Chilly Trip For Dinner Leads to Spice & Rice Thai Kitchen

We wait for our takeout order in the busy Rice & Spice Thai Restaurant.

So it’s getting late and the family still hasn’t eaten dinner.

Nobody feels like cooking and we all want something different than the many great fast-food options available in Oxford.

My family’s choice on this chill November evening was to go to Rice & Spice on Jackson for Thai takeout.

When we arrived the small restaurant was jam-packed with patrons — mostly younger diners who looked like college students. There was a line for take-out but every table in the aromatic space was filled. People were smiling and laughing, seeming to enjoy their meals and urging their tablemates, with extended chopsticks or fork, to try something new.

Diners enjoy trying new Thai dishes.

We waited for our takeout order of fried rice, spicy Thai noodles and crunchy spring rolls, and of course, I took the opportunity to shoot some pictures with my Iphone, praying that my busy subjects would not confuse me for  a stalker or a pervert. I was especially fascinated with framed Asian artwork on the wall behind the service counter and the hot chillies festooned to the wall.

We hadn’t called ahead so I expected a long wait but within 15 minutes a smiling young man was handing over our orders and we were on our way. I noted that most of the wait staff looked like students also and I thought they seemed happy to be busy and pointing out great options for their customers.

We were off into the night on our way home with a delicious, spicy dinner and a determination to come back to Rice & Spice some evening for a sit-down Thai feast on site.

Story and photos by Andy Knef is managing editor of HottyToddy.com