Love at First Bite - My observations, thoughts and frustrations

[junglechef]

After finding one of my favorites restaurants closed (I forgot which day they are not open) I was turning around and came across Love at First Bite, which I've known of the name but never knew where it was or seeked it out as everything I've heard was for it's desserts and I didn't realize they served other things as well. After seeing the menu boards outside with pictures of burgers I figured I'd try it out.

The initial sight of a few lovely tables out in a courtyard with a small cafe inside (there is also a covered coffee bar outside) was comforting until going inside where most of the walls were covered with uneven mirrors making it quite disorienting and feeling so overwhelming that took away from what could have been a pleasant and quaint space. Also the lack of forethought in regard to the arrangement of the seating made it very difficult to get across the room which only had around a half dozen tables. But I find often they place the tables with space for getting by only if the chairs are pushed all the way in which is quite the opposite of how many people sit here. Next the waiter came with three menus for each of us, another thing I find to be unnecessarily confusing, one large one for food, one for drinks and desserts and a third for additions of both. So besides having to juggle all of these one had to figure out where to put them all, six for two diners, on the small table that already had some of the normal accoutrements on it.

As there was only a few menu items we easily decided what to have by what looked good in accompanying photos. The waiter, as was all the staff, very friendly and surprisingly knowledgable, but I felt it was unnecessary to yell our order into his headset, a habit of many when speaking on a cell phone, while still standing right at our table so much so that it actually startled me.

First came my BBQ Pulled Pork sandwich and looked just like the photo to their credit as it can be a fickle at best occurrence here. The pork was really nice but the BBQ sauce squirted on top was not cooked out having bits of crunchy raw onion that premenated an acrid flavor into the sauce. Did they just adjust a store bought one? The BBQ sauce also was in a squeeze bottle on the table as well a Western style ketchup and a mayo which I didn't try as it was actually hot due to sitting right next to the window. The problem with the sandwich was not only that the meat wasn't warm but any of it under the top layer of sauce was too dry as is most pulled pork before finishing the preparation by mixing in the sauce ideally over heat right before serving resulting in a moist warm pile of goodness. The bun was excellent but quite small, perhaps 4" in diameter, and only looked presentable since it was served on also a small plate. It came with soggy pale fries and a nice but rather bland coleslaw. I realize that in general Western food does not have the strong flavors of Thai cuisine but I wish that would not be interpreted as it having to be lack taste. I have only two more words to say on this, salt and pepper! And yes, I could have added my own S & P but would they have provided a spoon and bowl for mixing it to get even seasoning and while I'm at it could I have also mixed the sauce with the meat on their stovetop? But just perhaps that would have alleviated the point of eating out.

My lunch dates "Fish Burger" came next. In quotes not only because that's what they called it but also because I have found it in my culinary "jai dee" to finally accept pork burger and even chicken burger but a Fried Fish Sandwich of three fish sticks, just because it's served on a burger roll, is not a burger. Once again it came with the same feeble fries but also the fish was the same, pale and soggy. I can only use the technical gourmand term, ICK! Quite obviously they didn't know how to correctly deep fry, either taking items out too early, cooking them thawed when they should have frozen (as with many store bought french fries), the temp. of the oil was too low etc. all which could have easily been remedied by just looking at the food! It did come with a squirt of a very nice tartar sauce but one only got to taste it with one or two of the bites in the middle and by spreading it on the bun it would have worked fine except their way it just added another mushy component to the mushy dish. As much as I hate when other people say this, folks this is not rocket science, just basic culinary sensibilities.

Now for the renown pudding (a little shout-out for all the Brits who might still be reading this). We had a tirramasu which they substituted cake for lady fingers. Did not work as if you adjust one ingredient others might have to be adjusted too. The cake absorbed too much alcohol making it unpleasant. I had the Apple Pie with homemade Ice Cream. Though the pie looked very nice with good height just like I prefer it was not sweet. The Rum Raisin Ice Cream was inedible as I think they soaked the raisins in rum, perhaps Sam Song, that when biting into one experienced an very strong horrible taste of raw alcohol. When using liquers or liquors one should cook off the alcohol or use it sparingly and correctly. Most of us know that to flambé is more than just for the show.

