Smiling BKK

Its another day at work, or should I say another  night. My shift always starts at 10pm and ends at 6 in the morning.Im not feeling well tonight, I have a back pain. I feel cold.I feel dizzy.

I just came from a two-day off from work, and I accomplished nothing.I just want to chill out, sleep the whole day and browse the internet.Before I sleep last saturday, at 3 am, I already send sms to my mom and aunts and friends as well to greet them Happy mother’s Day.Its already 7 am in the Philippines by that time.Yesterday, my cousin told me that I don’t have to cook dinner because we’re dining out to celebrate the day.

By past 6pm both my cousin and I are already prepared, we’re just waiting for my uncle and aunt to pick us up.They have arrived past 7pm, and we headed to a Thai restaurant, my aunt told us that it has rave reviews from time out dubai- the ultimate guide for restaurants, hotels, clubs and bars here in Dubai.But we have one problem- we don’t know where exactly it is located.All we know is that it is in Al Wasl Road, which is just about 20 mins away from our place, after calling the restaurant to ask for direction, some u-turns, right turn and another stop to confirm the directions,we hit the road again and we finally saw the restaurant.It is just behind a Petrol pump.I forgot to tell you, the name of the restaurant is Smiling BKK, until now I’m not aware what BKK means, I have to go back and do some research.Anyway, the restaurant is not as commercial and as visible as others, I think this what makes it magical and exciting.As we approach the place, I saw the logo of the restaurant, Mona Lisa with a mustache, now that’s confusing- A thai restaurant, with such an outrageous name, and a picture of monalisa with a mustache as its logo.This must be a really interesting one.Outside the restaurant are four tables for four,with a lighted candle on glass mosaic candle holders as its centerpiece.As we enter the restaurant, a small counter is on the left side of the door, with the choices of beverages behind, and the way to the kitchen in front of us, on the right side is a rack of magazines and newspapers, and just a few steps on the right is the main dining area.The first thing i have noticed is the coziness of the place, dimmed lights, lighted candles, a victorian style wallpaper,framed vintage posters on the left wall and pictures attached to a string covers the opposite wall.As far as I can remember, there are about 10 tables of different sizes, mixed chairs and intimate set-up. The table settings are made of different colored plates, and pages of magazine as placemats.There were also different kinds of chandeliers hanging at  the end of the room, 2 big mirrors on both sides of the wall that gives an illusion of a much bigger place. The waitress then seated us in a booth good for four, the bench is covered with black leather, that seems like a crocodile skin.The table just feels right, it is small, but we’re comfortable, not stiff.As I browse through the menu, it is another interesting object, the menu consits of the usual stuff,appetizers, soup, main course, drinks, but the unusual thing is that they have names such as “papa don’t preach”, “babe in the city”, “masters of the universe” Karate Kid” and a lot more.beside these crazy english nicknames are the Thai Name of the food, and below that is a specific explanation of the ingredients and how it was cooked, so we already have an idea of how it would taste like, and Im somehow familiar with Thai cuisine, as I have studied it in college and ate in other Thai restaurants as well. First, we ordered a platter of appetizer,in the menu it says it is good for 2, but there’s more than enough for four. It has spring rolls, fish cakes, fish crackers, and there’s something that looks like a dumpling,which is actually, a wanton wrapper tied like a bag, with a small amount of seafood inside, it is crisp, small and very delicate, accompanied with three different kinds of sauce, one is a mixture of cucumber, green mango and garlic with a sweet-spicy sauce, shrimp paste, and the third one is a sweet and sour sauce for the spring rolls.

I also ordered a black iced tea,it was nice and refreshing.For the main course we have ordered a deep fried lapu lapu, accompanied by greeen mango salad, 2 kinds of rice-one is Rice with shrimp paste, shrimps, chunks of chicken and scrambled egg on top, there’s tomato, green mango strips and cucumber on the side, as well as chopped green chili if you want more kick,we often refer to this rice as Bagoong rice, the other one looks the same minus the shrimp paste.We also ordered noodles, it is a white noodles with a sauce made with garlic, peanuts and i don’t know the rest.All I know is that it has filled our small table with good food and different flavors, and the restaurant’s claim is correct-they are offering authentic Thai Cuisine.

In the restaurant with us are some Thais, British and I think Lebanese customers.There are only 3 servers, but it is just enough for the space of the restaurant and for the customer turn-over, and everytime you need a server, just use the musical instrument that they will leave on your table to call their attention.

In general, the food and drinks were great, reasonably priced and has a good serving portions.

The place is nice and quiet, interesting, cozy, and warm.

FOOD: 5 spoons

Drinks: 5 spoons

Ambiance: 5 spoons

Location: 3 spoons

Service: 4 spoons

 

I’m definitely coming back to Smiling BKK.

 

Ciao!!!

 

~ by drew25 on May 13, 2008.