OK — real talk.

It took me over a year to give Teak House on Highway 98 in Daphne a try. I judged a book by its cover. The front of this Thai restaurant just doesn't draw you in; in fact, it gives off kind of a sketchy vibe.

But one evening, my husband I were craving Thai food in a major way. We had recently visited Lek's Taste of Thailand in Montgomery, and the taste of that amazing pad thai was almost enough to make me want to pack up and move to the capital, just so I could have authentic Thai food whenever I wanted. Let's face it — Baldwin County is not a hot spot for international food.

But alas, I don't really want to live in Montgomery, so we started searching for local Thai food, which brought us to Teak House.

I've now been three times and got the same thing every time — the big bowl citrus herb noodle soup, or Guay Tiew Thom Yum — and I'm not usually the person who finds something they like and orders it every time. There is just something about that tangy, flavorful broth that draws me in, and I can't get over it. After I've finished all of my rice noodles and vegetables, I drink the broth until there isn't a drop left in the bowl. It's that good.

Scott has branched out a little, and I've tried his pad thai (pretty good) and glass noodle stir-fry (excellent). I have not tried a curry yet — mostly because I am generally not the biggest fan of Thai curries — but I have heard good things about them.

A few things to keep in mind when dining at Teak House: 1. The food definitely outshines the service. 2. Don't be afraid of the hotter spice levels if you like spicy food — even the Thai hot is palatable. 3. Get ready for a meal full of fresh ingredients for a low cost. Most entrees are in the $9 to $15 range.

Restaurant review

NAME: Teak House Thai Cuisine

LOCATION: 1703 U.S. Highway 98, Daphne

CONTACT: 251-625-8680

WEBSTIE: TeakHouseThai.com