I ordered the Brewed Starbuck Coffee (90 bht for a small cup) but they were out. There are two Starbucks within walking distance. I was told by their barriasta that they don't have Brewed Coffee today only Arrabica and Robusta, well at least my dining disasters can have some good laughs involved. But once again a short walk and only 70 bht later they could have found out what Brewed Starbuck Coffee was. I ordered a Brewed Arrabica Coffee (don't even ask) and noticed they didn't have a coffee brewer (see Starbuck please) and were serving me an Americano from an esspressso machine.

I know that my observations are not life threatening and some a bit picky but this small meal cost, before tip, 715 bht for two! For that price I feel that it is not unreasonable to expect that they do things more or less right. An hour on the internet, even with Thai language searches, could have solved most if not all these problems. Everything was off the mark but my main point for posting this thread is that it doesn't have to be with a little more (professional) care. That price did include a Lemon Ice Tea, the only thing that was not falang and it was fine. But keep in mind that this was not a Thai restaurant with a few falang items but the opposite (I believe the whole food menu consisted of Western items). While I'm already going there might as well mention that it was also not one of those places of Thaied Falang food, or Western food made for the Thai palette, so though I didn't and am not asking, I don't want to hear people telling me that probably "that's how they wanted it to be" or them saying "that's how we make it" because I would respond "yeah obviously" while I was thinking "you wanted to recreate a wonderful dish that is quite simple to make and turn it into something spectacualry mediocre at best". It's only simple American bar food (at quite expensive prices) after all. I have to ask do they actually taste anything? Even if they don't know what it is suppose to taste like, an easily remedied problem which for now on I'll refer as the Starbucks Syndrome, or don't like the item, they must know if it taste's bad! Like, I think this isn't good, maybe something isn't quite right.

The luncheon ended with me waiting for my change and after a while I found my waiter standing in the front door staring out into the rain with my check and payment. I guess he was waiting for it to stop but if a restaurant has the cashier in another building, maybe not the best plan for efficiency, then the staff should not be afraid to grab one of the many umbrellas provided at the door and retrieve my change.

Love at First Bite presents itself as a Hi-So establishment but just nothing is actually Hi-So about it besides the customers and the prices they are paying (but there is a good chance that I misunderstand the term) and what they are trying, but fail, to do. If anybody interprets this as a personal attack on this shop please understand that I'm mainly using it as another example of what could have been instead of it being a poor attempt of what it wanted to be.

I expect some will consider this as just another rant, or another food rant by yours truly, and while I do admit I can be a bit overly verbose and while at the same time I don't having any delusional ideas that any changes will result from my suggestions I do hope some readers enjoy my musings on a topic that "some" of us go on and on and on about!

[Thailand]

Enough info here to make a movie!

[trainman34014]

Thanks for the heads up as i've been thinking about trying it. However; it seems to be no love at first bite, or last bite for that matter. Think i'll stick to The Dukes, The Hideaway, Implaplao, and all the other places i know are a lot better.

Edited June 24, 2013 by trainman34014

[Mekong Bob]

Most informative! I would very much like to enlist "junglechef" as TV Forum's chief food critic and to ask him to report on Chiang Mai restaurants on a regular basis.

Excellent report!

[uptheos]

Enough info here to make a movie!

One of the Ann Rice vampire novels?

I disagreed with junglechef quite some time ago over a restaurant, but that was mainly because I knew a lot more about it and its history, who actually owned it, the hygeine problems it had encountered and how it was run.

However, since then I have found the majority of his reviews to be very thorough and helpful, though I personally wouldn't order a meal in cake shop.

[hellodolly]

We go there very seldom and when we do it is mostly for my self to have a piece of the grasshopper pie and the wife loves their coffee rolls. Have had their hamburger. Nothing special about it.

