I used to go to a family-run Thai restaurant; parents ran the cash register, grandparents cooked and the kids waited tables. I used to order the Pad La Na ever time; the kid asked if I want the usual, I said yes. The grandmother came to my table and asked if I wanted the usual, I was puzzled, I nodded. She said "No". I'm really confused, "Uhhh, you're out?". "NO, you come here, that's all you order! Look at menu, we have other things!". I was really taken back, I've never been told "No, you can't order that". She then says "Chicken yellow curry is good today, I make you that. You no like, I make something else". She just turns and walks away to make me dinner. The kids are thoroughly Americanized and tells me "Don't be mad, she talks to family like that and you eat here often enough to be considered family". I had to move a few years later, I miss that restaurant. Oh, and the yellow curry was pretty good.
Tbh, it sounds like the entire interaction was your fault. Where did you get off ordering the Pad La Na when the chicken yellow curry was good that day?! I hope you said please and thank you and chewed with your mouth shut.
These days when I go to a new Thai restaurant, I always order the Pad Thai first. If they can't make that well, I won't give it a second chance. My fave has five degrees of hot.
I always order the Pad Thai first. If they can't make that well, I won't give it a second chance. My fave has five degrees of hot.
The trouble with that is that although I love spicy Pad Thai too, it is not supposed to be a spicy dish. Thusly, a place that makes it the "correct" way would get a lower rating from you and I than a place that makes it the "wrong" way which is spicy.
I'm like that with new cafes and and eggs benedict.
If it's anything other than poached eggs with bacon and hollandaise on english muffin, then I can't trust they can run a food business. And getting the hollandaise right isn't trivial either.
Same principle with any pizza joint - go with just a cheese pie/slice first. If they can't manage the basics, no amount or combination of toppings will fix it.
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u/PeachyStarMuse 12h ago
When he hits you with 'the usual, boss?' you know you're family