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Mekong Cafe
- Hours:
Mon-Fri 11 am - 2:30 pm
Mon-Thu 5 pm - 9 pm
Fri 5 pm - 10 pm
Sat 11 am - 10 pm
- Parking:
- Private Lot
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Good For:
- Lunch, Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Beer & Wine Only
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Ambience:
- Casual
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
36 reviews for Mekong Cafe
Review Highlights
"I want to go back and try their full blown pad thai."
(in 10 reviews)
"This is thee best Thai food I have ever eaten."
(in 5 reviews)
"...hot and fresh, and always comes out in a timely manner."
(in 3 reviews)
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36 reviews in English
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Review from Meredith C.
Midvale, UT
12/30/2011
We LOVE LOVE LOVE this Thai restaurant! Everything we've tried there has been delicious! The Pad Thai is always a safe, and tasty option. My husband likes the red curry chicken too. We have yet to try something we didn't like.
The service is great, the seating is comfortable and I always enjoy looking at the decor. This is one of our new favorite restaurants, and we especially like that we can get two dishes and some spring rolls for a little over $20, and the portions are not at all small!
One thing to note, their front door stays locked, the entrance is in the back, off their parking lot. -
Review from Harsha R.
12/14/2011 1 Check-in Here
The first thing that always strikes me on entering Mekong is the complete absence of any fakey-phony-smiley BS. The owner has a very businesslike demeanor. But it quickly becomes obvious that she is a bit of a character. She always reminds me of the Soup Nazi, albeit a slightly milder version and with a much smaller claim to fame, I suppose. Anyway, I have managed to stay in her good books till now and I intend to keep it that way.
Now that we're done discussing the important stuff, let's talk about the food. If I were to list the cuisines I like, Thai food will belong to the lower half. For one, I'm not a big meat eater. Now where's the fun in that, you say. Wait till you hear this - I'm not a huge fan of tofu either. As a side note, one of my long standing pet peeves is Indian restaurants that try to increase their margin by serving tofu and calling it paneer. It makes me want to drop moldy cottage cheese in their suggestion box.
All said and done, I still like the heat and flavor that Thai food can offer. And that has brought me to Mekong several times, mostly for lunch. Pad thai, pad kee mao, ginger chicken, grilled chicken are some of the dishes I've had and liked. I also admit to having eaten more tofu here than anywhere else. They can make it mild, medium, hot, and authentic. I always ask for hot and it does enough to keep me satisfied. Good stuff.Listed in: Lunch Spots Down South
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Review from Daniel B.
Holladay, UT
11/21/2011
There are two things I would improve about the Mekong Cafe.
1. Move to somewhere closer to downtown, or even to downtown itself.
2. Expand the parking lot.
Both of these recommendations are for one simple reason: the food is incredible, but the restaurant is practically the size of Harry Potter's closet under the stairs.
Ok, maybe not that small, but the parking lot is.
Fortunately, what it lacks in parking, it makes up in food. I had the Padang Beef in a lunch special, which means for about $7.50 I had a plate of padang, a crispy egg roll, and a small scoop of pad thai. It's a good deal, if a good deal out-of-the-way...
But that's beside the point. The point is: this is good food. Very good food. I ordered my padang at "medium" spicy strength, which, to my western taste buds puts it at about the level at which my nose begins to run. The sauce was a red, licorice-like flavor, which I believe was some kind of Thai basil, just short of thick. Pieces of meat were plentiful and sliced thin but cooked to tender. Green peppers (which I categorically don't eat), carrots and fresh zucchini rounded out the ingredients.
If you can get there, get there fast. Mekong has my vote, if not my more regular patronage. It's just too far out-of-the-way for me. -
Review from Whitney C.
Los Angeles, CA
12/12/2011
Worst service I'be ever received at a restaurant. We were a party of 7 with a baby and after 1 hour and 30 minutes we finally left without any food. Brenda who is the owner did not offer to seat us when we got to the restaurant, she didn't give us water for 15 minutes, and then after an hour we finally asked for refills and our food. She stated the food would come out when it was ready and said it very rude. We finally decided to leave and go to a different Thai restaurant.
I was really bummed because I love their food and my cousin was with us who goes there at least 3 times a week. Brenda didn't even apologize to my cousin who is one of her best customers. No food is worth how we were treated and I will never go back. Mekong will not stay in business if she continues to act like that. Trust me do not go here....there is several other amazing Thai restaurants in the area!! -
Review from Jeffrey S.
Midvale, UT
11/2/2011
Oh, you can definitely get some good Thai food here. Most definitely. But if there was ever a place that defined hit or miss more poignantly, it's Mekong.