But when they do the grasshopper pie correctly it is to write home about.

Have had it where you almost needed a cleaver to cut through the graham cracker crust.

But the wife has enjoyed every coffee roll.

[uptheos]

We go there very seldom and when we do it is mostly for my self to have a piece of the grasshopper pie and the wife loves their coffee rolls. Have had their hamburger. Nothing special about it.

But when they do the grasshopper pie correctly it is to write home about.

Have had it where you almost needed a cleaver to cut through the graham cracker crust.

But the wife has enjoyed every coffee roll.

I understand they use real grasshoppers here.

[alfieconn]

We go there very seldom and when we do it is mostly for my self to have a piece of the grasshopper pie and the wife loves their coffee rolls. Have had their hamburger. Nothing special about it.

But when they do the grasshopper pie correctly it is to write home about.

Have had it where you almost needed a cleaver to cut through the graham cracker crust.

But the wife has enjoyed every coffee roll.

I understand they use real grasshoppers here.

Do they kill them first or just let them jump around in the pastry until the heat gets them

[alexander69]

Jungle chef must be retired to take the time to write that story, i am a chef too.I know where your coming from mate and can relate to all you have written.Maybe you should open your own place and then see what the Thai Visa crew have to say about it.

[mic6ard]

Love at First Bite = Hiso??? Really?

It's more known for their bake goods. Been there quite often, but for their cakes and coffee.

Some good, some not so good.

[Ulysses G.]

A lot of things bother the OP that do not bother me - like uneven mirrors and the way they place the tables - but I sympathize with some of the complaints about the food.

The Thai owners lived in Los Angeles for many years, before returning to Thailand and opening up Love at First Bite. I find both of them very pleasant. When they first opened, it was very difficult to find decent Western desserts in Chiang Mai and there were no Starbucks at all. They used to import Starbucks coffee from the U.S. and many people here had never tried it. Their desserts were excellent and that is pretty much all they did in the beginning.

I am not sure exactly how long ago they opened, but it was quite a while ago. The place was always sort of a secret because it was so out of the way back then (before the Duke's opened nearby), but it was much beloved by most people that knew about it.

Eventually, they started getting many more Thai customers - mostly tourists from Bangkok - and started adding savory items to the menu. I never thought the other items were as good as the desserts, but they were as good as most other Western restaurants in Chiang Mai at the time.

Thai people seem to love it and you can see cars from Bangkok pulling into their parking lot all day long. Thais are their main customer base and is why they are so successful.

In my opinion, their star started to fade, over time, simply because they started getting some real competition. I still love some of their desserts like their apple and rhubarb pies, but, there is also the Duke's, Better is Better and Baan Bakery to contend with. In short, I only go there for desserts and only for some of them.

Edited June 24, 2013 by Ulysses G.

[junglechef]

WOW! I think Dave's "Why don't we all just get along" post is really working. Thanks for all the well mannered responses. alexander69, yes a retired Chef who knows the biz well enough to not have the urge to do it again here, mainly because I think it would not be enjoyable, which is why I always did it, dealing with some of the staffing, supply and other necessary elements (never the less the price points). Also if your going to be a Chef driven place it's a younger man's game but I loved every second (and 16 hr. day) of it. Perhaps again when my three son's, the oldest 9 now, who are quite capable around a blade and heat source, actually want to have their own restaurant as they say they do now, I'll be the old fat falang greeting people and buying them a glass of vino.

[Genericnic]

I've been there a few time over the past couple of years and agree that most of the desserts are good. They do loose a few points with me though for serving Starbucks coffee when there is so much good, locally grown coffee available in Chiang Mai. Starbucks was not that good back in the states and hasn't gotten any better since being exported.

David

[CMKiwi]

I've been there a few time over the past couple of years and agree that most of the desserts are good. They do loose a few points with me though for serving Starbucks coffee when there is so much good, locally grown coffee available in Chiang Mai. Starbucks was not that good back in the states and hasn't gotten any better since being exported.

