You'd think that with as few restaurants representing southeast asian cuisine, that I'd have made it to all of them. This one just has a vibe from the outside that said... "no" - it looked more like a trendy bar, and appended the moniker "Resto-Bar" to its name in its public image. I imagined mediocre fried "street food" snacks and colorful cocktails and loud music. But, on a recent evening, adrift for something different to do solo, I made a quick reservation and headed over.
Now, some of what I imagined is true. Though, very little. You enter into a bar, packed with all sorts of trendy looking bottles and apparatus. The greeting is exactly what I expected - neither of the two bartenders nor manager even looked up from the computer screen they were intently engaged with - and, other than pausing to make a drink now and again, they stayed in the same position the entire evening. A hostess greeted me not with "good evening" but, "do you have a reservation?" I got the full look up and down while the asking was going on, and then the studied minute over her clipboard when I responded affirmatively, followed by an, "oh yes, I guess you do. come this way, perhaps that table over there in the far corner." I was dressed pretty, in pressed slacks and shirt. Far prettier than most of the people in the room, who tended towards shorts and t-shirts, but I don't tend towards 25-30 years old.
But thankfully, that's about where the reality of my imaginings ended. A full menu of Thai dishes was presented, along with a cocktail list (moderately creative without being stupid about it), and a wine list. While I was perusing, a plate of puffed rice crackers and a decent sweet and sour dipping sauce was placed on the table. I relaxed.
Excellent chicken satay, with the chicken beautifully grilled and still juicy, accompanied by a very mild peanut satay sauce, but an accompanying chili sauce that actually packed a wallop. Nice presentation, and a generous quantity for 380 pesos (just over $6).
And likewise, both presentation and quantity of the prawn kung pad met mamuang, a mild stir fry of prawns, cashews, and vegetables, that was big enough that I only made it through about half, and then asked for the rest to go (680 pesos, or just over $11). Certainly tops the list of the dedicated Thai spots in town, and comes in a not too distant second to Cantina Sunae which covers a wider swath of the region. I will definitely be back. read more