Zoe S.

The Dara is hands down our favorite Thai restaurant and one of our favorite restaurants, period. As someone with celiac disease, I really appreciate the multitude of clearly marked gluten-free items on the menu, and every single one we've tried has been absolutely delicious. The chicken pad Thai is by far the best I've ever had, and according to my fiancé, the beef pad see ew is to die for. One of the things we love most is that they can customize the spice level to your preference, so everyone can enjoy their meal exactly how they like it. Their drinks are just as impressive. The Thai-tini is incredible, and they also have a fantastic selection of mocktails that are just as fun and delicious. Beyond the food, the atmosphere is adorable with all the exposed brick. It's cozy, stylish, and the perfect spot for either a girls' night out or a date night. We can't recommend it highly enough and always look forward to our next visit!

Dani J.

By far the best wonton soup I've had in a very long time. Great vibe and location. A must visit.

Jasmin J.

Stopped by for my first visit after seeing a few varying reviews. Esthetically this fells point restaurant had a dimly lit moody vibe with beautiful high ceilings and light fixtures. I was confused by the server who greeted us only bc she was wearing a coat which I found odd and her attentiveness was about a 5/10. All the drinks were great! Especially the pineapple raspberry margarita. The seafood wonton appetizer was a hit and I'd return again just for that but don't discount the entrees! Very shareable in terms of portions, food arrived piping hot and flavorful especially the Shrimp Garlic. I would recommend this to friends and hope to return for a happy hour soon!

Ren H.

I'm surprised this place does not seem to get a lot of food traffic. I came with my friend for dinner and it was empty when we arrived. By the time we left, it was still empty. I did hear a lot of people get take out here instead and it does get busier over the weekend. They provide happy hour throughout the restaurant. I got a glass of their house wine and my friend got a non-alcoholic beer. We shared the Lotus Root and Giaow Pak (dumplings). The dumplings were room temperature but still good. We loved the fried lotus root which was delicious! For my main entree I got Pad Si Eew with chicken. I love that they put Chinese broccoli instead of regular broccoli. Such a great dish and my friend enjoyed his Mama with tofu dish. I also ended up getting their Mango Sticky Rice which was great. Mango was ripe and dish was just the perfect amount of sweetness. The place is pretty spacious inside with plenty of seating at the bar, long high tops, and table seating. Staff were friendly and courteous. Such a great spot for some delicious Thai food.

Jess L.

Average and overall disappointing, no idea what the hype was about. Came with a group of 6 on a Saturday night. We all got different things. Some stuff was okay but presentation was poor and prices were high. See my pic of the crab pad Thai... $35 for regular pad Thai with cold crab thrown on top! Do not get this. Spring rolls were tasteless, the seafood wontons were actually good. We got a papaya salad at a 1 level spicy and it was too spicy for us to eat a lot, and I don't mind spicy! The fried lotus root was also not bad, kind of like a fried green tomato. The actual entrees were pretty meh. Pad Thai was very sweet, we also got a level 1 spicy and it wasn't spicy at all. No idea how it was the same spice level as the papaya salad. Drinks were good! Their espresso martini was tasty. Service was... odd. Not particularly friendly and there seemed to be a few miscommunications. With gratuity included, I'd expert better service than that. Overall, for the food, price, and experience, I wouldn't recommend it or return.

Angela L.

We went here for happy hour and it was fine. The apps definitely under deliver compared to their entrees. The dumplings were ok, the shrimp was good but too small, the papaya salad was good, and the chicken was also good but a small amount. There is street parking all around this area but can get tough at busy times. The service is very quick and this is a nice restaurant for a girls night out or a date!

Sophie B.