David

Agreed...Starbucks is overpriced and overated.

[CMKiwi]

Yes some of the street food is very good. And Im sure people will raise the hygiene factor but I can honestly say Ive never had a bad belly from any of it. The street food out in Mae Rim is good too, although there are some subtle differences from one vendor to the next. I have yet to find a truely terrible street vendor...maybe Im just lucky. And I enjoy the real Thai taste instead of the watered down rubbish we had to accept back in NZ. The local people amaze me with what they do and so quickly.

Just for a change Im off to try Sausage King tomorrow. With all the feedbackIve read from TV its bound to be good

[Genericnic]

Yes some of the street food is very good. And Im sure people will raise the hygiene factor but I can honestly say Ive never had a bad belly from any of it. The street food out in Mae Rim is good too, although there are some subtle differences from one vendor to the next. I have yet to find a truely terrible street vendor...maybe Im just lucky. And I enjoy the real Thai taste instead of the watered down rubbish we had to accept back in NZ. The local people amaze me with what they do and so quickly.

Just for a change Im off to try Sausage King tomorrow. With all the feedbackIve read from TV its bound to be good

I'm with you CMKiwi. I'll take street food anytime. I've eaten street food all over SE Asia and never had a bad belly from it either. The dumbed-down Thai food they serve in hotels to tourists should come with a label that says barely made in Thailand.

David

[elektrified]

Yes some of the street food is very good. And Im sure people will raise the hygiene factor but I can honestly say Ive never had a bad belly from any of it. The street food out in Mae Rim is good too, although there are some subtle differences from one vendor to the next. I have yet to find a truely terrible street vendor...maybe Im just lucky. And I enjoy the real Thai taste instead of the watered down rubbish we had to accept back in NZ. The local people amaze me with what they do and so quickly.

Just for a change Im off to try Sausage King tomorrow. With all the feedbackIve read from TV its bound to be good

I'm with you CMKiwi. I'll take street food anytime. I've eaten street food all over SE Asia and never had a bad belly from it either. The dumbed-down Thai food they serve in hotels to tourists should come with a label that says barely made in Thailand.

David

Next time you fancy a bite of "street food" take a close look at how the food is stored (often chicken and shellfish is kept out unrefrigerated), handled (most often without latex gloves), and prepared. Then take a look at how they wash the dishes. You may change your mind. After you've had food poisoning a couple of times you begin to notice things like that. My partner and her family won't touch street food and they are Thai. I'll agree that some proper sit-down Thai restaurants aren't much better.

[Genericnic]

Yes some of the street food is very good. And Im sure people will raise the hygiene factor but I can honestly say Ive never had a bad belly from any of it. The street food out in Mae Rim is good too, although there are some subtle differences from one vendor to the next. I have yet to find a truely terrible street vendor...maybe Im just lucky. And I enjoy the real Thai taste instead of the watered down rubbish we had to accept back in NZ. The local people amaze me with what they do and so quickly.

Just for a change Im off to try Sausage King tomorrow. With all the feedbackIve read from TV its bound to be good

I'm with you CMKiwi. I'll take street food anytime. I've eaten street food all over SE Asia and never had a bad belly from it either. The dumbed-down Thai food they serve in hotels to tourists should come with a label that says barely made in Thailand.

David

Next time you fancy a bite of "street food" take a close look at how the food is stored (often chicken and shellfish is kept out unrefrigerated), handled (most often without latex gloves), and prepared. Then take a look at how they wash the dishes. You may change your mind. After you've had food poisoning a couple of times you begin to notice things like that. My partner and her family won't touch street food and they are Thai. I'll agree that some proper sit-down Thai restaurants aren't much better.

