lacked even the most rudimentary flavors. The Masaman Curry had sweet potatoes that lacked any flavor. I have had white potatoes with more appeal, but sweet potatoes add that wonderful earthy sweetness that works with the peanuts to balance the thai chilis. We shared a Drunken Noodles that tasted more like «American» Chinese food than Thai. It was bland and greasy with boiled chicken added after the fact, which meant the chicken did not absorb any of the spices or flavors of the rest of the dish. We were also perplexed how it took eleven minutes from the time the dishes were delivered for the sticky rice to be delivered. When it was brought to the table, it was still in a plastic bag and tasted overcooked and dry. It lacked the moisture and glutinous texture that helps lengthen the flavors of the entrée on the palate. I decided to just pack it up and take it home as our waitress and the manager did not understand that American Chinese food should not be called Thai. Tomorrow I will add spices and try to make it palatable.