Battambang
850 Broadway Street
Oakland, CA
510-839-8815
A good lunch is really truly what you make of it. I try a few East Bay restaurants that I tend to hear about through the grapevine and find some that surprise me with the astounding service and food. Then there are some that do little to overwhelm me in any way that would motivate me to ever want to go back there again. I guess I'd have to say that a lot of times it's all in the presentation.
A close walk from the local 12th Street BART station is a place that I would consider a restaurant that may perhaps appeal to the few that like milder food. I unfortunately was not overly impressed. The flavoring of the dishes do little to the imagination because much of the food lacks a primary ingredient: salt. It's much too challenging for someone to have a trial and error experience with restaurants in which they may attempt to try a dish they're familiar with on the menu and then one they haven't tried before and not know what you're in for.
This place is a little too much of an unpredictable luncheon haven when it comes to flavor. I've had the Moarn Char Banleh there and was surprisingly impressed with the spice and the mixture of vegetables including: broccoli, green beans, mushrooms, baby corn, bamboo shoots, onions, and carrots. My second trip there was more of a colossal disappointment as far as ever wanting to experience all there is to choose from on the elaborate lunch menu of over 25 dishes. I had the Kuv Teav Char which is a mixture of soft rice noodles, green onions, bean sprouts, light vinegar, and ground peanuts. The chefs may have tried to add spices to this dish because I saw them in the dish but I didn't taste any of it. I had to ask for an extra side of peanut sauce just to want to finish the plate. In retrospect, my Thai ice tea was more fulfilling than my meal.
If you like to experiment then this is the place for you. You may manage to get something you like but who really wants those probabilities with about less than hour for lunch. If your palate lacks versatility when it comes to trying something spicy then you may actually love this restaurant. For the spicy food professionals, bring your own stash of spices, request for some peanut sauce, or just order a lot of Thai ice tea. Bon appetite.
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