By: Sarah Simon
Ah Thai food. My all-time favorite treat! This week I had every intention of writing about my weekend adventure to Santa Barbara and how I have this ever-longing love/hate relationship with the city and the people and the restaurants, but instead, I stumbled upon an unexpected adventure while out to lunch on Monday that I felt was much more compelling to share.
I happened to be in Los Osos on business and was determined to dine at Noi’s Little Thai Kitchen. I attempted to feast there last Wednesday (which happened to be my 25th birthday!) and the experience left me feeling sour. The gal at the counter showed a sincere lack of interest and when I asked to add broccoli to my order she stated they could not because everything was pre-mixed. Seriously though? You can’t add broccoli, or put it on the side? I found this VERY hard to believe but let it go because of the overwhelmingly delicious reviews I’d gathered about the restaurant.
I then handed over my credit card and was told the only accepted forms of payment were cash or check. Totally my bad, but with it being my birthday I thought, forget it, and stuck to my original plan of treating myself to a Eureka! burger.
So now there I was, back in Los Osos for another attempt at food glory. I came prepared with cash and placed my order with a friendlier face. I then started to think about using the restroom and just as the thought crossed my mind a hippie chick walked in and asked for the restroom key. I mentioned I’d like to use the key when she was finished and she invited me to follow her.
We clicked immediately as we talked about the funky and beautiful town of Los Osos and Noi’s best menu items. We headed to the back building and crossed a tiny bridge into a Thai style courtyard with different patio tables, elephant statues and succulents.
The back building had two doors, but there were also two other buildings near the back of the restaurant. We were directed to enter the red building (which was very ironic as all the buildings were red) and together we embarked on a serious journey to find the restroom.
In this little Thailand oasis and could not for the life of us get the doors to open. We decided to go to each door individually, just to make sure we weren’t crazy, which ended up driving us into a deeper maze of confusion.
Twenty minutes later we headed back up to the front in search of a solution. We knew there was a key to open the restroom, because two customers told us so, but for some reason we were totally and completely baffled by the situation.
Sure enough they had given us the wrong key. What are the odds! I just spent twenty minutes exploring with a total stranger and had the best time. We were talking and laughing and completely perplexed only to find the cutest indoor setting complete with large glass windows, intricately gold framed Ganesha portraits and a teeny tiny restroom in the corner only recognizable by a small male/female sign and ornate tapestry. I started eating on the patio and as my companion exited she invited me to check out the Farmer’s Market later that day.
The moral of the story? Sometimes simple tasks can become adventures and strangers turn out to be friends you haven’t met yet.
I was happy. I went to the Bay, ate my Pad Thai and created my own Sarah oasis; all thanks to Noi’s Little Thai Kitchen.
Want more? Feast for yourself.
Noi’s Little Thai Kitchen
1288 2nd St, Los Osos, CA 93402
(805) 528-6647
I happened to be in Los Osos on business and was determined to dine at Noi’s Little Thai Kitchen. I attempted to feast there last Wednesday (which happened to be my 25th birthday!) and the experience left me feeling sour. The gal at the counter showed a sincere lack of interest and when I asked to add broccoli to my order she stated they could not because everything was pre-mixed. Seriously though? You can’t add broccoli, or put it on the side? I found this VERY hard to believe but let it go because of the overwhelmingly delicious reviews I’d gathered about the restaurant.
I then handed over my credit card and was told the only accepted forms of payment were cash or check. Totally my bad, but with it being my birthday I thought, forget it, and stuck to my original plan of treating myself to a Eureka! burger.
So now there I was, back in Los Osos for another attempt at food glory. I came prepared with cash and placed my order with a friendlier face. I then started to think about using the restroom and just as the thought crossed my mind a hippie chick walked in and asked for the restroom key. I mentioned I’d like to use the key when she was finished and she invited me to follow her.
We clicked immediately as we talked about the funky and beautiful town of Los Osos and Noi’s best menu items. We headed to the back building and crossed a tiny bridge into a Thai style courtyard with different patio tables, elephant statues and succulents.
The back building had two doors, but there were also two other buildings near the back of the restaurant. We were directed to enter the red building (which was very ironic as all the buildings were red) and together we embarked on a serious journey to find the restroom.
In this little Thailand oasis and could not for the life of us get the doors to open. We decided to go to each door individually, just to make sure we weren’t crazy, which ended up driving us into a deeper maze of confusion.
Twenty minutes later we headed back up to the front in search of a solution. We knew there was a key to open the restroom, because two customers told us so, but for some reason we were totally and completely baffled by the situation.
Sure enough they had given us the wrong key. What are the odds! I just spent twenty minutes exploring with a total stranger and had the best time. We were talking and laughing and completely perplexed only to find the cutest indoor setting complete with large glass windows, intricately gold framed Ganesha portraits and a teeny tiny restroom in the corner only recognizable by a small male/female sign and ornate tapestry. I started eating on the patio and as my companion exited she invited me to check out the Farmer’s Market later that day.
The moral of the story? Sometimes simple tasks can become adventures and strangers turn out to be friends you haven’t met yet.
I was happy. I went to the Bay, ate my Pad Thai and created my own Sarah oasis; all thanks to Noi’s Little Thai Kitchen.
Want more? Feast for yourself.
Noi’s Little Thai Kitchen
1288 2nd St, Los Osos, CA 93402
(805) 528-6647
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