Barn Thai (Sunnyvale) -- 2007.04.20 -- ****

In the name of exploration, and really rather desperate for a decent thai place around home, we sought out Barn Thai. Hole-in-the-wall-ish name, not too holey inside, though the industrial ceiling and an the odd little disco ball was a kinda dreadful. The decor showed more good intentions than inspiration. Formica tables, high gloss wood varnish, eye-level mirrors by the tables. Alas, all those trifles aside, let us get to the important stuff.

It was a usual suspect lineup. I had cravings for something fried, so fish cake was a must. Amnon unfailingly went for his chicken larb salad. Noodles were right for the mood, so I chose a Pad Keemow; and a panang curry rounded out the night's offerings. Well actually not quite. After polishing off every plate and being completely stuffed, we still went after the sticky rice mango, a mango big enough to fend off a pack of hungry tropical monkeys! To say I was painfully bloated afterwards is not an overstatement.

However, I got ahead of myself. The fish cakes were not extraordinary, but solid good fare, and just what I desired. Above average were the larb, properly laden with lots of herbs and a good kick of spice. No shy larb salads for me! The curry was the weakest of the bunch, leaning too much on the sweet side and lacking that certain complexity which sets great curries from the rest. It also could've used some more vegetables. Lastly we come to the pan-fried wide noodle with minced beef, tomatoes and basil. Very simple preparation, like you would find on the street of Thailand under a dim bug ridden lamp, mostly noodle with just a spare littering of beef, but what lip-smacking flavors! Copious wok-heh mingled with savory bursts from the minced meat and tomato, with basil dropping in for surprise appearances here and there. The texture, the smokiness, the flavors, the Pad Keemow was, as we'd say, "a big success".

And so was the entire meal. We're so glad to finally have found a decent thai place around home, and a very moderately price one at that. There were very few diners there that night, though I think it gets busy for lunch with the AMD crowd. Nevertheless, we will definitely be back. I already have my eyes set on their "one bite" (typical thai snack with a bunch of little nuts and herbs and vegie stuffed in a fragrant leaf), and the tom yum will need to be tested, and the stirfries..

Now for the true words of wisdom.

The food was Thai. It did not look like a barn though because there was no live stock around the premise. -- Amnon

$42 for 2, all incl