Ala-Thai Classic: Lard Sha Na Na

[Ed. Note: Normally the LITG gang would not have selected the Carp to rate any restaurant that never serves cornbread.  But, as you will see below, due to the head injury to Tojo, we made an exception. Please forgive us.]

I was honored to be invited by the gang to write the first real review of one of the Ala-Thai restaurants in the Gump: Ala-Thai Classic on Ann Street. As the Show Dog pointed out, the owners of this family Thai restaurant did not screw up like Coca-Cola by changing the formula and issuing a “New Coke” and then having to bring back “Coke Classic.” They opened two different places at the same time after establishing the brand in a very dingy place on Coliseum Boulevard (which I think is now closed). They operate Ala-Thai East a/k/a West Shorter on the Atlanta Highway and Ala-Thai “Classic” on Ann Street.

We, of course, would never drive past a Classic Gump establishment to visit a place with similar food in the East where the rich folk dwell so today, Tojo, Cheers and Show Dog met for our regular Monday lunch at the Midtown Plaza Development (managed by our own Gump developers McClinton & Company) and located Ala-Thai by moving toward the big phallic symbol in the SE corner of the center.

Coincidentally, the menu listed a lot of priks: There was “Prik Pao Noodles”, “Prik Khing”, “Pad Prik,“, “Lard Prik” and that well-known prik: Mao Prik (actually it was Pad Khee Mao). They even had “Crazy Noodles” as if noodles themselves were not wild enough. Nothing really wets the old appetite like a big plate of Lard Prik or Crazy Noodles does it? Actually, Pla Lard Prik is a classic Thai fish dish with spicy garlic, lemongrass and sweet chili sauce. And the noodles were not crazy at all. At other places they are called “Drunkards’ Noodles” which are made from delicious wide rice noodles, chicken, tofu, chopped garlic, red sweet peppers, red onions, cabbage, eggs, white pepper, fresh lime juice, bean sprouts, white vinegar, date palm sugar and “prik phom” which are ground red chilies. It was pretty mild until I spiced it up with the sweet red pepper sauce supplied on the table for a very different and memorable lunch treat not too gassy or burp inducing. And “Lard Na” has nothing to do with that stuff we fat-assesses use to cook in the South, but is actually rice noodles with broccoli covered in a house gravy and a very tasty gravy at that. If you are timid, you can always just order the dish that sounds the best to you. Cheers suggested the “Tom Yum.” (which is a hot and sour soup with plenty of meat) for one new to the menu.

Lard Sha Na Na

One note: Inside we found a clean and neat place with a vaulted ceiling and some Thai-themed constructions, some of which were hazardous to our tallest member. Poor Tojo collided with one of the Thai roof shingle thingies hanging down like a sharp icicle. Although his bald dome was marred as he was in line to pay and we heard him mutter: “Oooch” [Tojo’s attempt to say ‘Ouch’], Tojo’s acting—usually overdone as you would expect from a former professional wrestler--was not sufficient to earn a free lunch. Actually, the lunch was so good Tojo was happy to pay despite the scob on the noggin. So despite the ‘interesting’ names for the dishes and the hazardous cashier-area construction, Ala-Thai was four for four in satisfaction from the LITG gang and at $8.75 per lunch WITH their fresh and soft spring rolls (not fried) with what tastes like sushi and cream cheese inside (delightful and easy to eat with the chopsticks) it was a pretty reasonable deal well below the Tojo-line. But please forgive me if I cannot resist giving Ala-Thai the following high rating based upon the votes of those LITG members in attendance.....yes, you guessed it....... Four Priks, no, this is funnier.....Four Puds.

Oooch!

