Monsoon in Review

So the inspiration for this blog was the pure and real enjoyment that we, r2m, get from Cville: restaurants, coffee shops, grocery stores, and even the history of Vinegar and Star Hill (see "m" for this one).
And in keeping with our goal I want to put out our first Charlottesville review of Monsoon Thai on 113 W. Market St. off of the downtown mall.
R, m, and I decided to spring for a Tuesday night dinner. I had heard about Monsoon from a friend who claimed it was her favorite thai place in Charlottesville. With the more visible Thai favorites like Lemongrass and Thai 99, I was interested in seeing what this Charlottesville gem was all about.
Monsoon is on the corner of Market and 2nd street and it is housed in an old townhouse with a front porch and all. Not surprisingly the restaurant was empty when we walked in at 730 but we were invited to seat ourselves by the warmest, most inviting Asian woman. After looking over the menu and admiring the muted red lighting we were all convinced that it would be a night to remember.
Considering that Monsoon specializes in curry (there are 7-8 varieties) and none of us really like curry, I was slightly worried what there would be to order. Have no fear... the list of 6 dinner entrees induced decision-making anxiety in all of us. In addition to the Thai Classic Pad Thai (spelled Pahd at Monsoon?) there was also a lemongrass and basil dish, whole earth noodles, and fried tofu cakes. M got the pad thai with chicken, r got the whole earth noddles, and i got the tofu cakes (all 10.95 each). 20 minutes later after we had enjoyed a deliciously fresh salad and some spring rolls, our dishes had arrived. For the next 5 minutes silence ensued as we indulged. I was overwhelmed by the mix of flavors between the tofu cakes, the peanut sauce, and the steamed vegetables. As a vegetarian it's always hard to find dishes that are fulfilling and creative and Monsoon's Tofu Cakes hit the spot. Oh, and it all washed down quite smoothly with some unfiltered traditional sake.
I would definitely go back to Monsoon, especially to eat on their street-side patio in warmer weather. The food was delicious and the service excellent. The inside of the restaurant might be in need of a new coat of paint and some better lighting, but there is also something endearing about the house-style, local decor of Monsoon.