First Date

Thaifoon Restaurant was our first date--and as far as first dates go, it was pretty good.  Located on Dundas just east of Talbot, the downtown location of this restaurant makes it convenient for meeting friends in a central location especially if there are plans for a play, movie, or an event at the JLC afterward.  Parking is an issue, however, if there is something happening at the JLC.  Since Thaifoon is one of the historic building lots on Dundas its narrow interior allows the space to have exaggerated design--from its impressive brick accent wall to equally impressive "tall elephant art" which caught the eye of one reviewer in particular.  The flaw in this layout is that the tables are crowded leaving very little privacy and the vaulted ceilings carry every single patron's voice through the restaurant.  In short, like many first dates, looks can be deceiving (Sir Reviews-A-Lot was not impressed).

Mango Salad

Thaifoon is supposed to offer authentic fine-dining thai cuisine.  Although the napkins were elegantly displayed in cool twirly knots in the glasses, I was disappointed that there was no green tea or some sort of thai version of bread sticks at the table.  I was equally disappointed that traditional cutlery adorned the table...where's my chopsticks?  The food itself was quite good.  I started with a mango salad that had a spicy dressing.  I couldn't really tell which pieces were the mango though--all I tasted was the dressing and the onion and everything else had the same crunchy texture.  But since it was a salad devoid of lettuce I liked it!  For dinner I had the pad thai.  Again, it was good but nothing special.  I would order it again but it was not a dish that I would crave and intentionally seek out a second time.  And for $14 I think I'd be just as happy going to the market for pad thai twice! Overall, everyone seemed to really enjoy their meals.  One reviewer remarked that the "jello-like tofu [in his soup] was fun to eat" and that his panko-crusted salmon "made it taste like fair food...midway salmon!" 

Panko-Crusted Salmon

Which, by the way, is a compliment.  As for dessert, I had the deep-fried ice cream (is that authentic thai as well?).  It was really good--you might as well panko-crust everything!  Although the desserts were a nice finish and were nicely presented, there wasn't anything overly unique to them.  And in the case of the plantain dessert--it kind of tasted like phyllo-covered mushy zucchini.  I guess that's unique.

Now everyone's favourite part of a first date: the bill (where's the sarcasm font when you need it?!).  After briefly contemplating changing the club to the Dine and Dash Club, we looked at our bills.  Having both had a three course meal with no drinks the bill really wasn't that bad but by no means was it a cheap date.  Would I consider a second date?  Yes, probably.  There were a variety of selections that I was interested in so I would enjoy going to Thaifoon again.  And since I've carried out this dating metaphor long enough before it's gotten weird (...something about going to first base?!  What?!), I think I will end with a summation of our overall rating:

Location: Thaifoon Restaurant (120 Dundas St. London, ON)
Entree Cost: $14-$21
Number of Reviewers: 4
Value: $ $ 1/2 
Overall: * * *