Glad to find an Indian buffet open on Sunday just down the road a ways from me. They had a small selection, but most of the Indian standards were represented: chicken tikka masala, tandoori chicken, naan, biryani. The clientele was a mix of ethnic and white, so it seemed a safe bet that the menu was tailored for diversity. The furnishings and decor seemed fresh and new, and they surprised me by even having a bar. Really? In an Indian restaurant? Servers were polite and quick about refills and clearing off the tables. The only annoyances were the fruit flies buzzing around.

I finally managed to find myself at this Vietnamese dining destination for a dinner one evening, and I’m pleased to report that it was a gratifying experience. I ended up being the only patron on a cold Monday night, so I had the entire staff at my disposal. Thankfully they were polite and very accommodating when it came to feeding a very hungry, single female diner.

I started out with the Muc Nuong, spicy strips of squid served in a ginger-lime fish sauce. Spicy, tender and good! For the main courses, I selected Suon Non Zander’s, a house special marinated barbecue ribs, and Ca Salmon Nuong, grilled salmon with garlic broccoli. While both plates were served dry (no sauce) they still went down nicely with steamed rice. I ended the meal with an off-menu dessert, a sticky rice custard drizzled with strawberry liqueur. Yum!

Zander’s is a real treat, not your typical Vietnamese pho bowls here, though they do serve that for lunch. They renovated the old August Moon space and made it airy and roomy. Very nice, almost upscale digs–I’ve heard that they’ve hosted wedding parties here. I can’t wait to come back and sample more of their menu!

Solid, reliable food in nicely appointed digs. I found no fault with their fried corn patties or their tulip dumplings. Their tom kha gai was a balanced blend of sweet and sour, filled with chunks of chicken, tomatoes and mushrooms. Their panang curry hit the spot, though I found it mild after I requested it at medium heat. My dining companion’s green curry seem too hot for him…though I imagine he was more sensitive to spice. I even ordered a side helping of chili sauce, but it didn’t seem to boost the spice on my panang one bit.

Royal Thai is situated in a busy strip mall, neighboring other eateries. Luckily, the dining room seemed removed from the busy Greenville strip and the noisy lot. The quiet dining room and beautiful asian decor makes Royal Thai a good place for a date.