6 King St
Alexandria, VA 22314
(703) 548-0600
Although I have reviewed Mai Thai before, I am of the camp that if I frequent there often enough, I should take the time to review it again. Who knows? Perhaps this time around will dramatically alter my perception?
Unfortunately for me, I suppose my title gave things away: though there were a few surprises, Mai Thai remains one of my favorite places to get Thai food (and eat in general).
Quick re-cap: Mai Thai occupies an excellent location at the very end of King street in Old Towne Alexandria, VA. It is perfectly situated right near the Potomac river/Old Towne dock, and the upstairs dining room offers great views of, not only the river, but the myriad of people sauntering through the heart of Old Towne. In additional to food that goes above and beyond satisfaction, the prices rival any other restaurant in the area (with regard to quantity as well as quality).
On to what was different: recipes, prices & service. On this particular occasion, I was able to sample the Drunken Noodle w/ chicken, the Pad See Ew, and the Basil Muscles. The Muscles were unchanged; a heaping mound of medium to medium large muscles perfectly seasoned with the right mix of thai spices and prominently fresh basil. Magnifico!
If I am not mistaken, the Drunken Noodle has a bit of a different recipe. Ive had this dish a number of times, and was always impressed with the perfect balance of spice, heat & flavor. Today, there was less heat, the same amount of spice, but a bit too much flavor (in the form of sweetness). I will have to return to double check, but there was definitely something different. Basil still played a large role in the taste composition, but the jury is still out as to whether or not this is an improvement. Im leaning towards no. One final note — I believe the price for things like Mai Thai fried rice and the Drunken Noodle have gone up. Not terribly, but noticeably. However, 90% of the menu is still an incredible value.
Nothing much to report on the Pad See Ew — standard dish, cooked to perfection. However, I would like to comment on the service. Typically, the front of the house is very amicable, and rarely gets flustered even when extremely busy. Today was no exception. Regular service is usually less friendly, but always incredibly prompt. Orders are taken quickly, place settings are swapped appropriately, drinks arrive in a timely fashion, and server “check-ins” occur, even as the meal progresses. With a heavy heart, I report that much of this did not hold true today. Service took forever despite the fact that the restaurant was 70% empty. None of the drinks or waters were refilled, and I daresay a smile never once crossed our waitresses face.
Ah well, I suppose that after having so many wonderful experiences at Mai Thai, it was somewhat inevitable that along would come a bad one. I hope it was just a fluke, and look forward to telling you about my next visit!
