LEO/LHB: Tiny Simply Thai packs 'em in

[Robin Garr]

LEO's Eats with Louisville HotBytes.com

Does size matter? Some of the Metro's tiniest restaurants rank among its most cozy and attractive. From this assertion I do not exclude New Albany's iconic Little Chef, a 10-seat diner so small that it once wore wheels; or, for that matter, the trendy, crowded, noisy and compact new 732 Social on East Market Street, about which we'll be telling you more anon.

This week, though, we turn to another Lilliputian favorite, Simply Thai, housed in the freestanding building at the corner of Wallace and Wilmington avenues in St. Matthews.

Succeeding a short-lived barbecue joint and a forgettable Chinese fast-food eatery, Simply Thai crams about eight tables into a small space, with a couple more patio tables out front.

The restaurant's floral purple, lavender and white walls evoke the colors of spring irises. Quarry-tile floors, white cloth napkins and tables draped in white (under protective glass) create a much more upscale mood than its fast-food predecessors.

Simply Thai is halfway through its third year in business, and by all signs it's a success. Just about every evening, every table is filled with happy diners. I've seen people clad in parkas, knit caps and gloves gutting it out at the outdoor tables in frightful weather, accepting a wintry environment if that's what it takes to enjoy what may be the city's best Thai fare.

Make that Thai and Japanese fare, actually. Owner Mahn Saing, who is Burmese, and his Thai wife, a classically trained chef, have scored with a concise menu that includes traditional Thai dishes, well-made sushi and a few upscale Thai-style "fusion" dinner entrees, all under $20.

Because there's an apostrophe in the URL, this link to the full report on LEO is not fully clickable, although it will take you to an intermediary page from which you can click to the full review:
http://www.leoweekly.com/dining/review- ... -packs-'em
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Simply Thai
318 Wallace Ave.
899-9670
Robin Garr's rating: 84 points

I love ST, haven't been there in a while. Will be checking them out again sometime soon!

Robin,
Thank you for ruining my fave Thai place This is our neighborhood place that we love dearly. I went yesterday for the first time since your review. It was PACKED!! I had never seen it like that before EVER. A LONG wait to get a table. We thought it may be a fluke so we decided to leave and come back again. Well, we went again tonight and it was just as packed. We decided to phone in an order. The wait time to pick up was 40 minutes. I asked the server why it was crowded and she said it's been like that since the write-up. I am sure the owners are thrilled but please do a review on another Thai place in another part of town. QUICK!!!

I will also endorse Simply Thai.

I was in Thailand last year, and the food here is a good match.

I usually order ahead for carryout. They're good about that. Yes, very few tables..Highly recommended!!

-Nimbus

I never manage to go there without a small crowd of people. One of my friends or I will suggest Simply Thai, and then the word gets passed around, and we usually end up with around 8 people. We once managed to a party of 12 in there though.

Props to (most) of the wait staff for being able to put up with us. I'm blanking on her name but the girl with glasses and short dark hair is a fantastic server.

I have never eaten at Simply Thai. However, we get carryout there at least once a week! I have tried most of their dishes and am always happy. We love to bring a variety of items home for appreciative guests. Their Tom Yum soup is the best thing for a cold. Take zinc tablets and eat this soup for 2 days and the cold is GONE! Anyway, I would feel too crowded there. The Karem's place next door is empty, as is the old Bazo's across the way. I really wish they would expand just a bit. I have heard many negatives about the Wallace center, however. Too bad. I just don't want them to move from my hood!