I doubt that they have changed their methods over the 40+ years I have been eating street food from Mexico to SE Asia. Maybe I am just blessed with a good constitution but I'll bet is more likely that I follow the old British colonial maxim: If you can't cook it, boil it, or peal it, don't eat it. If I see a street vendor that has something I like and it looks like it has been sitting out a while, I just ask them to cook me some fresh. Never had a refusal. Plus, I tend to eat at places that have a lot of locals eating there. If a vendor starts poisoning or killing off the locals, they will not be in business long. Following those basic rules has kept me healthy and well fed for a long time.

David

[Mapguy]

An astonishing review! And I was claiming to be CM's most verbose poster!! Hah!! But I did make it to the end of this review, which OP obviously worked very hard on!

I haven't been there in a while, but I agree with UG that some of the deserts are terrific, especially the apple pie! A "really good" apple pie around here is not cheap ! Generally, the grub has been quite presentable, but, yes, a pit pricey. All in all, I have found the place quite pleasant, and I think we ought to remember that we are in Chiang Mai, not Paris. And that ThaiVisa Chiang Mai is not the Michelin.

Edited June 24, 2013 by Mapguy

[joeaverage]

i think we should remember that poorly prepared food is just that, poorly prepared, especially when compared to it local peers

Edited June 24, 2013 by joeaverage

[hellodolly]

Yes some of the street food is very good. And Im sure people will raise the hygiene factor but I can honestly say Ive never had a bad belly from any of it. The street food out in Mae Rim is good too, although there are some subtle differences from one vendor to the next. I have yet to find a truely terrible street vendor...maybe Im just lucky. And I enjoy the real Thai taste instead of the watered down rubbish we had to accept back in NZ. The local people amaze me with what they do and so quickly.

Just for a change Im off to try Sausage King tomorrow. With all the feedbackIve read from TV its bound to be good

I'm with you CMKiwi. I'll take street food anytime. I've eaten street food all over SE Asia and never had a bad belly from it either. The dumbed-down Thai food they serve in hotels to tourists should come with a label that says barely made in Thailand.

David

Next time you fancy a bite of "street food" take a close look at how the food is stored (often chicken and shellfish is kept out unrefrigerated), handled (most often without latex gloves), and prepared. Then take a look at how they wash the dishes. You may change your mind. After you've had food poisoning a couple of times you begin to notice things like that. My partner and her family won't touch street food and they are Thai. I'll agree that some proper sit-down Thai restaurants aren't much better.

I doubt that they have changed their methods over the 40+ years I have been eating street food from Mexico to SE Asia. Maybe I am just blessed with a good constitution but I'll bet is more likely that I follow the old British colonial maxim: If you can't cook it, boil it, or peal it, don't eat it. If I see a street vendor that has something I like and it looks like it has been sitting out a while, I just ask them to cook me some fresh. Never had a refusal. Plus, I tend to eat at places that have a lot of locals eating there. If a vendor starts poisoning or killing off the locals, they will not be in business long. Following those basic rules has kept me healthy and well fed for a long time.

David

Years ago when I first came to Thailand (about 8 years ago)

I was depending a lot on Lonely Planet as a guide. I remember in the where to eat in Chiang Mai that street venders were good because you can see the way the food is being handled.

About 50 years ago I worked for a hotel and restaurant supply company. We even had a large sheet metal shop to make all the stainless steel fixtures in the restaurant. Every once in a while a Restaurant would completely remake the kitchen. You would almost quit eating in restaurants if you saw some of those kitchens after every thing was removed.

[ARISTIDE]

I like their coconut cream pie and the key lime pie. Ive had the burger it was horrible. The owner is a friend of my mother and she is in her 70s I think she doesn't like to eat meat or beef that's why the food sucks.

.

[junglechef]

Personally love street food here but am careful only to eat food that is either cooked from raw state for me unless I know the place well. For example a Noodle Soup where they put cooked pork that has been sitting at room temp. (34 degree) into a warm broth with freshly cooked noodles or Pork La Na or Ka Moo which is sitting there over a low heat source. Never mussles! And I also check if the raw meat is iced. Sure I've had some upset stomachs in my day and a few really bad ones, but that could happen anywhere and I'd rather suffer a few times than always worry and not enjoy life to the fullest (I partake in quite a bit of dangerous adventure sports too). Been to over 50 countries many using the Lonely Planet but have found their food suggestions usually aren't any good. Can't compare Thai food in another country as I wouldn't Mexican food here to in Mexico.

