where everybody knows your name

som tum (papaya salad), one
of my absolute favorites

My husband and I frequent our nearby (as it’s within a mile from our home and we could walk there if we wanted to and had the time) Thai restaurant on a weekly to bi-weekly basis. They don’t quite know our names, but they do know our orders. It feels a little like that television show Cheers…“and they’re always glad you came”. It is so nice to be able to go to a place that isn’t quite like home – our home doesn’t really resemble a Thai restaurant at this point in life– but feels very comfortable and relaxed; not to mention they have the most delicious Thai food ever and it is a B.Y.O.B. (bring your own beer/wine). B.Y.O.B. = cheap dinner bill and most restaurants in our area of New Jersey are.

We used to drive twenty-five minutes from our old house to eat there. We find ourselves getting the same thing every time though, which sometimes bothers me, but sometimes doesn’t. Going out to eat is a treat and it is nice to know exactly what you are going to get. I love this Thai restaurant for many reasons, but I especially love that when one asks for extra spicy, they make it EXTRA spicy. I don’t like to joke around about my spice.