Marnee Thai

Went to the downtown incarnation of Lotus Thai (which is over in the Target Mall, whatever it's called), namely Marnee Thai, in the Ashley Mews building, just south of Main and WIlliam. (Whew, that was a long, comma infested sentence.)

Still working the liquour license, so nothing to drink but Thai Iced Coffee, etc. Otherwise, an identical menu, in a smaller, much more pleasant venue. The views leave something to be desired: the BP gas station or the DTE local office. Kitchen not quite as fast and one or two items might have been a touch overcooked -- otherwise, a near replica, food wise, of the suburban food, and a more relaxing place to eat. And they were doing well, seemed like. 3/4 full at 8:30 on a Wednesday night, several other couples after us, and 2 or 3 walk-in take-out customers. All with no booze license. Maybe this will work out for that silly development, finally, and actually accomplish the extending of downtown by another block south. After all, Leopold Bros. is down there in the valley, just another two blocks' walk, and a block past that is the old Ark locale, where Susan Chastain is moving the Firefly. And both of those places have PARKING, for God's sake, as do the immediately nearby sidestreets (as we well know, since we used to live a couple blocks up from the Ark, then the original Main Street Market.) Now, if we can just keep global warming from flooding Allen Creek and making a lake out of Fox Tent and Awning's parking lot, maybe the Downtown Development Agency can actually claim a win, for a change.

But don't bet on it.