You know how ever since the days of ‘Cheers’, there’s always been that myth of finding that one special place where everyone knows your name? I’ve finally found mine! Although with this place, they know something far better than my name…

    They know exactly where I want to sit and what I want to eat. Who cares about my name when there’s delicious food to be eaten!

That mythically wonderful place is 4912 Thai Cuisine, a charming restaurant nestled in a little art deco style building in front of the Regal Cinema in Sterling, Virginia. (They also have a location in downtown DC, on Wisconsin Avenue.) If you’re in the area, trust me, you can’t afford to pass this place up. 4912 routinely serves up the absolute best Thai food I have ever had, and believe me, I’ve had a lot of Thai food!

    Since my diet these days is so incredibly restricted, I have yet to sample the majority of their menu. Although, in all honesty, I can’t say that’s entirely due to my limited diet; it’s more due to the fact that the very first thing I tried was so unbelievably, surprisingly, unendingly delicious that I just can’t stand the thought of missing out on a single chance to taste it. It’s just that good.

    My regular is the Garlic Sauce Chicken, always ordered ‘dinner size’ so that I can take the leftovers of the delectable garlicy heaven back home with me. Oooh, soooo gooood… The garlic is just so perfect, I honestly have no idea how they do it. Whenever I’ve tried making garlic chicken at home, it just doesn’t turn out right. It’s as if the garlic is just too strong, to the point where it over powers everything and you get this kind of sickening garlic odor to everything.

    But not at 4912. No, the garlic is proportioned to perfection. The sauce is smooth, the chicken so moist, sliced so thinly, then topped with little shavings of roasted garlic just to add a bit of a surprise to the occasional bite where you happen to pick up a little bit of the garlic dust by pure serendipity. The garlic dances in your mouth, flirting with the other flavors of sweetness and just a hint of what I think is citrus, but I’m not entirely sure. Whatever it is they put in there, it couldn’t be more perfect, it couldn’t be more fresh, it couldn’t be more… like utter heaven.

    As good as the garlic sauce chicken is, oooh, the Bangkok Steak… That’s my little secret love affair at 4912. Why? Because I’m technically not supposed to have beef anymore. But oh, it’s so good! The last time my Dad went with me to 4912, that’s what he ordered. I snuck a bite, even though I probably shouldn’t have and I’m sure if my Doctor saw this he’d be less than pleased. But I just couldn’t help myself, it smelled so… so… divine!

    So I begged and since my Dad’s always been such a nice guy, he let me have a bite. That one bite was easily the best steak I’ve ever had in my life. And I’ve eaten at some of the best steak restaurants in the DC area. Heck, even in the country! I’ve had filet mignon at the Capital Grille, The Tower Club, Morton’s in Los Angeles, and so on. But this wasn’t even a filet, it was simply a NY Steak! But when it comes to the flavors, there was nothing simplistic about it. I don’t know what they put in it, but whatever it is, I want more! One day when I’m finally allowed to have steak again, I know exactly where I’m going!

    Beyond the main course, there are three smaller elements that put the final finishing touches on this perfect dining experience.

    First, the Satay. Little strips of chicken, seasoned and grilled perfectly, drenched in a little pool of peanut sauce.

    And speaking of the peanut sauce, that’s the second – and perhaps, most important – element. I’m not typically a big fan of peanut sauce, it always seemed just like spicy peanut butter to me. I couldn’t quite get past how overwhelmingly peanuty it was at every other Thai restaurant I’d ever been to. But here? Ooooh! It’s so good I’d drink it in a glass, take a bath in it, or hook it up as a direct peanut sauce IV! It has a distinct peanut flavor, but they’ve balanced it beautifully against something charmingly sweet. I haven’t been able to put my finger on what it is, but the juxtaposition of peanuts and sweetness is truly masterful. I’ve put that peanut sauce on just about anything, from the garlic sauce chicken to the bangkok steak, just plain rice to the vegetables that accompany the various entrees. I even tried it on Mango with Sticky Rice! It wasn’t just good, it was gorgeous!

    That brings me to the final element. I’m a big fan of mango with sticky rice. It’s such a seemingly simple dessert, yet when you combine rice, coconut milk, and mango, it flowers into something truly fantastic, satisfying, and delightful. Yet again, just like everything else I’ve ever ordered at 4912, they’ve surpassed the competition, even with something as basic as mango with sticky rice.

    As great as all this is, I’m sure all of you know that even the best food in the world can fall short if the service isn’t up to par, or if the ambiance is too harsh. Even here 4912 excels. The ambiance is quiet, relaxed, cool; the music provides nothing more than a soft backdrop to the enjoyment of conversation. And the staff who knows what I want to order the minute I walk in the door? Not only are they fast, efficient, and courteous, but they’re also friendly, welcoming, and very kind. There’s such a genuine nature behind everything they do. When my Mom and I walk in, they always instantly smile, wave, and ask how we’re doing. Even if they’re across the room, they light up and wave hello.

    But what I truly appreciate the most about the staff at 4912, is just how truly understanding they are. These days my health is having quite an impact on my appearance and how I’m able to cope with being out in public. I hate it, but what’s the alternative, never going out? That just won’t do. But it means that when I do go out, I have to do things to make sure that I don’t end up miserable in minutes. That includes things like wearing comfortable clothes that are definitely less than fashionable, as well as making sure that my feet are elevated so that they don’t swell and leave me in agonizing pain for days to come. Whenever I go to 4912, I always position myself so that I can – as discreetly as possible – sit Indian-style (always with my skirt between my feet and the booth itself) so that my feet aren’t left to the mercy of gravity. I’m sure it’s not every day they see someone sit with their feet up on the booth, but you know what? They’ve never once said anything about it. They’ve never once given me a sideways glance, never once asked any questions. I can’t even begin to express how much I appreciate that. It’s really hard going through life with difficulties like this, it’s hard standing out in the crowd when you wish you could just blend in and go about your business. But when your health gets in the way, sometimes you have no choice but to do what you have to do to survive. Sometimes that means staring down stern, judgmental looks, or answering awkward questions. But I know that at 4912, I don’t have to worry about any of that. I can be me, I can do what I have to do, and not worry about being judged – all while eating the best Thai food in the world.

    So if you’re in the DC area, please stop by the 4912 Thai in Sterling or downtown DC and order a plate of garlic sauce chicken with some peanut sauce on the side. Nothing picks me up after a long day of doctors, hospitals, and tests like a trip to 4912! When I’m there, I know I’m in a place filled with good food and kind people. And really, what could be better than that? 🙂