Monsoons

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  Monsoons Thai & Exotic Food is a tiny (four or five tables) Americanized version of a Thai restaurant located in a pole barn. There are tons of family photos, Thai chotskies, and license plates adorning the metal walls and wooden beams.  A giant TV blaring the local news dominates the cluttered dining space and gives the impression that you're dining in someone's crowded family room.  This restaurant is a fixture in the community frequented by locals and full of charm in its own peculiar way.  
  
  My husband and I were directed to Monsoons by a local who claimed that when the restaurant closed due to roof damage in recent hail storms the community banded together to raise money for repairs so that they could once again get their Thai cravings satisfied.  I make a point to seek out restaurants frequented by locals when traveling and a sweet story is always encouraging, but in this particular instance such a glowing recommendation was more than a bit deceiving.  
  
  I have never actually been to Thailand and I'm certain that I have enjoyed any number of less than authentic Asian meals claiming to be one particular ethnic cuisine or the other, but Monsoons is an entity unto itself.  The menu is composed of a greasy binder filled with less than appetizing photos and many dishes that are really just American style Chinese food.  There's also little indication of what ingredients are contained in each dish and we were given the impression that despite what you may order the meal you receive will be whatever the owner puts together for you.  
  
  That was certainly the case with our order because although I was reassured that all items I requested were vegetarian and fish sauce free the noodles with cabbage (just cabbage no other vegetables) tasted strongly of fish.  My husband ordered the same entree I requested, but with chicken added and his dish actually contained more veggies, but was topped with some sort of thick spicy sauce with an unpleasant aftertaste.  The only portion of our meal that was enjoyable at all was the crazy spicy, yet flavorful, Ralph's sauce that accompanied our spring rolls.  The spring rolls themselves were ridiculous portions composed of rough chopped romaine lettuce, a disk of cucumber, and 1/4 of a tomato ripping through the rice paper roll.  It was an odd experience in general and none of the menu items were similar to any of the tasty, complex flavors, and spicy curries I would associate with Thai food.   If I were to judge this restaurant based solely on the food and service provided as I typically do I would definitely give Monsoons a 2 or perhaps a 1, but honestly if I ever found myself in Butler, TN I'd probably go there again.  There just isn't anything else open in the off season and it's something of an interesting experience just to be in this restaurant.

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  Posted on 02.19.13 Magen L.

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  Thai Food..the best Thai food, bar none, I have ever had. It is a little hole in the wall. The owner makes the food right after you order, from scratch!. down to grading the carrots for the egg rolls. Mel (the owner) is from Thailand, been here for 29yrs. If you are ever in the area, I highly recommend it. The Pad Thai was fabulous!

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  Posted on 12.03.11 Sheila E.

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