There are some dishes here that will put you over the moon. Some dishes that make past Thai food you've eaten seem like it just comes up a little meh. I mean, nothing completely out of the universe, but definitely scrumptious. And then there are some dishes that really leave you wondering what happened. I mean, they're not awful, and normally they'd be passable. But when you've had the other delightful dishes, it's really not the same to try one of the "misses."
Here's the insider tip: The Thai-er the better. Their Thai soups? Hit! A more standard beef with broccoli? I'm saying miss. Stick with the hits and you'll probably rave about the food you have. But if you go with a non-Thai fan, they may be better served by hitting up a more solid Chinese place or something else.
All that said, DO get over to Mekong for their tasty Thai food. Parking can be a little tricky behind the building, but the little building holds enough charm to fill 10 spaces that size. I'm a sucker for signs like theirs as well. Bonus charm.Listed in: Thai'd Up
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Review from Jenni S.
Salt Lake City, UT
1/9/2012
This has been one of our usual places to go for either sit-down meals or take-out. We always get the chicken coconut milk soup which is very tasty. My husband loves their curry dishes. I've enjoyed my meals for the most part, especially the calamari salad and have only been really disappointed once when my take-out noodles seemed overcooked and all lumped together. Don't forget dessert! Mango with sticky rice or fried banana and ice cream. Yum! They do have a very small parking lot which can be tricky, but this place is certainly worth trying.
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Review from N V.
Salt Lake City, UT
11/2/2011
Good food and good portions.
Particularly loved the Laard Na Noodles, Pad Thai, and the beef salad.
The red curry was different from the other Thai restaurants we've tried, not as creamy or sweet, which means it's probably more authentic here, but still good and flavorful.
I had to knock down one star for the service. The owner is not always the friendliest to us as she is with her usual customers, forgetful of our drinks and chili sauce, and never checked on us after the food came out. We had to go up to the cash register to ask for the bill and to-go boxes.
Might opt for take out next time instead. -
Review from Ari A.
Los Angeles, CA
7/23/2011
Mekong Cafe may not be much to look at, and may not serve up the most gourmet food you can think of, but it's still my favorite restaurant in the valley!
What distinguishes this Thai spot from the rest is the fact that it offers dishes you won't find elsewhere, at a more than fair price.
I love the duck curry, which at $9.95 is one of the most expensive dish at Mekong(The most you will end up paying is about $14 for some crab and shrimp, and seafood combo dishes). The crab fried rice($9.50) makes a great treat too. But my favorite dishes by far are the steamed halibut topped with ginger, onion, pepper, carrot, Thai basil, and a spicy chili sauce($8.50) and the fried fish with basil and topped with ground chicken, carrot, pepper, Thai basil and a spicy tomato sauce($8.50). Of course, neither meal is complete without a bowl of sticky rice($2).
Mekong is also one of the few Thai restaurants that I've seen in the US which actually carries traditional Thai condiments. No meal is complete without them so definitely try some! If you don't know which ones go with what, the staff will be sure to help you out!
The food has the right combination of heat and flavor, because remember, the heat in Thai food should hit you and then give way to the flavors of the individual ingredients in the dish, and then to herbal undertones. Thai, and South East Asian food in general is about layering flavors. The proper heat level is a lot more complicated than just piling on chilies like a lot of Thai restaurants do!
But really, Mekong has the right combination of authenticity, quality foods, and value for your dollar. You really can't ask for much more in a restaurant. -
Review from Salt Lake C.
Salt Lake City, UT
11/3/2011 3 Check-ins Here
Have driven by this place for years and never thought much of it. A co worker recommended that we go here during lunch. He claimed that it was the best Thai food in salt lake... He was not wrong! You walk in to the restaurant and it is pretty small. We had just got there before the lunch rush. The service was very friendly. As with any first visit to a Thai restaurant I decided to go with the Pad Thai. They offer several different degrees of heat; medium, hot, and authentic. Being the chili head that I am I decided to go with the authentic. It was a good mixture of heat but wasn't too hot it definitely enhanced the flavor of the Pad Thai. After talking with my co worker he said that if you want you can do double or triple authentic if you're into the super hot stuff. Overall this was a great experience and a place I look forward to coming back with some friends.
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Review from Tyler P.
Salt Lake City, UT
6/22/2011 1 Check-in Here
I have never had a bad expereince here. The food and service are both great. The Hot and Sour Prawn soup is delicious. Anyone that thinks the food is bland probably asked for it that way. Traditional spicy is the only way to go in my opinion... but then again I'm not from Utah.
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Review from Hang W.
