The warden was busy yesterday, so she dropped the kids off at the office and wished me the best. I forgot that it was review day when I agreed to be blessed with these kids for a few hours, but it probably worked out for everyone’s benefit. Dad tax is a thing, even in restaurants.
I’ve been meaning to get over to Mama Mon’s American and Thai Grill since they opened, but I hadn't had the opportunity before yesterday.
I found myself standing in front of the menu displays on the wall, awestruck by the number of options. I believe you should be able to find something here for anyone, even a picky eater.
I gave all four kids their choice with one caveat: you have to order something different from your siblings.
Kyla opted for the Spaghetti All the Way. Her baked spaghetti arrived, and it was even more cheesy than the title of this article. They are plainly very generous with all of their ingredients. The spaghetti was full of meat, fresh vegetables, and delicious sauce. The pasta was cooked absolutely perfectly.
Maysen chose a hamburger, adventurous eater that she is. The burger looked like an advertisement, in my opinion. It was hot and delicious, and loaded with her choice of toppings. I believe I heard a customer order their burger with chili and slaw, so it sounds like those are options as well.
Tate ordered the Beef Hibachi, and I need to be open about my experience. I try not to be biased, but that was the best beef hibachi I have ever had. There are more vegetables in the dish than I am accustomed to, but that worked out in their favor. Everything was cooked perfectly. I can tell you that Kati and Pele are masters of utilizing not only the right seasonings and sauces, but the right amount as well. That theme was present in every single dish.
Gratten is a wing man, just like me. He ordered 12 Teriyaki Wings and Fries. I capitalized “Fries” because they brought that young man a LOAD of deliciously hot and crispy fries. (Image of his dramatic expression inserted for effect.)
The wings were large, delicious, perfectly crispy, and had what I thought was just the right amount of sauce on them. There was a generous amount of sauce in the bottom of the container, just in case you’re a “dip while you eat” kind of person. If so, I can relate.
I ordered the Red Panang Curry Chicken with white rice. Curries, and I assume other dishes at Mama Mon’s, can be ordered from 1 to 3 in terms of spice level. I chose a 2, which they call “hot.” They were correct with their description...it was perfect for me. The vegetables were the product of obvious attention to detail, as they were thinly sliced and cooked perfectly. The curry was sweet and flavorful. They didn’t skimp on the coconut milk, and the chicken was very tender.
We finished eating and took enough leftovers for dinner with us. The portions are very generous. I don’t normally get into prices, because I don't know everyone's budget and prices are always subject to change. I was talking with my friend Mitchell about my experience last night at church, and he asked me what I spent to feed five of us. I gave him what I thought to be an accurate number, then pulled the receipt out of my pocket. My guess was about $30 higher than what I paid. Considering the food quality, service, and portions, I feel like the value was tremendous. For what it’s worth, they had no idea I was reviewing them until after I paid.
Every dish arrived hot and fresh, and just fast enough to let me know they were cooking to order. Mon and Mackey’s customer service was absolutely outstanding. They checked on us more than once and were so kind each time they did. They also made sure everyone working was included when I took the staff picture at the end of the visit, cementing the impression that we were treated like family throughout the entire experience.
John White is a photographer and lover of food who lives in Hamlet.
