r
How we got there: Carlson’s Thai Kitchen is located at 1022 West St., which is conveniently across the street from the What’s Up office. So we zipped up our coats, aved the cold and walked. The exterior appearance is very simple and plain, but their sign is what intrigued us. This small restaurant holds Thai Kitchen and Carlson’s Donuts. With our first step in the door, we were met with scents of Thai sauces and sugary donuts. The interior was fairly bland with various Thai decor around the booths and tables. The “hole in the wall” ambiance was nothing exciting, but it still felt warm and friendly.
What we ordered: Starting with a Thai classic, we ordered fresh spring rolls as our appetizer. The appetizer was served at the same time as our meal and the style was not what we expected. You cannot go wrong with fresh spring rolls so we were happy, but did note they were bean sprout heavy. Served on plastic plates, Food Editor Kelsey ordered the chicken lad na with flat noodles. She mentioned that the dish lacked pizazz, but the flavor of the flat noodles was wonderful. Elizabeth ordered pad eggplants, as stated by the menu was minced chicken, hot chili, eggplants, green peppers, and basil leaves all over steamed rice. Chili, lemongrass and basil are three quintessential Thai flavors, and this dish held promise including two. Elizabeth felt the dish was prepared wonderfully and loved the chicken and basil combo. Preferring her food spicy, Elizabeth missed the Thai spice in this dish, but did not feel cheated.
With only one waitress handling the floor, the service was good. The place was busier than we expected and the waitress was doing her best to satisfy all the customers. Our food was served promptly and we were in and out in 45 minutes.
What we paid: The bill was about $30 including tip for fresh spring rolls, two lunches, and one soda. It was not too expensive and as an added treat, a bag full of fresh baked donuts accompanies the receipt.
The verdict: Lunch at Thai Kitchen was enjoyable and we would definitely go back. The menu is full of other Thai specialties and I am sure next time we would explore other dishes. Between noodles, rice and curry, their menu contains many Thai variations, so it would be a shame to get the same thing twice.
