The King & I

We went to the King and I on Sunday night. Always loved this restaurant...actually, Geoff used to take dates here in college since the service is usually quick. If the date is good you can leave and go to a movie, if it's not so good...well then, you can cut and run after 20 minutes. We tend to go here when we don't know what else we want. Will this time live up to all the rest??

Click the jump to find out!

Atmosphere

I've seen the King & I classified as Upscale...well, quite frankly, I don't know if those people are dining in the same restaurant. Don't get me wrong, it's nice inside, but no where near "upscale." There are a ton of tables in here and it's almost always busy. I don't think we've ever had to wait for a table though. It's definitely got a unique feel to it and I would say it fits for a few different circumstances...dates ;)...family nights...casual business meals... Definitely a casual place. I don't feel out of place in my tee-shirt here, but I also don't feel out of place if I was wearing a business casual outfit either.

Service
The service here is quick. As I mentioned in the intro, Geoff used to take dates here because it was so quick. In, out, you're done usually in less than 30 minutes. (Geoff's note: I had a lot of bad first dates. On the off chance one does go well, there's a movie theater right around the corner!). If you're starving but want a sit down place? Here's a great place to go.

When we went just this last time, I was parched. I don't know what was up with me, but I was so thirsty it was ridiculous. Our waitress didn't let my glass go empty, I was very happy about this. She eventually left a pitcher of water on the table, I don't really blame her! The thing about the waiters & waitresses here is that English isn't their first language and I think there can be a cultural difference here because I've seen some reviews where the wait-staff is called "rude." I've never seen them rude, I don't think they're warm & fuzzy, they're just efficient. If you're looking to bond with your server...probably not going to do it here. If you want fast, efficient service, you'll find it.

Food (and drinks)

We stuck with water here. I was so parched that I thought it best not go for anything else!! They do have different juices that you won't find elsewhere as well as an assortment of wine & beer. No liquor.

Here's the menu at the King & I. Prior to meeting Geoff, I was fairly timid when it came to trying new foods, but he loved Thai food, so I gave it a try. I can't tell you what most of the things on the menu are, but it helped going with him since he could guide me through. The items on the menu aren't explained too well, so if you're unfamiliar with Thai food, I'd do a little research before hand.

We started with the Fresh Spring Rolls.

We usually get the Combination Satay, but were feeling like something different. I really like these, Geoff likes the Satay. (Satay is thin slices of meat that have been grilled, served with a peanut sauce...or at least that's what I understand them to be!) Honestly, I think it just depends on the kind of mood you're in. If you want something fresh and light, go with the spring rolls. If you're looking for something heavier, go with the satay. Perhaps the time of year matters too.

Geoff had the Chicken Phat Thai.

Phat Thai is really an old stand-by for us. Geoff doesn't like the bean sprouts and forgot to ask for it without. We've been here before and asked for it without bean sprouts plenty of times. It wasn't a problem. Actually, they tell him every time they see the pile of bean sprouts, "next time ask for it with no sprouts!" ...he would if we remembered!! This is what I recommend starting with as an intro to Thai food. It's a pretty safe dish, and a standard at every Thai restaurant. Just rice noodles, bean sprouts, green onions (I pick them out!), peanuts, some egg, and Pad Thai sauce. Geoff squeezes the lime onto his dish, I tend to leave it off. We had plenty for lunch the next day too!

(Geoff's Note: I also recommend the Phat Kee Moun, another Thai staple, also known as "Drunken Noodles". They're on the spicy side, but if you can eat a hot wing, you shouldn't have a problem with it)

I decided to be bold and try something new, Shrimp Phat See Eeu.

I am so happy I tried something new! I loved this! It consists of wide rice noodles, Chinese broccoli, egg, and shrimp in a soy sauce based sauce. It's so simple, right up my ally. I'd say it's also a pretty safe beginner's-dish. I usually get the shrimp Phat Thai, but I must say, this might be my new standard. Still plenty left over for the next day's lunch!

Final Thoughts

This still remains one of our old stand-bys. We enjoy how quick we get our food (if you're looking for more of a dining experience, I'd try somewhere else.) You're not rushed, everything comes out hot & fresh, even when you make special requests. They also will do take-out, if you have a nice bottle of wine at home you want to have with it... It's a lot of food for the money, we always have a second meal out of it. And you know, if you're looking for a good first-date spot, keep this place in mind, if it's not going well, you can ditch her pretty quickly!!