So I gather (OP here btw) from some of the well meaning and helpful posts that this place hasn't kept up with the times which can be necessary in an ever evolving industry especially with today's food trends and fads. I wish the owners continued good luck in their endeavor and will be sure to make it back to try some the other desserts that other posters so highly recommend.

Edited June 25, 2013 by junglechef

[ThaiPauly]

Most informative! I would very much like to enlist "junglechef" as TV Forum's chief food critic and to ask him to report on Chiang Mai restaurants on a regular basis.

Excellent report!

Yeah...but make the reviews a bit shorter !!

[junglechef]

Most informative! I would very much like to enlist "junglechef" as TV Forum's chief food critic and to ask him to report on Chiang Mai restaurants on a regular basis.

Excellent report!

Yeah...but make the reviews a bit shorter !!

Thanks for the suggestion but it wasn't suppose to be a review as such since I only tried a few items, more like my thoughts, observations and frustrations as the title reflected (and this was the pared down version of these for the sake of all involved!). A critique as Mekong Bob suggests? Very much so with more to follow as he also recommends.

Edited June 25, 2013 by junglechef

[naboo]

The name says Bangkok Hiso all over it. The cars outside are Bangkok Hiso. It is Western food to Thais as River Market is Thai food to westerners. Acknowledging this doesn't make the OP's complaints more valid.

[hellodolly]

The name says Bangkok Hiso all over it. The cars outside are Bangkok Hiso. It is Western food to Thais as River Market is Thai food to westerners. Acknowledging this doesn't make the OP's complaints more valid.

I believe the founders are HiSo.

Some thing to do with starting a hospital and living in the States for a long time.

Still the grasshopper pie even with a tough gram cracker crust is mighty tasty.

[uptheos]

Most informative! I would very much like to enlist "junglechef" as TV Forum's chief food critic and to ask him to report on Chiang Mai restaurants on a regular basis.

Excellent report!

Yeah...but make the reviews a bit shorter !!

Thanks for the suggestion but it wasn't suppose to be a review as such since I only tried a few items, more like my thoughts, observations and frustrations as the title reflected (and this was the pared down version of these for the sake of all involved!). A critique as Mekong Bob suggests? Very much so with more to follow as he also recommends.

But you do put forward a good review and you stick by your guns (as I found out), which I appreciate, you're not afraid to go toe to toe with someone on your opinion. I hate these food reviews that start out as one thing and end up as another. Do it, do it honestly and stick by your guns through good, bad or whatever we throw at you.

[hml367]

The name says Bangkok Hiso all over it. The cars outside are Bangkok Hiso. It is Western food to Thais as River Market is Thai food to westerners. Acknowledging this doesn't make the OP's complaints more valid.

I believe the founders are HiSo.

Some thing to do with starting a hospital and living in the States for a long time.

Still the grasshopper pie even with a tough gram cracker crust is mighty tasty.

Where did you hear about starting a hospital? I am just curious, as I have been in a conversation with the owners and I don't recall anything about a hospital. Could be, just, as I said, I don't recall any mention of that. My recollection is working for an airline for one and a computer company for the other.

MSPain

[junglechef]

The name says Bangkok Hiso all over it. The cars outside are Bangkok Hiso. It is Western food to Thais as River Market is Thai food to westerners. Acknowledging this doesn't make the OP's complaints more valid.

Glad we can agree on some points and have no problem disagreeing on other's, agreeing to disagree is so with the new "why can't we all just get along" attitude here! So with that constructive attitude I'm also interested in your opinion. What statement of mine do you consider not valid and what are your thoughts on them?