Thai Avenue Restaurant — Restaurant in South Whitehall Township

[Visited Friday night 10/9/15 @ 6:40pm; disclosure: I've been a loyal customer of Thai Thai House in Emmaus before they closed] Took my mom to dinner. Searched and found this Thai restaurant. It was packed and we had waited around 5 minutes till we were seated. Our waiter was the owner's brother (bald headed guy) also sous-chef. I asked him about a few dishes and he was very honest about them; gave recommendation for dishes to eat.

We started off with Fresh Spring Rolls and Thai Dumplings. We didn't wait long for them to arrive. Fresh Spring Roll wasn't great tasting (normally has shrimp in it). When sous-chef came over we asked doesn't this normally some with shrimp? His reply: "yes, but not too many people order it". Thai Dumplings were a bit dry and almost grainy; the sauce as on the salty side (should be a little sweeter).

Our entrée arrived shortly after we where done with the appetizers. By recommendations of the sous-chef we ordered the Holy Duck Basil and Seafood Pad Phong (curry powder) Karee. The Duck dish's sauce was good, you can taste the basil flavor. But the duck was too dry. I'm not referring to the crispy part but the meaty end. When the sous-chef came over I informed him of this and his response was: "it's fried". I responded: "I know, but the thicker ends shouldn't be this dry". The Seafood had great heat to it! But that's where ended. For a curry dish you can barely taste the curry. The large scallops and shrimps where cooked well. Calamari was a little chewy and mussels were a bit small but tasted good. We also ordered a brown rice and 2 sweet coconut rice. It was definitely sweet but coconut flavor wasn't strong enough.

Now we are finished our entrées, close to 5 minutes goes by and no one comes to clear the table. I'm fine with that. The owner comes over and has the bill in his hand and askes: "is there anything else you need". I'm thinking to myself: "since you have the bill in your hand I guess not". Even if I wanted dessert that just deterred me. Our bill was $68.86 (I uploaded an image of the bill on here), gave them $100 bill. The owner took the bill and gave us change. When I looked at the change it was two $10 bill, one $1 bill and 14 cents. If you do the math you'll realize this is very wrong!

I called a waitress and asked to see our bill again. She brings it over and I was right! I then showed her the change I received and the bill. She apologies and hurries to the register (the owner was at the register for the duration of this whole escapade). I see her talking to him. Not once does he come over to apologize for his mistake and has that guilty look (I have a 11 year old). I'm waiting for the sous-chef but he's not around. The owner is clearing off the table next to me and I ask him to get his brother. When he arrives I ask him: "are you business partners?" he states: "no, I work for my brother". I then ask: "how long has your brother been in business?" he replies: "3 years". I then explain what happened and he kept saying: "my brother isn't like that". Well apparently he is... for someone who has been doing this for 3 years there's no excuse. I told the sous-chef because of that I only left the $1 bill and change as a tip and I'll have to contemplate if I'm ever coming back.

My authority: I'm a sole proprietor since 2005, my step-dad owned a restaurant, I've worked at a register at numerous jobs, been a delivery driver. Not once have I made that mistake. The worse case, you'll give more change because the bills are stuck together.

In closing: the food was not worth the cost; I would have come back to try something else. But because of the owner's lack of integrity I've decided I'll never come back! If you visit this establishment use credit or make sure you get the right...

TL;DR: Everything about this place is amazing. Wish I could give 6 stars. I never write reviews, but everything here is so amazing that I feel like I need to share my experience... My overnight summer camp is somewhat of a long drive from where I live, so we always stop at HersheyPark on the way. Four years ago, I found this restaurant on the way to the hotel for the night before camp, and after a long day, I was unsure about this restaurant. I'm a picky vegetarian, so I'm never sure how a new restaurant will be. Anyways, the food was amazing, and so we have made it a goal to return each summer as part of our journey. Each year, we try to leave Hershey at an early enough time to make it to the restaurant well before they close, yet we always cut it incredibly close to when they close.

This year, we knew we wouldn't make it to the restaurant before the kitchen closed at 9:30, so we called ahead, to place a takeout order to be ready at 9:30, with an ETA of 9:29. We arrived, and like in the past, they were gracious in allowing us to eat in the restaurant, even as they started to clean up. The food was ready at 9:30, and they even transferred it all onto plates so we wouldn't have to eat from the container; without us asking. Everything was made perfectly, and they even made the Pad Pak (mixed vegetable stirfry) with no vegetables other tjan bell pepper, exactly as I ordered. Even when my brother spilled an entire glass of water, again which they kindly provided, the staff were gracious and lovely.

And did I mention how delicious the food was? Absolutely perfect last healthy, normal meal before a month of camp food, and I wish I could give a six star review. My only complaint is that the restaurant is so far from my house, and that I can only eat here one...

Wanted some Pad Thai before surgery on Monday, so I ordered online on their website before I left Philly and headed towards home. Ordered was placed for a 1245pm Pickup, and I arrived early at 12:35. Walked in and there was a couple seated at one table, that was it. The kid behind the registered talked to me and I told him I had placed an order online for pickup at 1245, and I was a little early. It wasn't ready, which I expected. The kid never again did check on the order, and at some point around 1250 I noticed a to-go order sitting behind the register, but since the kid, the adult server, and a cook had all walked BY the order, I assumed it wasn't mine. At around 1pm, after being told I could sit down and wait several times, I asked the adult server how much longer, because it should've been done 15 minutes ago. To that, he checked the order and it was MINE!!!!! I see the reviews for good service. That must only be for dine-in! I have been VERY forgiving in this time of COVID with how slow places are, the lack of service due to lack of help, items not available due to shortages. But this place was just totally ridiculous today. And to think, I tipped 20% when I placed the order!! Never again will I order from this place online, and pre-tip. Only pay after THEY provide the service. I got home and actually enjoyed the cold pad thai. Shame the service is lacking well behind the quality...