Cliff’s Top 10 Favorite Restaurants Countdown: Number 7
October 15th, 2009 by Cliff Bostock in Restaurants
Spoon has blown all other Thai restaurants in Atlanta out of the water. Although its menu is a bit limited compared to others, the curry sauces have no equal for their complexity and fiery heat (unless you specify “mild”). I go to the East Atlanta location, but the original is in the Westside.
Favorite dishes: The Massaman curry, to which I add mixed seafood or chicken. The tofu steak is my favorite special. 749 Moreland Ave., 404-624-4713. 768 Marietta Street., 404-522-5655. www.spoonatlanta.com.
We will be counting down Cliff’s Top 10 Favorites every day between now and Oct. 21, the day our Food Issue 2009 launches. Check back tomorrow for Number 6.
(Photo by James Camp)
October 15th, 2009 at 3:00 pm
this place sucks
October 15th, 2009 at 4:49 pm
spoon DOES offer good thai food at a decent price.
but it’s nothing fancy, so i’m surprised to see it getting love on this blog, though not surprised to see that douchey “foodies” think it sucks.
October 15th, 2009 at 5:25 pm
I’m far from a “douchey foodie,” and I’m am sadly underwhelmed by the East Atlanta Spoon. It is so “nothing special” and not a bargain in any sense of the word. If this place were in California, it’d be out of business in two weeks. Of of the few recs. ever by Cliff with which I strongly disagree.
October 15th, 2009 at 5:38 pm
“If this place were in California, it’d be out of business in two weeks.”
But it is not-it’s in Atlanta.Sorry.
October 15th, 2009 at 8:37 pm
Does anyone else feel that those who imply ‘I’m from California and…’, are the biggest assholes in the world?
October 15th, 2009 at 8:42 pm
They are second to the ones who say “if this place was in New York…”
In my opinion, Spoon is fine, its solid, decently priced Thai, not worthy of too much derision nor too much bandwidth.
October 16th, 2009 at 12:28 am
I wrote, ” I’m am sadly underwhelmed by the East Atlanta Spoon. It is so “nothing special” and not a bargain in any sense of the word. If this place were in California, it’d be out of business in two weeks.”
BOB Says: “But it is not-it’s in Atlanta.Sorry.”
bongo Says: “Does anyone else feel that those who imply ‘I’m from California and…’, are the biggest assholes in the world?”
Kingrover Says: “They are second to the ones who say ‘if this place was in New York…’
In my opinion, Spoon is fine, its solid, decently priced Thai, not worthy of too much derision nor too much bandwidth.”
Hey, sorry for growing up semi-sophisticated (in the SF Bay Area and NYC, no less — I know, automatic double asshole to you townies). If you seek good — I mean GOOD — ethnic food, look at the clientele in the restaurant; Are they native consumers of the cuisine or clueless middlebrow locals?
If you want REAL good Asian food in Atlanta, go to Buford Highway. Look at the clientele. Act accordingly.
You could pick ten Thai restaurants out of the phone book ianywhere n California and they’d all be better than Spoon. And eight of them would be cheaper, despite the fact that pretty much everything in CA cost more than it does here.
Spoon is average-at-best, mildly overpriced Thai food. And three times I talked with the owner, assured them that “Thai hot” was what I wanted, that I came there BECAUSE Cliff’s review said he had to blow his nose 20 X because the food was so hot. The food was not EVER (spicy) hot. Not even close. Each time I tried to negotiate HOT. I was finally told that they don’t do “hot” because their patrons send it back (after ordering), can’t eat it.
Southerners are so defensive. Rightfully so, I guess.
October 16th, 2009 at 3:35 am
Hey rico,
I’ve lived, and off Buford Highway for over 40 years. So tell me about ethnic food. As far as “thai hot”
I could eat all of you under the Sun.
October 16th, 2009 at 7:59 am
This place sucks. I’ve been all over the world, including Thailand and this place is far from the crap you’d even be served in the few small country bumpkin’ towns that may have a Thai place.
I know its Malay/Singaporian, but Penang on Bufford = great, and has Thai dishes that are more authentic and loaded with flavor.
Harry & Son’s also offers better Thai.
October 16th, 2009 at 9:36 am
The high expectation of authenticity in restaurants that serve cuisines from different cultures has always bothered me. By claiming that a dish is prepared authentically there seems to be an implication that it is prepared in a uniform way within that culture. It can’t be true that Thai dishes are prepared the exact same way all throughout the homes and restaurants of Thailand.
I’ve never been to Thailand, but I’ve been to plenty of Thai restaurants and the only two places where I’ve ever had experiences where my eyes rolled back in my head and I went limp from dining ecstasy are Panita Thai Kitchen in ViHi and Spoon on Marietta Street.
As far as heat goes, hot isn’t the most important thing for a Thai dish to be. Heat is one aspect of the flavor profile. If it’s overwhelming, then the other parts — sourness, sweetness, etc. — are not as detectable and the dish becomes too much of a one-note experience (and a potential showcase for ‘look how much heat I can take’ macho bravado).
October 16th, 2009 at 9:51 am
Spoon = crap. Plain and simple.
I’m not expecting authentic here, as there is something as TOO authentic in some places I’ve gone to (grasshoppers, larva, ants, etc..) It amazed me at first that this crap bland of a place managed to stay in business but after seeing the following of folks who simply don’t know any better, much like how Applebees and Chili’s manage to do good business.. things started to make sense.
October 16th, 2009 at 10:07 am
Come on Cliff. You know you only love this place because you get Morelli’s ice cream afterwards.
Little Bangkok is way better.
