Spice & Dice, Towson, MD

http://www.thaispiceanddice.com

This week we went to Spice & Dice in Towson, MD using a Groupon/Living Social/I really can't remember which "deal-pon" we used.  It doesn't matter, I guess!

This was an interesting experience.  Since this was done before we decided to start the blog, I don't have any pictures.

But here is our experience, from start to finish

A group from work had gone to Spice & Dice the previous week.  All reported that it had been good all around, from service to food.  Amy had a coupon for some amount, and I hadn't been able to go the week before (car was in the shop), so we decided to go, the first time for me, and the second or so time for Amy.  As far as I can remember, the only complaint about Spice & Dice was that the food was not as spicy as some could have liked, but that isn't too unusual.

We came in, we sat down.  Our friend was joining us, so we ordered waters and sodas and waited a few moments for her.  In short order, we had ordered and the waiter brought us these spring roll things.  They were very tasty!  Amy tried to steal mine, and I had to fight her off with my fork.  True story!

Then Amy yells "OW!"  We both look at her, only slightly askance as we await her explanation.  She is scratching her ankle/foot at this point and says that something bit her.  Hmmm...

I peek under the table.  There is a long line of ants travelling directly under her!  Apparently, as our frind had pointed out, these little guys had found a noodle and were attempting to extricate it from the restaurant.  I guess one of them thought Amy's foot looked like a noodle?  Who knows.

Well, ants will be ants, and even the most fastidious of kitchens can have trouble keeping the little buggers out when they want to be in, so we decided to ignore our little bout with nature, and still in good humor, we switched tables.

When the server returned with our food, he looked perplexed at our location change for a moment, and then gave us our food.  We took pity on him in his confusion and explained that we had moved because of the ants.

Then he goes, cleans the table, then seats another party at the ant table.

Seriously, dude!  Ants tried to eat Amy, you really shouldn't seat people at a table where there be man eating ants.  Oh well.

We did tell the latest party that there were ants.  They inspected the ants, then also chose to move tables.

I guess at this point the guy decided that the ants were real.  We saw him doing something to the table after the second party relocated.  I am not sure what.

So what did I have to eat you might ask on a blog about eating?  Really, I don't know.  All I can remember is that Amy got bit by an ant.  And we all had the heebie jeebies for the rest of the day.  Is that how you spell heebie jeebies you ask?  I don't know.  So there you go!

I do recall getting something with shrimp.  Oh, and broccoli.  Oh, and big, fat, flat noodles.  In some kind of sauce.  No clue what kind.  I think this was Thai food?  Beats me.

The broccoli was very good, perfectly cooked!  Noodles are noodles.  And the shrimp was nothing to write home about, so I won't.

Then we got some chocolate ice cream to take with us.  We took it with us because even though he was very prompt and attentive for the first part of the meal, he took a while getting back to us with the check and boxes and stuff.

And I have no idea what anybody else ate.

So, I can't guarantee you will see ants if you go, but the food was good in all of its unremarkableness.


Ratings (0 bad -5 fantastic)
Food: 3.5
Service: 2.5
Ambiance: 3, cause the ants weren't their fault

Take home message:  I would go back...if somebody asked me to. Probably not on my own though.

Spice & Dice - Towson, MD

This will be a hard one...  I've been here twice now.  The first time with no deal coupon, this last one, I had a $10 for $20, I believe.  I'll review the first visit as well, since it was a better experience and perhaps it was an off-day for them on my last visit. 

First visit:  Pretty busy - meaning over half of the tables were occupied.  Cute interior and funky furnishings.  Seemed a little odd since the other side over the 3/4 wall is a comic book store, but ok.  I'm good with that.  Our server was prompt and we got our complimentary little spring roll with sauce (I really like that idea) and then orders were taken.  My friend, Rob, said he wanted his REALLY spicy and the waitress basically said, "I dunno.... I'll make it a half-spice and bring you the spice tray to compensate if it's not hot enough."  But... but...  but he asked for super spicy??!!  He didn't argue and went with it.  Our food was tasty and fresh but there wasn't a HINT of spice in it.  It's Thai food.  Should have some heat.  She was good about refilling our drinks and keeping up with clearing our plates, etc. and they brought out the complimentary chocolate ice cream (again...  love that).  All is well and good.

Enter SECOND visit:  Only one other table occupied.  Still the same 2 servers there, so I'm not worried.  It took a LOOOONG time for our server to come over.  We ordered and I asked for "VERY spicy".  He asked "1, 2, or 3?"  I said a resounding "3!!!!!".  Ok.  A LONG time later, we got our spring rolls and then another LONG time later we got our food.  Let me digress for a moment.  While we're waiting this very long time, I suddenly screamed like a banshee and knee-planted the underside of our table because I was sure a freakin' scorpion had just bit my foot.  I had on flip flops.  When I was able to untangle myself from the table I found an ant still clinging for dear life to my foot.  WHAT???  Cathy then looks down and sees an ARMY of ants under our table carrying noodles off in formation like a cartoon.  SWARMS of ants.  We changed tables and the other occuppied table looked at us in concern and curiosity until I informed them (and the waitress) that I had been bit by one of the ants in the army under our table. 

Moving on...  we get our food.  Not a HINT of heat in my drunken noodles.  Not a BIT.  ("Level 3" where?")  Another couple now occupies our old ant table.  Nobody tells them to move.  Cathy turns around and informs them that there is an armada of ants under the table and that they should move.  They do, and thank her profusely.  Why hasn't anyone fixed this yet?  I dunno. 

After we are done eating and waiting.... and waiting... and waiting for our ice cream and check, Cathy finally summons our server and says, "Um... our lunch hour is DONE.  Can we please get the check??".  He then takes a long time to BRING the check and asks if we want our ice cream.  Uh.... YEAH!!! 

Rating:
Food: 2
Ambiance: 2
Service: 2

Take home:  Don't go unless you like your Thai pretty bland (although fresh), you have time to kill, and you wear footwear that covers the entire foot.  And don't sit near the ant window.