Palms Thai

04/25/09

Great food, lousy service every time

by garyandleo at Citysearch

Have you ever been sitting in a restaurant and could not get anyone to wait on you? Have you ever had to take out your cell phone, dial the restaurant, and ask them to send someone to your table as every member of the wait staff acted as if they could not see you?

Well, if you havent, please visit Palm Thai for a unique experience.

We have been eating there for a few years now, and it has never been because of the exceptional serivce. However, the food is very good, well priced, and local to us.

Now, we have grown used to the wait staff being rude and innattentive, but, this last vist (and it is our LAST visit) was the topper.

We were seated quickly enough, and then ignored for at least 10 minutes. We asked one of the staff who was pasing our table if we could get some drinks; he paused, glared at us, and told us he would "find our server". Our server eventually wandered over to our table a few minutes later, took our drink order, and left. Once our drinks returned, we ordered. Now the food itself comes quickly enough, and is always very good, but, it seems once the food hits the table, the wait staff can no longer see you. No follow up on how the meal is, no refresh on your drinks, just nothing. I always have the feeling they want to rush you out of there, regardless if it is crowded or not.

So, we tried to find our server, but she was nowhere to be seen. We again stopped another staff member, asked for a drink refill, as well as some additional white rice, and was again treated to the same hostile glare followed by the familiar but useless "find your server" answer.

another 10 minutes of more passed; we had basically finished our meal, and still no drinks or rice. That is when we decided to call the restaurant and ask for our server to find out table. That call did bring several of the wait staff to us, loaded with drinks, rice (no longer needed), and PLENTY of attitude.

So, it has finally become clear to us that while Palm Thai has wonderful food, the sour, rude, innattentive, and hostile wait staff has made it easy for us to decide never to eat there again. They clearly do not care about the customer whatsoever, and there is no lack of other Thai food choices in Los Angeles.

• Pros: Great food
• Cons: Terrible, terrible service

04/04/09

Would go back again!

by gwliu at Citysearch

I really like the food -- can't wait to order the hot chili paste clams again! Service was good, except for a little mix up: server/ cook ended up making our spicy curry mild, and the mild silver noodle salad spicy. Nevertheless, the flavor was still great, so we didn't bother saying anything! The dessert was a little pricey, $5 for a couple pieces fried banana but they were AMAZING with coconut ice cream (which we ordered separately for $3). My friend spoke Thai so maybe that made a difference with the service in comparison to some of the negative reviews below. I can't say since I've only been there once, but that will definitely change soon!

• Pros: Good Food
• Cons: Zero Ambiance

02/20/09

Three Trick Pony

by TMelara at Citysearch

Every time i go to Palms I order only the Pad Thai noodles, Garlic beef and Fried rice. How can you screw that up? Really it's no big deal. If your looking for a quick asian food fix that's in-expensive, this place is for you. The service is absolutely, positvely, with out a doubt, undisputedly, hands down.....TERRIBLE! The waitresses and buss boys are rude and impersonal! I almost did not leave a tip! If you happen to stumble to this place make sure you let them know you want your food brought out all in the same time. If you want dessert make sure you tell them in advanced because there so anxious for you to leave they bring your bill right away. In all honesty don't go! This place does not live up to the hype and I don't think I will ever go back after my last, terrible experience.

• Pros: Thai Iced tea and concluding your visit
• Cons: Terrible Service, Learn how to speak thai before you go