Today M- and I had lunch at Sala Thai on Cordell Avenue. Apparently there are a few of them, but I've only seen the one so far. I wish I could say it's a charming little place, but it's actually quite homely. What charm it has is in spite of its nonexistent decor and its (quite honestly) so-so food.
We had the food once before, when we were down to move M- into the house a couple of months ago. Fresh off the NY truck, we thought it would be easiest to order in. We used Takeout Taxi, and a delivery charge, a processing fee, a tip and one hour later we were dining on Sala Thai (which is all of four blocks from our house). After a day of unpacking and nesting, it seemed positively scrumptious. I know now that that had more to do with context than quality.
But the fact is, I really, really like Sala Thai. They're unassuming and straightforward--kind of blue collar in the Bethesda sea of almost theme restaurants--and the food is reasonably priced and comes quickly and our waitress couldn't have been sweeter. We were the first table for lunch at a little before noon, and one of four by the time we left. We had too-sweet (even for Thai iced coffee) Thai iced coffee, the curry chicken puff pastry special appetizer, and Kee Mao and Mussaman Curry. I don't know why they spell it that way. I think mussaman = massaman.
The Kee Mao was spicy, with tons of garlic and red pepper flakes and evil little green chilies. The curry had no coconut milk to speak of and was dominated by cumin. And the chicken puffs were... fine. The best thing about lunch was being in a friendly restaurant that wasn't mobbed or noisy, 
eating perfectly adequate food and enjoying an unobstructed panoramic view of the intersection of Cordell and Norfolk Avenues (a bank and a creepy little beer and wine shack). It may not be the prettiest intersection in town, but it's a nice break from super wide streets, mega stores and the ubiquitous, excessive traffic signs and lights that keep the state of MD safe from chaos.
There was a sign for jazz a couple of nights a week, and they also had what looked like a projector and a pull down screen (maybe for movies?). And of course a TV. What restaurant doesn't have a TV?
Sala Thai, 4828 Cordell Avenue, Bethesda, 301.654.4676
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