Food *** (3 stars)

Service ** (2 stars)

Atmosphere**1/2 (2 1/2 stars)

I didn't give My Thai, Mount Vernon's new Thai restaurant, much chance to survive until I ate there.

Basement restaurants by their nature don't have much curb appeal. Add to that the competition: Thairish in the same block (true, it's mostly carry out), Thai Landing -- almost a Baltimore institution -- farther north on Charles, and Ban Thai just to its south.

Poor:]