Driving to Washington for the holidays, we decided to break up the drive into two days. We stopped in Medford for the first night and stayed at the Hampton Inn. This is the perfect place for our family. They had large rooms, a whirlpool tub, a swimming pool and spa, and breakfast the next morning. All for under $100!
We arrived early enough to track down dinner. The hotel clerk suggested we go to Porter’s, but when we got there, the wait was about 45 minutes. We checked out a few other chain restaurants, but wait times were all high. We were all road weary from the drive and I was ready to run through a fast food restaurant when David spied Thai Bistro. The decor is dated and makes the restaurant appear a little "iffy". But, i was so tired and bordering cranky, I was willing to risk it.
The restaurant was the only restaurant that was not full (not a great sign), but it was not empty either (looking better.) They sat us at a table right in front of an aquarium. The aquarium needs alot of love, BUT, it had some of the most unique saltwater creatures we have seen.
We were excited to discover that the menu was full of options that we have never seen before. We ordered the Pot Stickers, Apple Salad, Thai Beef Salad, and (of course) Pad Thai.
The attentive server brought us a complimentary cucumber salad appetizer. It was delicious. Then, the pot stickers. They were delicious. Then, the Apple salad. Guess what? DELICIOUS! And so on…
We have discovered a fabulous place to dine in Medford! The flavors of all the dishes we tried were fresh, simple yet complex, and layered. The chef is obviously well trained in Thai cuisine and takes it to an elevated gourmet level. If we closed our eyes, we could imagine ourselves dining at the fine asian Seattle restaurant, Wild Ginger. It makes me wonder how many people miss out on some incredible culinary experiences because they can’t get past the first impression.
After dinner, we went back to our room and David began the boys first chess lesson.
The next morning, after a simple breakfast, we swam in the indoor pool and spa for an hour before hitting the road.
We had a late lunch in Albany, OR. at the Allann Bros. Coffee I-5 Beanery. They had a variety of sandwiches, soups, and salads. But, the bonus was homemade pies!! YUM!
We made it to our destination (my mom’s place), late in the evening, looking forward to holiday festivities!