Le Banthai in Nice, France

You know those restaurants that you always pass by but never go in? They attract you, but maybe you are just passing by or not hungry. Or perhaps you say, next time, and next time spans out over the course of a few months.

That's what happened to me with the restaurant Le Banthai in Nice, France. Every time I go to the old city, I pass by and am intrigued. The place is almost always packed to the gills and the menu is super short. (I normally find this a plus-I prefer five perfect dishes over twenty not-so perfect ones.) They have some of my favorite Thai dishes, like Som Tam and Laab, but I never had the opportunity to stop in until a week ago.

I went in a bit late, around 2 or 2:30 in the afternoon, so the small restaurant was almost empty. I chose to have a nice, light summer lunch with the Som Tam green papaya salad and sticky rice. The open kitchen is manned by a lovely Thai lady whose dishes literally transport you to Bangkok. Expecting a decent version of the salad, I was pleasantly surprised when my dish came and it tasted just like the ones I had in Thailand.

Service was super quick, though mind you I was not in there during the lunch or dinner-time rush, so things might be different at other times of the day. The salad and rice was definitely enough to satisfy my appetite. The prices are the same for every dish on the menu (about 12 euro), so green papaya salad is the same price as meat or fish dishes. If you compare the prices to Thailand, obviously it seems expensive. But as far as Nice goes, prices are fair and the restaurant is a really welcome change from the ubiquitous pizza and pasta restaurants in the Vieux Nice.

Go early, late or make a reservation if you want the most authentic Thai food in Nice. I can't wait to go back and eat my way through the rest of the menu!

Dining with Friends...

Thailand is world-renounded for it's street food. In fact, I'd probably go so far as to say that it is almost the number one reason why people go and visit. (That would be after some of the most amazing scenery and buildings in the world.) While in Thailand, I really took it upon myself to eat like the locals. For the first two weeks, we didn't  even step inside of a sit-down restaurant. That meant that we were eating on the fly, on the street.

Street food in Thailand is an institution that unites everyone from the richest mogul to the poorest worker to the sunburnt tourist and everyone else in-between. And there's a good reason why it does. Hawkers generally specialize in just one dish, and you can be assured that ONE dish is done to absolute, complete perfection. Think about it, if your entire livelihood is based off of just one thing, you better make sure it is damn good. And it is. Street food in Thailand has earned it's stellar reputation.

The classic Pad Thai,  the unbeatably simple but delicious Khao Man Gai (chicken and rice) and thousands of other Thai dishes are cooked and served street-side, so there is basically something for everyone's tastes. Walk down any street in Bangkok and you will instantly be surrounded by a flurry of sights and smells sure to make your stomach growl. Whole grilled fish, fried rice, green papaya salad, the list just does not stop!

So, imagine eating on the street. Hygiene regulations are non-existent. Food is prepared fresh as Bangkok's many scooters whizz by. Dishes are washed in huge basins right on the sidewalk. Does it mean the food is bad? No. If you didn't eat street food in Thailand solely because of hygienic reasons, yeah, I'd call you crazy. You'd be missing out on some of the best food anywhere in the world. And maybe sometimes, just sometimes, you get the company of unexpected friends while dining.

Let's play spot the rat!