Banana Blossom Thai Cafe

[Track309]

This is the best place for Thai in the city. Unlike most Thai restaurants where you can only taste the soy sauce and fish sauce, BB strikes perfect balance with all the exotic spices, and herbs in each dish. All of the dipping sauces were incredible and no dish was too sweet or too salty. Having been there three times since they've opened, the only dish that tasted average was the pad thai. Oh, yeah, at last a Thai tea that wasn't tooo sweet, just perfect.

I got a chance to talk to Jim, the owner and he's quite a nice guy. After realizing the medical field was not for him while doing his rotation, he opened the restaurant on a shoe string budget, hence the stark minimalistic style decor which actually works and the small vinyl banner as the store sign. Oh, but the food here makes up for it. Anyway, here are some of the dishes that I had during my last visit. Bwt, be sure to stop by the Winn Dixie next door since they do not have a liquor license.

http://www.eatbananablossom.com

TOM YUM


TOM KHA


SPICY CLAMS- INCREDIBLE, ORDER A BOWL OF RICE. The sauce is that GOOD


FRIED CALAMARI- I forgot to tell Jim that the batter could use just alittle more seasonning.


PAD KEE MAO

[Isabella Maja]

I love Banana Blossom & feel very fortunate that we have such a great Thai place on the WB.

I've taken pics of all my meals there, I need to find some time to post them.

I have not had the clams, wow, they look great!
Thanks for that tip!

Personally, I love the calamari exactly they way they are.
If we didn't have the fried jalapenos in the basket or sauce, I might say add a little spice, but I really do like them just like that. However, know that you can ask for it to be anyway you want.

Feeling a little under the weather, I stopped in to get several orders of Tom Kha & asked that they add extra ginger & garlic for my sinuses. They were happy to oblige. BTW, it doesn't need it ordinarily, I just wanted it to open me up.

Track, have you had the Roti? You must get it.
Also, have you tried the garlic tamarind sauce that comes on the fish entree (I think trout)? It is outstanding.

My personal tip is to order in courses . . . and keep your remaining sauces that comes with each course. They are very interchangeable and wow, are they great sauces! My two fav so far are the garlic tamarind & the red curry sauce that comes with the roti. I love the peanut sauce as well.

I've had the pad thai, and thought it was very good. I think I said lil bit spicy tho. My dc always gets hers mild. The staff there is always so willing to accomodate!

[Track309]

I will definitely take your suggestions Isabella. Actually, I may go for lunch today:)

Another dish that should be mentioned is the Chiang Mai Noodles. It's crispy fried egg noodles and soft egg noodles combined into a red curry sauce that works so well.

As far as service goes, it not bad for a two man kitchen or maybe it was the euphoria after eating the appetizers that I didn't mind the wait:p

[Isabella Maja]

The Chiang Mai noodles are great, I've had them a couple of times.

Service has always been very pleasant for me, but I've often noticed 4 people in the kitchen & a waitress, so maybe that's more the norm.
Wait . . .
Come to think of it, after work one Saturday night, around 10:30pm, I swung by there hoping to get some take out. The door was still open, and I saw people feasting, not certain of their closing time. There had to be about 7 people at the table, laughing away - with an amazing spread of Thai delights covering the table. OMG! Turns out they were the staff & the place was already closed. Instead of kicking me out, they engaged me in a little conversation & I asked what was one of the dishes on the table. They gave me the answer & I said, "That's exactly what I'm looking for." They told me it wasn't on the menu but they thought the chef would have no problem making it for me (must have been that euphoria you were talking about!).

I went up to the kitchen area & spoke with the chef, just saying hi, not wanting to intrude, after all the place was closed. Rather than ask about that dish I spied, I just mentioned I was on the way home after a long day's work & was wondering if there was anything already prepared that I could just take home. Flashing a big grin, he asked what did I really want to eat! Tom Kha & hmm, would it be to much trouble to make the xxxx dish? Looking a bit surprised that I knew about it, I told him I saw it on the table & it was just what I was looking for.

I went home with the perfect late night dinner and it only got better once I tasted it!

You know, you really might be on to something ..... euphoria just nails it!


Oh & I hate to break it to you, Track309.
They are closed on Sunday. Sorry.