TravelValue: Restaurants Across The U.S.: Thailand

Showing posts with label Thailand. Show all posts

Wednesday, March 21, 2018

Portland, OR: This Peacock Has A "Plume" Of Flavor

Thai Peacock
219 SW 9th Avenue
Portland, OR 97205
Phone number (503) 228-2310
Website: thaipeacockpdx.com
Prices: $$$$

After going to a matinee play at the Armory a few blocks away, we were feeling a bit peckish and the menu in the window looked interesting, so we decided to give them a try. The place is small on the inside with 6 or 7 tables (one big family table) downstairs and a few more in the small loft above the kitchen. The service was efficient, a little too efficient actually, and friendly, and the prices reasonable, particularly for downtown Portland.

Not overly hungry, hence the term "peckish", we ordered the Chicken Teriyaki Balls (#2 - $6) as a starter and for entrees, my wife the Pad Ruam Mit (#37 - $10) stir fry and I the Kaeng Matsaman (#28 - $10.50) curry. I also had a Ninkasi IPA ($5) that was very cold and tasty.

The teriyaki balls came out post haste. They looked burnt, but it must have been the teriyaki sauce because they were delish, having been drizzled with a creamy garlic sauce and served with fresh, sliced cucumber and zesty sriracha pineapple chili sauce ... YUM!

Then we experienced the sole downer of the meal and one of my primary pet peaves. We had barely started eating our appetizer when our entrees arrived. Fast is usually good, but there is nothing I hate worse in a restaurant than the main course coming before the appetizer has been finished and the plates cleared away. BUMMER!

My wife's meal had broccoli, carrot, baby corn, cabbage, onion, bell pepper, shitake and white mushrooms, bean sprouts and scallions stir fried with garlic and tofu. A little bland by my standards, she thought it was wonderful and that is all that counts. My "matsaman" (spelled "massaman" at every other Thai restaurant I have ever been to) curry was rich, creamy, delicious and just the way I like it with slices of beef, potato, onion carrot and peanuts, both meals accompanied by a side of steamed rice.

Overall, the food, service and prices were excellent, but I have to deduct 2 Bombs (1 Star) for bringing the entrees WAY too soon. Otherwise, this was a "top notch" meal worthy of my highest rating. So, if downtown enjoying a play at the Armory, perusing the books at Powell's (just a block away), or whatever else you may be doing, Thai Peacock is worth a visit.

CombatCritic Gives Thai Peacock 8 Bombs Out Of 10 ... More Bombs Are Better!

Eight Bombs Equates To:

Translation for Civilians: "What-The-Fuck ... Over!"

Monday, August 29, 2016

Lawrence, Kansas: Middle Of The Road Thai On Mass

Baan Thai

741 Massachusetts Street
Lawrence, KS 66044
Phone: (785) 856-8424
Website: baanthaikansas.com/lawrence

With a love for Thai food, I had high expectations after reading the rave reviews, particularly by my friend Scott T. on Yelp who (normally) has very similar opinions as mine when it comes to food.

In the middle of downtown Mass Street (as residents of LFK call it), I had stopped by Baan Thai for a look once before and the menu seemed appetizing and reasonable, but the decor put me off as it did on this our first visit. With cement floors, orange plastic-backed chairs (which, by the way, possibly acrylic and not cheap), and little decor, the inside is not warm and inviting, at least to my taste.

Josh, our server, was very nice, efficient and professional, but the dishes came out one at a time. Josh said it was because they are "made to order", but are most decent restaurants making food to order, bringing appetizers out together and entrees all at the same time?

First, the Pot Stickers (6 for $4.95) came out. The pork, cabbage, and onion dumplings were deep-fried and served with a soy-based dipping sauce. They were good, but were more dumpling than filling. We waited for 10-15 minutes for our Chicken Satay (4 for $6.95) to arrive, so when Josh asked me a question about my entree, I inquired about our second appetizer. He scurried to the kitchen with little explanation and after another ten minutes, our satay finally arrived. The marinated skewers of charbroiled chicken were accompanied by the traditional peanut sauce and cucumber salad, and were also pretty good, but both were overpriced by about a buck and would have been much better together as I like to dip my pot stickers in the soy AND peanut sauce.

My wife's Pad See-Ew ($9.95) was next to arrive. The rice noodles were stir fried with egg and broccoli with enough spices to make the dish tasty without being too hot as my spouse cannot tolerate food that is too spicy, a pitfall of most Italians. She loved it and it was plentiful, but eggs, noodles, and broccoli are not a good combination in my book.