1/27/2011 1 Check-in Here
My friends really like this place so they are there more often than I am but everything I've had there has not been disappointing. Their noodle dishes and curries are my choice. A couple of friends really like their more soup like dishes.
This place does have it's quirks: small lot, small tables, rear entrance, quick/quirky service, not good for large group, although we've done it before. But I can overlook all those for the good food and a very welcoming homelike atmosphere. -
Review from J C.
Sandy, UT
10/2/2010
I've only had crab fried rice in three places- Seattle, San Francisco, and now Mekong in SLC. All three proved to be outstanding Thai restaurants. I highly recommend it if you never have. Also delicious is the red curry- it's got peanut sauce inside the curry!
Make sure you set your spice limits when ordering, Almost everything can be made mild, but if you want truly authentic- they will not hold back the heat.
The restaurant is quite cozy and the food can be slow on a busy day due to the small staff. It's worth the wait though.
Driving south on State is a pain since there is technically no left turn or U turn allowed. Make sure there are no cops around if you choose to skirt the law. Otherwise, take a quick left into the street just down from the restaurant and make a U turn there. -
Review from Karen S.
10/8/2010
We have lived right down the street from Mekong for over 7 years, but only tried it a couple of years ago for the first time after some friends raved about it.
On our first visit I was VERY impressed with their coconut milk soup and the other entrees were tasty enough that I did recommend it to other friends and neighbors. However, I went back a few months later and...it was good, but not spectacular. Maybe it was my menu choices, but it tasted like very standard 'asian food'. What you might expect at any half decent Chinese restaurant.
The inside is nicer than you might expect for its location and exterior. It has a warm, cozy warm feel but probably would not be great for a group larger than 4-6, maybe 8 people. Priced very reasonably.
I'm sure I'll give them another try in the future. -
Review from Steve J.
Coeur d'Alene, ID
8/8/2011
Best Thai in SLC!
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Review from Ryan M.
Draper, UT
6/29/2011
My second favorite thai food in Salt Lake. Very good currys, and the lunch specials are always good. The pad thai is only so so, but everything else on the menu has never disappointed. Good service, though the small venue can make getting a table at lunch time a bit difficult. The only gripe I would have is the consistency of the spice level. Ordering a medium or hot can sometimes yield different results from visit to visit.
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Review from Becky N.
San Francisco, CA
1/27/2009
Seriously? 5 stars? Apparently we are not eating at the same restaurant, or your standards are just incredibly low.
The only thing this place had going for it was its ENORMOUS quantities. Otherwise, everything else was mediocre if not bad. What self-respecting Thai restaurant doesn't serve Pad See Ew? And what self-respecting Thai place writes "Rad Nah" and "Lard Neya"? The prices were not all that competitive, the vegetables were not authentic, and the flavors were undistinguished.
We waited FOREVER for our food. The service was unreasonably slow - it took 20+ minutes to take a drink order, then once we got drinks, another 10+ to take our real order, and then the food was at LEAST 45 minutes. And we didn't even come during rush hour - we were there at 8pm! They also ran out of flat rice noodles so we had to choose another dish instead - wtf? And the Rad Nah that did arrive was barely sauced - it was like they had wafted a sauce nearby it. Most Rad Nah come in a soup of gravy!!
When we asked for the food to be "Thai spicy", it came out as barely registering on my spice palate. Maybe it was an off night, but I've had genuine Thai spicy and this was not even close.
I'd go back, but only if someone else important asked me to. Otherwise, there has GOT to be better Thai food in Utah somewhere. And the rest of you reviewers need to raise your standards a bit!! -
Review from CoCo L.
Salt Lake City, UT
6/18/2011
Love this place! Try a curry,you won't be disappointed. The service was fast and the food was amazing!
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Review from Allen R.
Chicago, IL
8/1/2007
Location: From I-15, the easiest way to get to this restaurant is to take the 72nd or 90th South exits, and go over to State Street. They have recently relocated two doors down from their old place, but they're still in the same, seedy-looking section of State Street that is still wanting for some gentrification.
Atmosphere: Cute Buddhist design. Limited seating; ask for a booth, because the server tends to put people in tables right next to each other even when the dining room is empty, leaving you uncomfortably close to strangers.
Quality: THIS IS THE BEST THAI FOOD IN ALL OF SALT LAKE CITY! Try everything when you go here, but you don't need to order soup, because egg drop soup comes free with all entrees. The Pad Thai here is delicious, and they have many different spice levels--including Authentic, which is like Lord Voldemort on your tongue.
Value: Good prices. ~$10 per person, with an appetizer.
