<h2 style="text-align: center;"><strong><em>The Lunch Bunch agrees—it’s the place to be!</em></strong></h2>
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By Molly Ingram

The Lunch Bunch, an opportunity for the staff of The Island News, to get together, have a chance to chat rather than email, and share with our readers the inside skinny on a local restaurant, managed to tear ourselves away from Friday afternoon chores to enjoy lunch at Yes, Thai Indeed. Narissara ToCharoen, the owner of this wonderful restaurant, put together a family-style lunch for us that began with either their special spicy chicken soup or a salad of simple lettuce, cucumber, bean sprouts and an absolutely wonderful ginger dressing. Neither of these items came with fancy Thai names, but there was nothing simple about their flavors.

For our main course, we were served four yummy entrees. My personal favorite was the Massaman Curry with chicken. This delicacy blends a mild chili paste with potatoes, white onion, cashews and avocado mixed together with the chicken in a not-to-hot curry sauce. Over white rice, this is a new favorite.

I have never seen something called Pineapple Fried Rice on any menu anywhere. This is one of Nikki’s favorites and Narissara made it especially for us. Picture traditional fried rice, but bump up the flavors with the sweetness of the pineapple and who knows what else. I couldn’t stop eating it. It was absolutely delicious and if you are a fried rice fan, be sure to ask for this one.

On a more traditional note, we also shared a Pad Thai with shrimp which seemed to vanish before my eyes. It is amazing how four women can talk and eat so much at the same time. This group never missed a beat doing either.

And lastly, we enjoyed the Grouper Lad Prik daily special. The combination of spicy brown sauce with onion, jalapeno (who would have thought?) plus mushrooms and peppers surrounding perfectly cooked local grouper was a home run. Light, spices that did nothing more and nothing less than elevate this fish to a “must have” entrée.

These Island News staffers are the newest members of the International Clean Plate Club. There wasn’t a bean sprout left on any plate. I left with a menu because this small, friendly restaurant will probably be on my once-a-week treat list. Thank you Narissara, our wait staff, the friendly faces behind the cash register and the master chefs in the kitchen. It was a great way to start a weekend.

Yes, Thai Indeed is open for lunch and dinner Monday-Friday and dinner on Saturday. They are closed on Sunday. Yes, Thai Indeed is located at 911 Boundary Street and their telephone is 843-986-1185.