Often, when we get a yen for a particular kind of food, it’s one of the Asian cuisines. On a recent evening, we showed up at Mai Lee, and our waiter suggested a special that’s about to go on the menu. We were, to put it bluntly, blown away. Shrimp are batttered and fried in a sort of salt-and-pepper type batter, fairly light, and are served with loads of sauteed garlic slices and lengths of green onion. The whole thing arrived on a bed of greens with some slices of ripe tomato. The shrimp are tasty and quite greaseless, although we can’t say the same for the delicious garlic and onions. (But the salad part makes up for that, we rationalized.) The combination is wonderful.
Yes, it’s available on request. And what should one request of the waiter? "Tell them to ask for me," laughed Qui (pronounced Kwee), who’s one of the managers, "and to ask for the shrimp dish I gave you."
Mai Lee
8840 Delmar Blvd, University City
314-993-3754
PS – They’re now selling t-shirts that ask GOT PHO? Pretty amusing.