Hidden restaurant on busy street of Belmont

You would never see the house, unless someone told you it was there. Tucked away in a delicate Victorian home behind a forest of trees, shrubbery, and vines is Khun Pic’s Bahn Thai. The only sign of the place from the busy Belmont Street is a tall, white, steel gate.

Both the outside and inside of the restaurant hold great character – from the hidden house in the shrubs, to the outdoor seating on the brick patio, to the inside where an older couple run the business by themselves. Jon and Mary have been running Khun Pic’s since 1998. Jon is the server, busser, and dishwasher while Mary is the cook putting her many family recipes to use.

The inside of the house clearly shows the owners’ love for their home. A lovely entryway hosts seating for waiting guests. Three rooms painted with gold trim and decorated with antiques make up the entire indoor seating. Tables of two and four vary across the rooms, draped in floral tablecloths of every color. Guests are asked to seat themselves as Jon gets them ice water and menus.

Every night is different, depending on what Mary feels like cooking; some days the restaurant closes early if she doesn’t want to cook any longer. Anyone choosing to dine here must be patient, as the two-person team can only work so fast. Jon will hustle, going back and forth between the many tables. A guest will have to wait for their order to be taken, then wait for their food, and maybe even wait longer to pay for their meal if they don’t bring cash. Thankfully, there is an ATM less than a block from the house, but fighting over which person from the party has to stay behind will make good entertainment for other guests.

Sitting close to the kitchen, one can hear Mary ring a bell when food is ready. If your group is too chatty, no one will notice the hour and a half pass by – they’ll only be excited when they see the food. Jon will bring out different dishes in a crazy array of antique plates and serving platters, similar to the non-matching tablecloths.

My personal choice of the night was red curry with a medium spice level, as I did not want to turn radish red, tear up, and sweat profusely in front of my date. The sweet and spicy coconut soup brought an angelic smell to my nose and I had to hold back from looking like a wolf taking down its prey. My meal was paired with a bowl of white rice in red Depression glass. The best part was having leftovers of the delicious curry. (I don’t know how people can live their life never eating leftovers; they are my life force.)

The wait is long, but the food is worth it. One can tell the homemade recipes of Khun Pic’s have been well-worn. Jon and Mary make a delightful couple and duo for this charming restaurant.

The restaurant is located at 3429 S.E. Belmont St.; just look for the white gate in the shrubs. Hours are 6 to 9 p.m., Wednesday through Saturday.

There is no way you can be disappointed by this Thai restaurant, 5/5.