Thai Lily has a chart with five cartoon faces expressing varying degrees of red indicating heat/spice levels to help diners determine which level to choose. On a first visit, when heat and spice are main components of certain cuisines, there’s the quandary about whether to opt for mild, medium or hot because mild at some places has more kick than expected while some mediums are simply bland. Extra hot is never a consideration for me; I prefer a balance of flavors.
Still skeptical, but based on the chart, I opted for mild, which was different in the two entrees we sampled. The family-run business serves Thai and Japanese dishes, each reflected with its own side of the menu. The Japanese listings are mostly variations on yakitori, depending on number of skewers and add-ons.
The Thai offerings include curries, soups, noodles, house specialties and more. Our server said pad Thai ($10), obviously, was the most popular item along with drunken noodles ($10.50).
She noted that garlic pepper ($11) was also a favorite. Several standard appetizers are available, including egg rolls, fried shrimp balls and fried dumplings, among others. Since yakitori had such prominence on one side of the menu, we started with two skewers ($2.
50 each). They arrived at our table with an extra-large bowl of Jasmine rice. The skewered grilled chicken pieces sat in a puddle of teriyaki sauce.
The saltiness enhanced the tender meat. It was a savory and different start to the varied seasonings to come. When.