J
Joanne
New York City4 reviews
- Overall 3
- Food 3
- Service 2
- Ambience 3
I came here to celebrate my mom’s birthday, so maybe that’s why I’m extra disappointed because I really wanted this meal to be great.
To start, the food wasn’t bad. There were some things we enjoyed, but overall we left feeling that the quality and portions didn’t justify the prices.
We ordered the chicken curry puffs first. They were much sweeter than I’m used to, and instead of the traditional cucumber relish, they were served with plum sauce. It wasn’t terrible, just not what I expected.
The roti with Massaman curry had good flavor, but the curry was so thin that it had the consistency of soup rather than a rich curry. It also came without any potatoes, carrots, or onions. I wasn’t expecting meat, but I did expect a more traditional Massaman curry.
The grilled beef (nuea yang) was cooked well and very tender, but the beef itself was lacking seasoning. Thankfully, the dipping sauces added some flavor.
The beef short rib khao soi was another dish that felt underwhelming. The short rib was excellent—fall-off-the-bone tender—but the curry broth itself tasted too light. I personally think it needed more curry paste and more depth of flavor, especially for a dish that’s around $40.
The biggest disappointment was the kua kling chicken and the Hat Yai fried chicken. Both portions were surprisingly small considering the price. That’s where I really felt the value wasn’t there.
Unfortunately, the service didn’t help either. It wasn’t rude, but it felt inattentive and lacked the warmth and hospitality I usually associate with Thai restaurants.
I always want to support fellow Thai-owned businesses, so writing this review honestly makes me sad. I’m not trying to discourage anyone from trying the restaurant—this is simply my family’s experience. Everyone has different tastes, and yours may be completely different from ours. For us, though, the combination of light flavors, small portions, and lackluster service left us disappointed, especially for a birthday dinner.