Simply Thai — Restaurant in Keller

May 19, 2024 Went to Simply Tai - Keller, Tx 5/18/2024 for first time with a family group of six - sit-down In restaurant meal. On several levels was Not impressed. First, the food was only fair. Was there during a slow time, not many people. Second, the waitress was nice enough but she didn't seem to listen very good to requests. Maybe part of that was the apparent 'policies' of the restaurant. I request More lemons for our six waters, asked her to bring a small BOWL of lemon slices for everyone. She brought me ONE Very small 1/2 oz plastic container of small pieces of lemons - for Just ME, not for the group as asked for. The type of Small container that comes with your typical 'Take-out' order - which is fine for That. I had to Ask for More lemons as the person sitting next to me wanted more, however I knew others would too. She Then brought out ONE more of the Tiny Plastic container, which was only half full, JUST for That ONE person - Not the Group! Then, I requested sowe (spelling wrong) sauce, again - only I, Again, received One small container (take-out size) for only myself. Remember - this was a Sit-down, in the restaurant meal - NOT a take-out! Who Ever has heard of/experienced what should have been a nice - Restaurant experience which Included all the typical condiments In A Bottle/Bowl ON THE Table which the party could have ready access to! Same experience when I requested Hot Pepper oil!! Can the Waitress not Understand when condiments which are not on the table is requested - that the request is For The entire Party to utilize. IF something Special was being asked for And it was specifically noted that Only That person had a need for That item, well that would be different. There was nothing about the In-restaurant experience that was pleasant or relaxing - when you have to almost beg for More, for Enough for The Group/for everyone! It is obvious that This owner doesn't know how a In-restaurant experience/meal is Suppose be DIFFERENT from Take-out to home order/meal!! WHY would an owner 'Ration' condiments, or anything typical for a sit-down meal, to it's patrons?? Why? Are they That hard up for Profit/money?? If they are then they should not be in business. Obviously not a happy camper/Customer! Beyond understanding... Btw - a 20% Tip as Already INCLUDED in the bill! I normally do tip 20% - for good service and experience. Neither of which we received. In this case I would have only tipped 10% - but I paid the 20% Because I was with a family group celebrating two birthdays. So I did not want to cause an additional negative experience/scene. Never again...

First time going there and will never be back again. There was probably about 3 to 4 other tables and we ordered appetizers first and when they came out the potstickers were burnt so we asked for them to be remade and they looked annoyed that we asked. We asked twice for chopsticks and a side of soy sauce and chili sauce. They come out in these little bitty Prepackaged plastic containers, so of course asked for more. Again, poor attitudes. Next ordered our food entrées. They left our dish of burnt potstickers on the table and entire time. I had ordered my Chicken Vegetable stirfry at a spice level of three so that I could share it but if they could give me extra chili sauce so I can make the spice the way I want it. When the entrées came out, there I were little vegetables, I had also traded the cabbage out for bamboo shoots. I had let one of the servers know that I did not get them in my stirfry he went to the back and another one of the servers came out. She told me that they are in there just that they were shredded she continued to say they were out of The ones they usually buy when they bought them so that is what they had to use, I asked her if she could make sure it was taken off the bill. The whole reason I ordered them is for the crunch, still annoyed looks were given. We tasted our food and all the sauces were sweet mine was nowhere close to a 3. Had to ask multiple times for drink refills and to go boxes. As we were eating, they were cleaning tables and sweeping around us, so it was just easier for us to leave as that is how we felt I left still left a 20% tip because working in the service industry. We understand that there are bad nights but the fact that everybody in there had a poor attitude I debated doing so. If you do go and they have a bad attitude when you get there don’t stay because it...

Finally got to try Keller's newest Thai offering. There are at least three now.

Very nice decor. Clean, rather modern. A couple of booths, but mostly tables.

When were told they were out of hot tea, I took it as a bad sign the meal would not go well. Then we learn they are out of the Papaya Salad (Som tum), one of our go to benchmark dishes. I can understand being out of the papaya salad, as I presume it is made fresh daily. But to be out of tea, when you are a Thai restaurant and located right next door to a Kroger, well the irony was not lost on me.

We start with the fried tofu appetizer, since no som tum. Very tasty, not oily at all, in fact quite dry and crispy. Sweet dipping sauce goes well. I rather liked the very inconsistent cuts and sizes of the tofu. There were large pieces, small pieces, and oddly shaped pieces. All were very tasty.

For mains we go for our other benchmark dish, Pad Thai (hot) and a red curry with shrimp (medium).

Pad Thai was good, a little on the sweet side for me, but when I was first introduced to this dish (30 some years ago) it was called "Village Noodle" on the menu, because (I was told) it reflected the village's style. This village likes it sweet. I will also kick the heat up next time, as hot was not enough for me.

Curry was very good. I don't recall green beans being in red curry, but it was a nice addition. Shrimp tasted fresh, not frozen (but I'm not sure).

Service was friendly and efficient. All in all a very nice experience. "Simply Thai" will definitely be added to the Keller Restaurant rotation.

Oh, and BYOB too!

Bottom line: I still can't get over out of hot tea!

PS. New, permanent, sign is up. Temp sign and Mabuway...