This restaurant has nearly every element that a good Thai restaurant should have – hole-in-the-wall ambiance, that great spicy smell, funky interior – it's just missing great food. But barely.
It could just be personal tastes, but Plearn misses on a few key elements. Before the bad, the good:
The curry (both green and red) is great, as is the Tom-Kha-Gai – which is actually exceptional. Their rice is actually better than normal. Where it misses is the peanut sauces and Phad Thai.
Phad Thai is subject to personal tastes – one man or woman's favorite is dog food to another – and Plearn's doesn't fit my tastes. It's too mushy and has a strange flavor. Likewise, the peanut chicken is a bit bizarre with broccoli thrown in with the chicken, rice and spinach. Strange. The peanut sauce is also missing a flavor or two.
Plearn is good – but not great. Head a couple of doors down to the Royal Thai Palace.
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