Service: A little lacking here. The main server, who is I believe an owner or relative of the owner, is a little feisty and snobbish, while being cloying at the same time. I know this sounds petty, but her laugh is really annoying, and she tends to laugh a lot during the ordering process. Otherwise, she keeps the water glasses full, and the food comes out fast.
P.S. Get the banana dish for dessert--it's to die for! -
Review from Dawn-Marie N.
Salt Lake City, UT
4/9/2010
I just knew that I would log on to write a review on this place and be one among many who rave about it. I am not a spice nut, but my fiance is and we both agree that this is the best Thai food in SLC.
It's owned by an adorable couple who I believe are Thai, and it's just them. She waits tables, he cooks ALL of the food and occasionally they have a youngster helping out. The food can be slow coming out but well worth the wait. Why not have some wine while you wait? Only $5 corkage fee per bottle.
I get all of my dishes mild but they offer various versions of "authentic" double, triple, etc. And I've seen the affect it has on people, if you like that stuff. And if your really crazy, order a side of their chili and fish oil...it'll be handy if you decide your order isn't hot enough.
The portions are huge...I am eating my left over pad thai as I type, and I can say that the seafood dishes are also fabulous. -
Review from Brandon C.
Midvale, UT
8/18/2009
I really enjoy this place because the people are very personable, the quantities are good for leftovers and the food itself is high quality. The curries are all enjoyable and balance flavor with heat nicely. They also get high marks from me for using fresh chicken, not the frozen, cubed stuff you get at a lot of places.
I will confess to not being bold enough to try their seafood.
Recommended dishes:
Tom Kha Kai (Chicken Coconut Milk Soup)
Nuar Masaman (Beef stew)
Gang Kari Cal (Curry Chicken) -
Review from Barbara M.
Midvale, UT
11/13/2010
My friend and I just had a late lunch there. Right away I was put off by the indifferent and cold attitude from the server (co-owner, evidently). Not a hello, not a how are you today, nothing, nada. She brought water to our table and tossed the straws to us and walked away. She came back and took our order and I asked about getting a side of fried rice. She said the fried rice came in full orders. I asked my friend if she wanted to split some with me. It was at that time that the server piped in and said something along the lines of, "if you can't afford it, you shouldn't get it." I was floored. What owner who cares about their business speaks to their guests like that?
I ended up getting lettuce wraps and ham fried rice. My friend got the green curry, and we split the satay chicken. She brought us our soup and didn't bring our drinks until we were done with our soup. That was really annoying. We received our food in a reasonable amount of time. The satay chicken was good, but nothing that I would order again. The lettuce wraps were iceberg lettuce with a bowl of teriyaki chicken and peanuts. Chili's chicken wraps were better. The ham fried rice was good as was the green curry.
We spent $37 and for that, I wish that the owner/server would have appreciated guests patronizing their establishment. That would have made the difference between me going back and never going back again. -
Review from Joe S.
Springfield, MO
3/10/2011
One of the best Thai places around. The server is very friendly and helpful. I always order mine double authentic. It's not over hot but definitely tasty. I have tried several things on the menu but the Lard Nar is probably my favorite.
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Review from Therron R.
Chicago, IL
7/17/2007
If you want Authentic then get ready for the spice of your life! All the curry dishes are amazing, and the Pad Thai is scrumptuous. Remember if you ask for Authentic be ready, and maybe order a glass of milk cuase you will need it. If it's not to spicy you can always add more red pepper, but usually I get the medium, and my partner gets the hot authentic style and I'll nibble off his.
The Hot Pot is good for groups, but if you order a Hot Pot or Soup, you will not get the complementary egg drop sample bowl, so be fore warned. This was a regular spot for us when we were here, and I can't wait to come back.
Finish it all off with a fried banana and a scoop of coconut ice cream. Delish! -
Review from John K.
Crownsville, MD
2/25/2011
I found this excellent spot through yelp! Great food and reasonable prices!
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Review from Jana H.
Midvale, UT
3/7/2010
This place is absolutely delicious. I have eaten at many different Thai restaurants in Utah, and this place is by far the best. We come here time and time again because we know they are always consistent. The food is always hot and fresh, and always comes out in a timely manner. The only downside is that the restaurant is so small, sometimes you have to wait because they are so busy. I suggest buying a bottle of their Roasted Hot Peppers. I use them in almost everything I cook!
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Review from Chris C.
