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| - A renovation...looks to be different kitchen and wait staff as well...tho the wait staff is needing a little contact with regard to acceptable and appropriate daytime restaurant service attire.
There has been a renovation...and the space has certainly been improved. With about 60 seats in the room, the colors and varying heights/spacing of the tables of dining areas make for what feels like privacy. On arriving 11:30 AM on a Thursday, I was gratified to see about 40 people in the restaurant. With no sign about seating self or waiting, I caught the eye of one of the waitress' and she directed me to a seat not far from the kitchen/main service area.
I sat and received both water and menu. Double-sided, but only lunch menu...no indication of the salad I wanted. From previous experience as well as menu of other Thai Basil around the Valley, I know the staff has the ingredients and knows how to make my papaya salad...Som Tom.
If you have seen any previous review, you know that Som Tom is julienned green papaya prepared with thai chili, fish sauce, garlic, fresh-squeezed lime juice, tomato and palm sugar. The salad is frequently offered with green beans, shrimp or salt crab. It may also have julienned carrot in small portion.
When the questionably attired waitress came to take my order, I requested Som Tom and steamed rice...ordered Thai hot, no green bean and no shrimp. She wrote down my order and turned to tender my order. On to the phone, checking email and news, occupying my time until lunch arrived.
The salad and rice were presented to me in about 10 minutes. What appeared to be a very large portion of papaya salad, about 3 cups, was an illusion. The salad was placed on top of a pretty large amount of lettuce, which I did not see until I had taken a few bites of the salad. I figure I actually had about 1 1/4 cups of papaya salad.
Spice was 5 (makes my nose run, while 8 makes my forehead sweat and 10 brings tears to my eyes).
Rice...a pricy portion, 1 cup, fresh and well presented. Just kinda hurts to have to pay for rice that is a traditional accompaniment.
No windows on the west side means comfort for afternoon and early evening enjoyment...
With regard to the questionably attired waitress, what is going on with the denim shorts not fastened in front, hanging off the backside...netting and a t-shirt that does not meet the waist of the denim shorts...it leads me to wonder about the cleanliness of the presentation.
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