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| Jitlada ~ nice casual **** 2239-C Cheshire Bridge Road Atlanta, GA 30324 (404) 728-9040 Lunch: Mon-Fri, 11a.m.-2:30p.m. Dinner: Mon-Thurs and Sun, 5p.m.-10p.m. Fri-Sat, 5p.m.-11p.m. If it’s authentic Thai food you’re after, Jitlada is the place to go. Boasting an all-Thai cook staff, owner Paul Kajitta is emphatically committed to preparing “real Thai,” not the Americanized version that is so often the fare at other restaurants. This dedication to authenticity is what sets Jitlada apart, together with an openness to accommodate any special preferences of its patrons, true to the Thai custom of courtesy. MENU: **** Jitlada offers an extensive menu and a variety of specials, based on seasonal availability of ingredients. Its diversity is such that some loyal customers visit daily. “I basically eat there every day, and I’ve been known to go twice in one day,” says Paul Pathy, who lives and works nearby. Entrée prices at dinner range from $6.95-$15.95. At lunch, nothing costs more than $6.95. FOOD QUALITY: ***** Repeat visits yield repeat results: consistent quality and freshness. Vegetables and herbs are uniformly crisp; Meats, fish and fowl are appropriately prepared (never over- or under-cooked), and the spicing is true to authentic Thai cooking. FOOD PRESENTATION: ***** Artfully arranged and adorned with baby orchids, the dishes are as pleasing to the eye as they are to the palate. ATMOSPHERE: **** A peaceful oasis set back off a busy intersection, Jitlada is a serene space that offers respite from the daily grind. Peaceful, spa-like music plays unobtrusively in the large, airy dining room, where tasteful décor avoids clutter. CLEANLINESS: **** The dining area is well-maintained and neat. The kitchen is less so; yet while tidiness is not the top priority backstage, the food prep areas all appear quite sanitary. SERVICE: **** The wait staff is extremely polite and courteous. The owner is eager to accommodate the particular preferences of his patrons, and he encourages customers to communicate any special requests to their servers. The kitchen is happy to adjust the spice quotient to the level requested and to prepare items that are not on the menu (provided the necessary ingredients are available). The only drawback to the service is the occasional difficulty in understanding a server’s explanation of a dish. MENU RECOMMENDATIONS: The mixed seafood platter with fried basil appetizer is outstanding. The notably light peanut sauce that accompanies various other appetizers deserves mention. The chicken coconut soup is deliciously smooth and thankfully missing the topcoat of oil that often mars this conventional Thai soup. Be sure to check the specials on the board as you come in, or ask about them if you are ordering take-out. The mango with jumbo shrimp and the snapper with three-flavors sauce take top honors among the menu entrees. The Panang prawn curry and Masaman chicken are also very good. For those seeking a vegetarian meal, the veggie and tofu delight is a stand-out, delightfully flavored and satisfying. For dessert, the mango with sticky rice never fails to please, and the fried banana ice cream (a wonton-wrapped banana, deep-fried and served with green tea or coconut ice cream) is a tantalizing mix of hot, cold and sweet. OVERALL RATING: **** That I find myself wanting to go back to Jitlada the day after I first try it says it all. The food is consistently fresh, the sauces light and never cloying, the spice level as mild or hot as I wish to make it. Portions are ample and prices sound. All that and peacefulness, too – What more could you ask for? review by Laurel-Ann Dooley |
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| from top: various delights from Jitlada. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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