My Gang Massaman Curry ($11.75) arrived 5-7 minutes later. Massaman curry is one of my favorites and I have had it at many Thai restaurants. This was far from the best I have had although the curry was flavorful. The coconut milk based curry, traditionally simmered with beef, was not nearly as thick (a bit on the watery side) as any other I have had and the potatoes were not cooked quite enough. When Josh had come out to ask me about my entree earlier, he had asked if I minded having "sliced" beef rather than "boiled" beef, assuming that he meant that the beef had not been simmering for 60-90 minutes in the curry sauce as should be the case. Even though I agreed, the sliced beef was plentiful enough, but was a tad on the chewy side, not tough or grisly, but not as tender as it should have been. The yellow onions were tender, but the boiled peanuts were a also bit too raw.

My wife and I were both excessively thirsty later that evening and I had stomach cramps, a potential sign of MSG being used. I later checked their website and menu and there was not a claim of "No MSG" that I could find, so it you have a sensitivity to it, I would definitely ask in advance of ordering. I am not saying that they use MSG, but our symptoms were consistent with ingestion of the additive/flavor enhancer, so if they do not use it, they should say so on the menu.

Our meal was good, not great, the prices fair, the servings generous, and the service efficient, but compared to other Thai/Asian Fusion restaurants, including Zen Zero just up the street, this one was very "middle of the road".

CombatCritic Gives Baan Thai A Very Average 5 Bombs Out Of 10 ... More Bombs Are Better!

Five Bombs Equates To:

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Title: Lawrence, Kansas: Middle Of The Road Thai On Mass

Key Words: Baan Thai, baan, Thai, Thailand, curry, Lawrence, Kansas, Mass, Massachusetts, street, CombatCritic, TravelValue, travel, value, restaurant, menu, review, Yelp, Zomato, Tabelog

Translation for Civilians: Charlie-Mike = "Continue Mission"

Saturday, January 2, 2016

Lawrence, Kansas: Siam Feeling My Arteries Clogging After Eating Their Curry

Thai Siam
601 South Kasold Drive
Lawrence, KS 66049
Phone: (785) 331-2525
Website: Don't Have One
Prices: $$$$

This review will be shorter than most because I only had takeout for myself this time and the last time I tried to eat there, the lady would not let me in because I was there eight minutes before opening at 5pm, so I left. I should not have returned ... fool me once, shame on me (you know the rest).

I ordered egg rolls (2 for $2.25) and the Panang Beef Curry ($9.99). When I asked what was in the curry, I was told that there was "beef, curry, Thai basil, carrots and peanuts". I love beef, curry, basil and peanuts, but I do not like cooked carrots and they REFUSED to substitute potatoes or green peppers for the carrots. "We do not make substitutions" - not very flexible.

When I got home I found no peanuts in the curry, but in addition to the carrots there were red and green bell pepper and sliced jalapeños. No substitutions? Let me just say that it was not great.

There was far too much fat (oil) floating on top and not nearly enough beef in the curry. I will say it once again for the second time in a week ... "hey Wendy, where's the beef?". In fact, there was so much oil that I skimmed 3-4 ounces off the top (see photos), all I could, and there was still too much fat. The flavor, once de-fatified, was not bad, but I can get a much better and cheaper Panang Beef Curry at Zen Zero for $1.70 less and I do not have to eat carrots.

The egg rolls were egg rolls, possibly made in house, but much like the curry, too greasy. I can feel my arteries clogging as I sit here writing this two hours later. If I die of a heart attack in my sleep tonight, tell my wife to sue Thai Siam.

CombatCritic Gives Thai Siam 3 Bombs Out Of 10 (Feeling generous, I rounded up to 2 Stars Out Of 5 for this Yelp review) ... More Bombs (or stars) Are Better!

Three Bombs Equates To:

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Title: Lawrence, Kansas: Siam Feeling My Arteries Clogging After Eating Their Curry

Key Words: Thai Siam, Thai, Siam, Thailand, Chinese, Lawrence, Kansas, Kasold, curry, fat, CombatCritic, TravelValue, travel, value, restaurant, menu, review, Yelp, TripAdvisor, Zomato

Translation for Civilians: SNAFU = "Situation Normal, All Fucked Up"

A published author, combat veteran and retired Air Force officer, he studied psychology for 30 years, is a Licensed Professional Counselor, and a National Certified Counselor.

He served in four combat zones, spending 25% of his career supporting Operations JOINT ENDEAVOR, ALLIED FORCE, SOUTHERN WATCH, and ENDURING FREEDOM, retiring from the Air Force as a lieutenant colonel.

CombatCritic has lived in five countries and visited over 43 countries in the past 18 years. He is a well know chef, having been trained professionally in Italy from 1998 to 2001. His specialties are Italian (obviously), German, French, Thai and Mexican. Having dined in the finest restaurants in Paris, Rome, London, Brussells, Tokyo, Dubai, and many other cities around the globe, his palate is varied, well-defined, and discriminating. If CombatCritic tells you "It's the bomb", you will know he can be trusted.

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