Last week I managed to grab lunch with my buddy "JV". Man, we really hadn't chatted since before Covid! JV has had a pretty tough couple of months; knee surgery followed by appendicitis…..so I really wanted to know how he was doing. Since he lives in the Serra Mesa area, I thought it might be nice grabbing some lunch from a place I hadn't been to in over a decade; Thai Pepper Cuisine.
In these times, the tables in the restaurant are nicely spaced. Also JV and I met right when the place opened at 11 in hopes of avoiding a crowd.
There was only one other table occupied during our meal, though a bunch of folks started coming in as we were leaving.
The menu has changed a bit since my fun meal here with Mr & Mrs Zompus in 2009. Most of the interesting "specialty" dishes featuring duck and wild boar are no longer on the menu. In keeping with neighborhood Thai restaurants there was that collection of "choose your protein, choose your sauce" items on the menu.
JV went with the Green Curry with Pork ($11). I chose the "Special Menu" item of the Crispy Basil Chicken ($12.50). Heat level of 5 in respect for JV and we told the nice gentleman working that we'd be sharing.
The lunches came with jasmine rice which was nicely prepared and fragrant and really bad eggroll which was all filler and no flavor and a standard issue salad.
The curry was very watery and bland, not enough coconut milk and curry paste.
The Crispy Chicken wasn't bad.
Perhaps a bit on the sweet side; the thin chicken strips were nice and crunchy, there was a nice collection of chilies in this which gave it a decent "kick", and good anise-citrus tones from the basil. I'd have this dish again.
Beyond the food, it was great catching up with JV, it seems that the last 2 1/2 years just slipped away.
After lunch we went over to JV's house and he showed me the upgrades they've done and I also got to meet his two pooches and his chickens!
He even gave me a dozen eggs for the Missus!
Man, how I've missed my friends…….
Thai Pepper Cuisine
3361 Sandrock Road
San Diego, CA 92123
nice you were able to meet up with your friend!
Cute pooch and chickens!
It was Kat!
And those eggs were wonderful as well Soo.