Thai Smile & White Light Diner-Frankfort, Louisville, etc.

I don't want to pull the Havana Rumba (http://forums.louisvillehotbytes.com/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=9442#p92657)discussion off topic, so I'll start a new thread, and if you're not interested in Frankfort, then you don't have to read this. But believe me, Frankfort IS interested in you (and your money).

Thai Smile's original location was in Frankfort, opened (as Smile of Siam) in 1990 by Kat and Suda Veerasethakul (sp?). After a few years in the business, they sold it to two young brothers who kept the location, the menu, the food and the flavors EXACTLY the same as the original (fantastic). Personally, I've never witnessed any other restaurant ownership transition (where the chef didn't stay on) that went as seamlessly (and as invisibly to the customers) as that one.

In the years since, the new owners expanded the menu, kicked the atmosphere up a couple of notches, and opened additional locations including Muncie, IN, and Louisville. I don't think the new locations ever hit their stride, but the Frankfort location continues to do well. And then about three years ago, Kat and his family opened Thai Orchid (http://www.thaiorchidcafe.net/) on South Broadway in Lexington, with a similar--but less extensive--menu as his original business, and I'd say a bit lighter cuisine.

As for the White Light Diner, well...some things defy description.... They're scheduled to be featured sometime this Spring or Summer on the Food Network's “Diners, Drive Ins and Dives” series with Guy Fieri: http://www.state-journal.com/news/article/4792382

I hadn't heard about White Light being on DDD. It's been YEARS since I've been in there because we always end up at Thai Smile when we go out for Lunch.

Isn't there a Thai Orchid in the Stonybrook shopping center?

Have you been there, Annemarie? I stopped in one day to be nosey and get a to go menu, but never ate or went back (always get stuck on my highlands island).

Is it related to these other places?

[Robin Garr]

Have you been there, Annemarie? I stopped in one day to be nosey and get a to go menu, but never ate or went back (always get stuck on my highlands island).

Is it related to these other places?

Thai Orchids is different - it replaced Sala Thai in Stony Brook. I found it fairly ho-hum.
http://www.louisvillehotbytes.com/thai- ... tony-brook

Well, not that I have much to complain about in my neighboorhood restaurant-wise, but that is something we lack. Closest Thai is Gardiner Lane and that's waaay too close to the other side of the Watterson *smiley emoticon*.

I want some coconut soup one block away. Shoot.

Also, I hope my "smiley emoticon" was not taken sarcastically. I've noticed how a lot of things written are derived out their intended context recently (not here exactly, just resulting from the digital age). It's a little bit stressful to read over things you've posted and imagine how they're received and critiqued. I should probably stop editting myself and let those things rest. But I think if I did do that, I would be too careful in the first draft and sound like a drone. Anyway, thanks for replying, AM. You know I love ya. Just bouncing off the sound board right now. I blame Stephen.

We lived a couple blocks from the White Light for a few years and Rick is a good friend. It is great to see him get this level of press. If you haven't been, you are missing out on arguably one of the best chefs and certainly one of the liveliest characters in the Commonwealth. viva la Rick!

BTW, we love Thai Smile too.

Yeah Rick really is a character. I'll be very interested to see how he interacts with Fieri on the show.

Some friends and I went to the White Light Diner last year and had such a great time. Not sure which we enjoyed more, Rick or the food??? Both were fantastic!!! It really is an experience but certainly a fun one!

The first time I went in I was shocked when he said "well here's the menu" and then told us what he would actually fix. Lol

I don't know if Thai Smile 5...the Preston Hwy place is related or not but want to give them a plug.
I live out in the good food wasteland called Bullitt county, but Thai Smile 5 is about 15 min from me, the guy that runs the place recognises us , misses us even when it has been months when we have been gone.
We love the food, my fav is the chicken pineapple curry.

It's "related" but it's not the same people. The brothers who own th original opened Thai Smile 4 in
Louisville a few years ago but moved on for various reasons. I'm told business was good but costs were high so the profit wasnt what they wanted. I've been told alternately that the owners of 5 are friends or cousins and they were allowed to use the name, but they don't make the food the same. The owners of the original have offered to let them come train in the kitchen in Frankfort but they have not taken them up on that offer which is a real shame.