Rumor Gumbo in the Gumpo

The Latest Poop:

If you haven't noticed, this is an internet blog run by real people with fake names about things that interest us. We have become the world's most popular and widely read blog specializing in eating lunch within the by-pass of Montgomery, Alabama, a/k/a "The Gump." We did not become the "No. 1 Blog" on Urban Spoon by sticking to the facts like gravy on a biscuit. Occasionally, we simply make stuff up to have fun. We pull legs and pulleybones. We digress. We embellish. We photoshop. We play jokes and we repeat rumors. So, with that warning, here is the latest in the Gump Rumor Gumbo:

Nancy Patterson's: Looks like work in Zelda Place is feverishly proceeding in the old Klein's location on their combination pizza place and fine dining restaurant working out of the same kitchen. Supposedly, the pizza place will be opening by May 1 with the fine dining side coming on line later. Over a billion dollars was spent renovating the place with a grant from the Intermediate Business Administration and a bond issue underwritten by Goldman Sachs. This looks for real. How you work two disparate restaurant themes from the same kitchen is going to be fun to watch. About as fun as watching the cooks yell at each other at Sa-Zas. Of course, after we posted The Advertiser printed their article. Late as usual.

Chappy's Deli--Word on the street is that Chappy's will no longer sell sandwich trays for wakes, funerals or mediations as they want to shake the "Bad News Tray" designation it has earned among wags in the Gump. "Everything in Moderation" they say. Even a Chappy's sandwich tray gets old after about a hundred times in a year--all associated with sadness or pains in the arse. So, if after about a month you get a hankering for another Chappy's tray, don't let on it is for your grann's wake or it will be "No Tray for You!"

Derk's Filet and Vine--As the government creeps into every aspect of our lives, it is about time they required some semblance of order in the way restaurants throw around words like "cantina," "deli," "grille," "cafe," "palace," "pub," "bistro," and "sushi bar." You may or not be glad to learn that the Obama Regime's Health Care Reform has established a new federal agency called the "Restaurant Naming Commission" or RNC to regulate such things for the sake of our health. Unfortunately, our favorite cafeteria style meat and three was discovered to be the only cafeteria in town without "Cafe" in the name. Under duress, Derk is changing the name of his place to Derk's Filet Cafe. It was that or being taxed out of existence. Incidentally, rumor has it that, if you are sick of the ubiquitous Chappy's Sandwich Tray (i.e. the Bad News Tray), Derk's offers a nice alternative at a slightly higher price. Here is what happened to one of their trays today in 10 minutes after someone announced via e-mail: "There is a leftover sandwich tray in conference room 1-E."

Before....

After. (Surprised the tongs survived)

I certainly hope no one was standing in the doorway as the hordes approached.

The AlleyBAR--Don't let this get out, but the owner of the AlleyBAR is seriously considering offering lunch in the near future. They already serve some food in the evening to the hordes of college types while they drink frozen shots in their fake fur coats at 2 a.m.. In fact, if he pulls the trigger on this caper, the Lunch in the Gump has been invited to review the new menu so you will be the first to know. It will be interesting to see if they can compete with the other places currently in the Alley (Sa-Zas and Dreamland) or whether it creates a synergy positive to all concerned. Nice restroom art but may be a little much for the Blue-Hairs from the gun show eating lunch.

Ala-Thai--Now has three locations in the Gump! Who would ever have thought that the little understated Thai place in a seedy old strip mall near the Coliseum and next to a pool hall and laundromat would expand to the "Towne Center" development on Ann Street and out in West Shorter on the Atlanta Highway. Very different from Lek's, the cuisine is lighter and very fresh but nevertheless fine for mild American taste buds. The Shadow Pup declared the meat authentic and no threat to pets, foreign or domestic.

Bama Bistro--Ran into Chef Coratio the other day and he told me the notice sign on the restaurant was about him trying to get a liquor license (on agenda at city council meeting April 20th). The plan to put chairs tables outside and have happy hour: Brisket and Bourbon for all!

With this I leave it to you, the reader, to sort the wheat from the chaff, the butter from the Promise, and the homemade from the mix. Rest assured we will not rest until all is revealed.