Park City, UT
8/8/2010
My girlfriend and I went to Mekong for a late lunch on a Saturday and ordered from the lunch menu, of which, all dishes are $7.75. My girlfriend ordered the yellow curry grilled chicken with pad thai and I ordered Penang curry with tofu and pad thai. Both dishes were amazing and HUGE, we could have split one, but we ate it all it was so good. The curry sauces were ordered traditional Thai hot, and wow, what flavor without any overdone heat. The pad thai side was small, and OK. I want to go back and try their full blown pad thai. The spring roll was fried with a sweet dipping sauce, it was just OK. I was surprised that the restaurant did not offer sping rolls with rice paper wrappers in addition to the deep fried. Nevertheless, this is an excellent restaurant, food wise. The service was average, and the decor is average. The music was nice.
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Review from Joshua S.
Updated - 2/6/2010 4 photos
02.06.10 latest visit
ambience B+ the restaurant is quite small and cozy. the colors and furniture are decent, and the only thing that bothers me is the ghetto lights hung around the front windows.
service B+ the lone server (the owners wife) is quite quick for all the tables she is serving. it may take her a minute. food comes out hot.
food A- i only give it an A- because there are some dishes that i don't particularly enjoy, due to my own palette. but, mekong's yellow curry is still my favorite, and the satay is delicious.
mekong pasta
angel hair pasta with assorted veggies, chicken and thai pasta sauce (whatever that is). although not authentic thai cuisine, it is surprisingly delicious and so perfectly executed.Listed in: Best of Utah 2011, Curry. Curry. Curry.
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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7/17/2009
yellow curry w/chicken (gang kari gai): A
tender and flavorful chicken thigh meat, perfectly cooked… Read more »
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Review from Phil C.
San Luis Obispo, CA
8/20/2010
Really great food and the gal that runs the place is very nice. The curry lunch specials are amazing (I've never had better curry) - skip the Pad Thai though, its not worth eating. Since I go mostly at lunch, I will say that the lunch specials are a great deal. Under $8 and tons of food - I'm a pretty good eater and I get two meals out it. Heck, at $4 a meal, its a bargain as well as great food.
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Review from Tristan A.
Salt Lake City, UT
5/25/2008
I took all your suggestions, and I tried this place about 4 months ago. And then went again, and again. After trying many Thai places along the Wasatch front and further afield, this gets my #1 vote. Amazing, memorable flavors, reasonable prices, great service. My only (weak) complaint is that it closes at 3pm, then opens later on. I often lunch quite late, and I have to really be thinking if I want to make it here. This place rocks.
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Review from Cassidy H.
New York, NY
2/7/2010
This is thee best Thai food I have ever eaten. I have recently moved to NYC and cannot find anything that comes close. From what I understand it is the real deal, very authentic. The place is really small and there is usually just one server running the place so it can be a little slow, but worth it every time.
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Review from Peter L.
Park City, UT
4/17/2010
Great food coupled with low prices, what's not to like?? Dinner for 4 with 2 app's, 3 entree's and 4 beers came to $66 with tax and tip. Chicken Satay was especially good as was the shrimp and scallops with Thai basil. The other dishes where great as well. Plenty of food, only did 3 entree's because left overs would have been inconvenient on this visit.
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Review from todd s.
NY
1/26/2006
I order the spring rolls and basil chicken, but the whole menu is great. The prices can't be beat. They moved to a new building recently - It's about a half block south of the old location. The new place is a big improvement. The owner is very nice.
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Review from Lane L.
Flagstaff, AZ
10/24/2009 3 photos
One of the more unique restaraunts around. The place stands alone and the interior is full of charector. Great service. I was not asked about how spicey I wanted my curry but it still came out within an acceptable range.
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Review from Mark N.
McLean, VA
9/23/2010
I can't figure out these reviews. We love Thai food, and not experts we often pick Thai restaurants when we travel. We hopped off I 15 based on the Yelp comments for Mekong ... and, eek! Methinks not. Shrimp more like rubbery pink things. Noodles glommed together in a gelatinous mass. Sauces that had no hint of being Thai. Everyone's taste is different I suppose, but this is probably not the best Thai in SLC.
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Review from jason k.
West Jordan, UT
8/20/2009
Best Thai food in Utah great service (fast) had drinks 5mins after we got there and food in 25mins the food was hot great flavor. the service was fast friendly we have been going there for years and love it. other Thai restaurant cant come close to there high standards and flavorful food.
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Review from a c.
Midvale, UT
10/30/2010
mekong is a half mile from me so that makes me like it a little more. the food isn't bad now that i've figured out what i should order. the first two times i didn't have "my" dish figured out. i like pawit's better but mekong is fair and close by. it's a good value. i can see how a thai food expert would be disappointed. i am no "expert" but i've had a lot of it and i know it's no show stopper but will do in a pinch. i'll eat there again and work my way around the menu.
