The spin-off from fashion boutique/restaurant It’s Happened to be a Closet is akin to its big sister—a chic and kitschy spot catering to a well-heeled crowd who can cope with the steep prices. Located among other small eateries, this small café stands out with an eye-catching neon sign and colorful, retro décor. A handful of low-rise tables and funky chairs surround an open kitchen, while a bakery display filled with drool-worthy cakes helps lure in passers-by. Shame, the food doesn’t show as much creativity as the setting. The menu plays it safe with a small selection of familiar Thai and international fare. Thai dishes are either pub grub standards like fried sundried salted beef or uninspired one-dish items such as pad thai and American fried rice. Even the recommended dry tom yam noodles with pork knuckle is so-so at best. International food fares slightly better. On our last visit, the server said the Vietnamese fresh spring roll was a favorite, don’t make our mistake. Though stuffed with chunky moo yaw, the insipid rolls were a disaster. The wrapping flour was dry, the dip sweet and the accompanying greens unacceptably old. The grilled vegetables salad, including a handful of rocket, sliced tomato and grilled Portobello mushrooms doused in olive oil and sprinkled with feta cheese, is a better starter. Six pastas are available with the carbonara and spaghetti with clams in tomato sauce the highlights. In fact, the quality of the ingredients is decent. The problem is with the execution. Even with the small, simple menu, the kitchen still struggles with consistency. The safest bet here is the desserts. The dark chocolate Morten Loves Me, though not to-die-for, is dependably luscious. There is also a variety of loaves from black ink to rye-walnut that you can take home. Service is the saving grace. Their recommendations often misfire, but they are friendly, attentive and willing to listen to your complaints. All in all, this is a cool, promising place, but it really needs to step up the quality. Otherwise, the only reason we’ll come back is because we happened to be there.