October 16th, 2009 at 10:23 am
Little Bangkok? C’mon.. the cooks specialize in Chinese, hence the strange taste in many of their Thai dishes.. often cooked in the same sauce.
October 16th, 2009 at 12:19 pm
Who cares if food is authentic? I’ve never been able to taste authenticity, though I can tell when something tastes good.
October 16th, 2009 at 12:26 pm
Little Bangkok specializes in Chinese food? They have Chinese on their menu for Americans with no tastebuds like yourself. Their Thai (hence Bangkok)is their specialty.
Go get a Big Montana from Arbys!
October 16th, 2009 at 1:05 pm
It’s just ok.
Los Angeles has the best Thai food in the country.
October 16th, 2009 at 1:59 pm
Haven’t been to spoon. However, they have awesome Thai food (and most ethnicities for that matter) in London! But we’re not in London, so all this other-city-comparison crap is totally irrelevant. Also, these are not “best” restaurants, these are Cliff’s favorites, so bashing them because *you* don’t like them is pointless. I do love the point somebody made earlier about people in Thailand cooking differently from one another, therefore questioning the concept of “authenticity”. I grew up with a Lebanese stepfamily and I can assure you that the Lebanese food at my house is quite different from that at the middle eastern joints here in town, as well as those in London, if we’re allowed to focus on other cities. :)
October 16th, 2009 at 2:19 pm
Coke: I agree spoon is just okay at best, but beg to differ on LA. Hawaii has the best I’ve ever had. Siam Garden off of Nimitz. Now you’re talkin’
October 16th, 2009 at 2:21 pm
Nom nom: I beg to differ.. u really have no clue what you’re talking about. Taste buds eh? Then why am I the one telling you that the thai food tastes just like the cantonese?
Do yourself a favor.. hit up Harry & Son’s or Penang. Even the thai friends I have in Atlanta compliment them both as “almost as good as mom’s home cooking”
October 16th, 2009 at 2:37 pm
Spoon is a great addition to East Atlanta. Die haters.
October 16th, 2009 at 3:43 pm
Kingfish, if that is indeed your real name…
Harry & Sons? Are you talking about the sushi place in the Highlands? Do they have a Big Montana there? I think you’re wrong. I think you can only get a Big Montana at Arby’s. Get some curly fries while you’re there. They’re delish and they go great with a Big Montana!
October 16th, 2009 at 4:02 pm
Geez. Do y’all bother to read at all?
First, I said there are more complex menus around town. What I like here are the sauces and I do challenge you to find sauces as good elsewhere.
Second, this is a list of my favorites — not the best restaurants in the city. That means in part they are places that are affordable for regular dining and are personally convenient.
This is not a “Best of Atlanta” list.
October 16th, 2009 at 9:08 pm
On October 16th, 2009 at 4:02 pm, Cliff Bostock Says:
“Geez. Do y’all bother to read at all?”
In May, however, Cliff wrote;
“Excuse me while I go to the restroom,” I told Wayne.
“Again?” he replied.
It was my third visit during our meal at Spoon (749 Moreland Ave., 404-624-4713) in East Atlanta. This Thai restaurant has been opened by the same people who operate Spoon on Marietta Street in West Atlanta.
My continual visits to the bathroom had nothing to do with the usual reasons. I was already weeping and sneezing 24 hours a day because of pine pollen. But Spoon’s very spicy food had caused my sinuses to evacuate and my eyes to water even more. I had to run to the bathroom repeatedly to blow my nose with the intensity of a trumpet solo.
Honestly, I love hot food and I wince when I hear diners whining to servers that they don’t eat spicy. (“Then, why are you here?” would be the appropriate response.) But this Spoon, like the original, challenges my own tolerance. You have three choices – “medium spicy,” “hot” and “Thai hot” – and even the medium is capable of causing your mouth to sizzle.”
Yes, I can read. I read your reviews. And, based on them, I often visit the restaurant you extoll.
Did so with Spoon. Like you, ate there three times before “reviewing” it.
The “Thai hot” served at Spoon is what would pass for “mild” at the hundred or so Thai restaurants I’ve eaten at over the past 25 years. I’m not a “macho-er-than-thou” fire eater. I just know how Thai food is supposed to taste. On my third trip, after mentioning your “hot” review EACH TIME and begging for “Thai hot,” The owner told me, with a knowing look,” We don’t do ‘hot’, our diners send it back, ‘Too hot!’ We can’t afford that.”
Makes me wonder what you ate.
I’ve got nothing against Spoon. I just wouldn’t eat there if it were across the street and free.
October 16th, 2009 at 10:10 pm
Rico: You’ve explained yourself why the sauces are milder than they were during the restaurant’s first week or two. You hear the same story at restaurants all over the city.
Tell us where to go for Thai heat in Atlanta that meets your standards. You instructed people to go to Buford Highway, where I have eaten constantly for years. I’ve never encountered a lot of Thai cooking out there. Someone mentioned Penang, which I love, but I’ve never found the Thai dishes particularly fiery there either.
Nom Nom Nom: I love Little Bangkok and debated whether to put it on my list. It certainly would have made my list of 20 favorites. As much as I like the food there, I don’t think the sauces measure up to Spoon’s. The exception would be the green chili sauce, definitely among the very best in the city.
I do not eat at Spoon because it is a walk across the parking lot to Morelli’s. If anything, Morelli’s is torture. I’m going to start turning my back to the window at Spoon, so I can’t see Morelli’s.
October 17th, 2009 at 11:05 am
i like kokai.
KOKAI EVERYONE!!!!!!!!!!
October 19th, 2009 at 3:08 pm
honestly…….who cares? if Popeye’s at Blvd and Ponce isn’t # 1, I say this was all a sham.