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Bay Leaf (Thai cuisine)  $$

 7.25
JaT Rating

122 S Sunnyvale Ave, Sunnyvale, 94086  (Directions)


408-481-9983


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Indonesian and Thai cuisine located in a small shopping complex.


Reviewer: Jason
Total Reviews: 1020
Reviewed: 8/28/2006
Rating: 7
My photo gallery 		Bay Leaf is another recommendation by my co-worker Mike. The previous restaurant, Thai Fusion House was one of the lowest ranking restaurants to ever be reviewed on jatbar. The tables and chairs look the same, smaller menu, and walls had newer paint on them. Who knows if the owners did a name change but we're willing to go in with a clean slate.

Starting off on the right note, we were quickly seated and menu's dropped off. Serving thai and indonesian creations at valued prices ranging from $5 to $10. Waters followed afterwards and the waitress took our orders. Service is fast and everything is looking good so far.

I almost ordered a vegetarian dish but noticed the lunch special on the blackboard, Pepes Udang (grilled shrimp in a banana leaf). It was $10 and suspiciously served less than 5 minutes later. I'm guessing they are cooked earlier in the day waiting for a chump like myself to get a good mouth searing of hot spices.

There was no warning on how spicy the dish was going to be. If you want to clear your sinuses, look no further. The Pepes Udang has some serious heat and would rank it in the hot scales with Empress of India. If you aren't in spicy food, I would suggest skipping the Pepes Udang because dang it burns.

The meal is an interesting dish and a first for me. Loaded up with hot chiles, tomatoes, lemon grass, and other secret ingredients to form an orangy paste concoction. The most important ingredient was a big letdown....the shrimps. They were overcooked and rubbery. Temperature wise, the meal was somewhat warm. There was no steam as I opened up the banana leaves. If this dish was more moist, hotter temperature wise, and properly cooked shrimps, I would rank this dish in the 8's. (picture 4 and 5).

I agree with Terry as Bay Leaf's service is 100x better than the predecessors. They did a good job in delivering the food in a timely manner and waters were always filled. The food is respectable but my dish needs a bit more work. At $10, it's slightly higher than what I'm used to paying so I'd expect no shrimps to be overcooked. I'd probably come back to Bay Leaf but I would want to try another dish.
 


Reviewer: Terry
Total Reviews: 738
Reviewed: 8/28/2006
Rating: 7.5
My photo gallery 		We had been to this location before, (possibly different owners) and it was one of the worst experience Jatbar had at a restaurant. So it was safe to say that I was a little apprehensive walking through those doors. Especially when I saw the interior was unchanged from the previous incarnation of the place.

I ordered a Shrimp Pad Thai, half unsure if I would be eating anything here today, and partly because I didn't want to be disappointed. And a thai iced tea. After ordering, we set the stopwatch. No more superlong waits only to leave in disappointment.

The service was thankfully snappy, and the waitstaff wasted no time in getting our orders to us. The thai iced tea arrived. Completely by the numbers, but arelative bargain at $1.99. The Pad Thai was closer to $8, but the serving size was decent. Not the biggest size, but decent. I actually filled up (and at first look I didn't think I would). The shrimps were my least favorite part of the dish. They were underflavored. The entire dish had a muted flavoring, but the shrimps especially so.

I think I would return for the average prices, and the good service. The menu might use some help, though, as I wasn't inspired by my dish. The place wasn't packed, but for a Monday it wasn't empty either. Lots of local business folks talking it up around us. The tables are a bit close so it was hard to have a private conversation.

Bay Leaf is an improvement over its predecessor. Liven up the dishes and I think we may have something.
 
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NikLinna ate...

Green curry fried rice (vegetarian)

“Portions are *huge* for many dishes, especially my rice and the curries my friends had. My dish was light on flavor, unfortunately. A friend had veggie red curry and it was pretty tasty.”

10/17/2007 2:30:55 PM