I won't MISS PAD THAI!

I had read various good reviews about Miss Pad Thai on Alessandro, and was sort of excited.  Healthy, homemade, fresh, authentic; all the right buzzwords to draw me in for one of their $5.99 lunch specials!

I ordered the Red Curry Beef, their noteworthy $6.95 Coconut Shrimp appetizer, and of course a $1.99 Thai Iced Tea. 

A large chilled and sweet Thai Tea arrived to my thirsty delight—no complaints.  After a few minutes, a small bowl of clear soup arrived.  [If you’ve read my earlier posts you already know my philosophy about Asian soups served before meals.  If the soup’s good, then so will be the meal.  If the soup’s lacking, then so will everything else.  It’s not always the case, but more often it’s “a tell” and your first good glimpse into YOUR FUTURE MEAL!!!] 

Unfortunately, their soup was little more than some tofu floating in oriental bullion flavored salt water—a disappointment.  I was afforded about twenty some minutes to ponder on my soup worries as my meal service seemed to screech to a halt!  There were only two tables eating and I was one of them.  What seemed like an eternity passed but finally my appetizer arrived—YEH! 

Six large prawns gingerly covered in a crispy light brown coconut coating came a calling me!  I answered their cries and consumed them quickly.  They were quite good and worth every fair review I had read.  I crunched and dunked my happy heart out and thought to myself, “I’d come back for more of these...” But, my happiness would be short lived.

Again, I was abandoned for what seemed like another 20 to 25 minutes!  This is inexcusable; especially during a lunch hour!  Finally, my Red Curry Beef came, and what do you know—NO BEEF!  AGAIN!  [Note: The same thing happened at Papaya Valley Thai Cuisine in an earlier review. What is with Moreno Valley Thai joints?  You order beef, and get chicken!  And if you point it out, they just look at you weird like, So?]  The waiter did go and get the chef who offered to redo my lunch but there was NO way I was going to wait another century so I opted to just ‘suck-it-up’ latterly and figuratively.

Now I like spice, and when asked always say, “Spice it up!”  But, the spice in this Red Curry was off and heavy handed.  It lacked any cohesive tastes normally found in Red Curry’s hot, sweet, creamy appeal.  It was all heat and no heart.  It was shallow, one-sided, delivering confusing herb notes but no richness or direction.  Plus, every bite left me chewing on a Kaffir lime leaf, which is not pleasant.

My bill came with no comps or considerations so I paid it and left.  I was now late, and it was a whopping $18.00 disaster after tax and tip!  I doubt I’ll be returning here, although I’ll probably think about those warm munchable shrimps and want to go back.  But then, I’ll remember the time… time… time… TIME!

MY SEARCH CONTINUES...