By Iranola Ojuolape
I would describe myself as a foodie, or lover of food, but recently, it has been difficult for me to try meals outside of the palate I am used to. But Thai Spoon is one of the few restaurants that pushed my boundaries. The intimate restaurant, located in downtown Athens, not only has delicious food, but it also provides a sense of serenity in the midst of chaos.
When walking into Thai Spoon, the mellow environment was the first thing I noticed. The lights were dimmed, and the music was low. It also had a very homey feel to it. The ceiling was painted burgundy, the walls were wood, and the carpet was burgundy as well. The dark colorways, floral decorations and earthy paintings further contributed to the chill vibe. Despite the fact that I went in the early afternoon, I felt as if I was winding down after a long, hard day of work. There were only a few people seated in the restaurant and only one waiter taking the orders. Before I even had a chance to look at the menu, I already felt relaxed and at peace.
Myself and my friend, Jamal, were quickly approached and seated. Jamal was a regular there, so he already knew what he wanted and gave me a few options to choose from. He ordered the Pad Thai with chicken, which is described as, “stir fried thin rice noodles with eggs, cabbage, carrots, and green onions served with peanuts and lime.” In an attempt to be experimental, I ordered the Thai Spicy Noodles (Pad-Kee-Mao) with beef. The menu described this dish as “pan fried wide rice noodles with eggs, onions, cabbage, carrots, peppers, green bean, and chili paste.” I was also asked what level of spice I wanted for the noodles, and I chose level five, which is the highest level of spice. Though I love both noodles and beef, I was still skeptical when ordering this because not everyone knows how to season food to my liking.
Before my main dish came out, the waiter brought out mushroom soup. Unlike some other restaurants, this soup was extremely creamy and had a strong taste of garlic that left an aftertaste in my mouth. The soup was decent, but nothing worth recommending. And plus, I went for lunch, so not only paid $9.95, which is three dollars less than the original price, so I considered the soup complimentary.
Just a few moments later, my Thai Spicy Noodles came out and the first thing I noticed was the huge portion size. My plate was covered from corner to corner with sautéed brown noodles and peppers. The steam was moving rapidly, and it smelled like a combination of unfamiliar spices and seasonings. When I took my first bite, I was surprised to discover that the noodles were bursting with flavor. The beef was juicy and tasted as if it had been marinating for hours. I immediately knew I loved it.
I only wish that I didn’t order this dish with the highest level of spice available. I was warned a few times by Jamal and my waiter that this was not a good idea, but I let my pride get the best of me. See, I’m Nigerian, so we put pepper in literally everything we eat. I am convinced that pepper runs through my bloodstream, so in my eyes, there was no way that even the highest level of spice Thai Spoon had to offer could compare to what I am used to. I was wrong. But somehow, the savory flavors in the noodles and beef overshadowed the spice. My three glasses of water also helped relieve my burning tongue and watery eyes.
I had been to a couple of Thai restaurants before, but this was by far my favorite. In fact, the Thai restaurants I had been to previously contributed to my skepticism and apprehension towards trying new foods. But Thai Spoon helped restore my faith and ambition towards expanding my food palate. Also, the relaxed setting is perfect for a date night, a business meeting, or even a quick getaway from work or school. I think it’s safe to say that Thai Spoon has gained a new regular. My only regret is that I did not discover this restaurant sooner.
Photo courtesy of Yelp.
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