Rajesh Tripathi, left, and Chris Farnum, right, enjoy lunch at Siam Cuisine recently.

Lon Horwedel | AnnArbor.com

Without a doubt one of the most endearing sights on Christmas Eve was the owner of Siam Cuisine, Umpai Samnk, greeting us in a Santa hat. We were one of only two dining parties who ventured out at dinner time on Dec. 24. Anticipating a slow night, Samnk staffed the place all by herself, acting as hostess, chef and waitress. And she proved more than adept at the job. Samnk recognized my daughter, who had frequented Siam Cuisine as a student at nearby Community High School, and welcomed her like a long-lost relative.

Community High School students have been a big draw for Siam Cuisine, lured by the restaurant's inexpensive lunch specials. The restaurant has become a Kerrytown staple since it opened more than 10 years ago.

The restaurant is located in a former historic home, one that's dark and worn and shows its age. Walls are plastered with photos of smiling customers.

There's a huge assortment of Thai specialties, featuring pork, poultry, seafood and rice and noodle dishes, along with a dozen vegetarian options.

Our standout appetizer was the Po-Pia Tod, plump spring rolls stuffed with a plethora of vegetables and deep-fried to a perfect consistency, served with a delicious sweet and sour sauce. The tao-hu tod, deep fried been curd, also had a great sweet and sour chili peanut sauce, essential to spicing up the rather bland tofu.

The phad see-eiw came with thin noodles, which didn't absorb the sauce as well as the thick ones I've had with this dish, though it was fine.

The best item we sampled was one that could have been relatively routine: the kao phad, Thai style fried rice. Full of big pieces of hearty vegetables, the rice was light and fluffy and not at all greasy.

Steamed chicken curry with straw mushrooms, bamboo shoots, baby corn and basil leaves was garnished in coconut milk and lime leaf, providing a light, refreshing dish. That same appealing taste was in the tao-hu phad prig-pao, with tofu and broccoli. Though I enjoyed the syrupy garlic sauce on the nua gata, beef presented on a sizzling hot plate, the beef was overcooked and tough.

Though this isn't the most spectacular Thai food in town, it provides one of the most reasonably priced dining experiences downtown, with some dishes as low as $6.95 and many in the $8 range.

Despite the fact that the owner was operating solo, we received our entrees quickly, delivered with a smile. We were astonished that she could pull off delivering all of our meals so fast, while providing the same service to another party of five that walked in about the same time.

Siam Cuisine remains a nice destination for its warm service, great prices and solid Thai fare.

Julie Halpert reviews restaurants for AnnArbor.com.