The Dara is a welcome addition to the Baltimore food scene - serving delicious Thai food and a great cocktail selection in an intimate setting perfect for date night or just catching up with friends! I've been here twice and both times I left feeling satisfied with the quality and portion of the food I ate. I had the seafood wontons both times, Thai tea martini both times, and then tried the drunken noodles once and the pad si eew once. You can select a spice level and your protein, both with a good range suitable for everyone. They also label what is gluten free, vegan, or vegetarian on the menu which I find isn't common everywhere. The reason that the Dara loses a star is in two parts. I had a really friendly waitress both times, but it did seem like they were pretty busy and the waitress was a bit stressed. Keep in mind I went on a weekday night both times and the restaurant was practically full. One of the times they forgot my martini and I didn't have a chance to ask about it until I was already eating my entree. This wasn't a big deal overall but just something to note for their team. The food does come out fast, though. The second reason is that unfortunately they have had some sort of supply issue both times I was there. The first time it was that they were out of wide noodles for the wide-noodle dishes, and the second time they were sold out of the appetizer that we wanted to try. Again, the food was still delicious but I do hope they can find their footing when it comes to staffing and supply issues, and this would be a complete five-star establishment for me.

Maria W.

First time here, my husband and I , and we absolutely LOVED IT! from the service to the food was delicious! The food was made with love and you could taste it in every bite, the flavors and spices were blended perfectly ! The staff were so nice and knowledgeable regarding the menu. The ambiance was so inviting , I loved the lighting and atmosphere overall. We'll definitely be back!

Cindy N.

As a lover of Thai food, I think this spot is the best in Baltimore City and is the most consistent but I wouldn't say it's the best I've ever had. I think Bmore's Thai food scene is geared toward satisfying a certain demographic. But would I be content eating this? For sure! We went for happy hour and personally felt that the boneless chicken wings and tempura shrimp were the best of the options, but still pretty disappointing. Besides that, I do find their pad see ew, pad kee mao and tom kha is the best in the area. Their customer service on the other hand are always super nice and sweet.

Ruth D.

I've been to The Dara three times now -- twice dining in and once for takeout -- and I can confidently say this Thai restaurant is one I'd like to return to again. It's a relaxed yet slightly elevated experience, but still feels welcoming and comfortable. I definitely recommend dining in if you can; the food quality is noticeably better. Both times I dined in, the service was excellent -- attentive, kind, and genuinely helpful with recommendations. Their cocktails are also a highlight. I've tried the Mezzu Blaze and the Jasmine Gold Rush, and I'd order both again. The Mezzu Blaze has a fun, unique twist with Banhez Mezcal, Yuzu Sake, Spicy Honey, Thai Basil, Fresh Lime Juice, and Orange Bitters. While the Jasmine Gold Rush leans more toward my usual go-to cocktail style -- smooth, balanced, and spirit forward like an old fashioned but slightly flavored with Old Forester Bourbon, Jasmine Syrup, Honey, Fresh Lime Juice, Bitters. They also have a daily happy hour from 4:30 to 6:00. I haven't made it yet, but I noticed the papaya salad is on the happy hour menu -- and that alone makes me want to go back. I assume it's the same very delicious papaya salad that i have had on the regular menu. You can choose your spice level; I went with a level 2, and it packed serious heat (even for someone who loves spicy food). My friend found it too spicy and would've gotten a spice level 1, but I thought it was perfect. It's one of those dishes I'll dream about and can't wait to have again. I do think the spice level feels different depending on what dish you got. I got a spice level three for my Pad Thai and I did not think it was a spicy...potentially because the carbs soaked up the heat? I've also had the pad thai with shrimp, which was delicious, and on my first visit I tried the Gaeng Ga-Ti Pu, one of their "extraordinary" dishes featuring Maryland jumbo lump crabmeat curry, crispy soft-shell crab, a soft-boiled egg, and butterfly pea flower rice. It was rich, flavorful, and beautifully plated -- the kind of dish that reminds you why dining out is worth it. Overall, The Dara delivers solid food, service, and an inviting atmosphere.

Kaylee T.

Get the Pas Si Eew! It's absolutely amazing especially with a protein choice added in. Our server was very kind and made it a great experience.

Kris P.

It has been a long time since I've had authentic Thai. The experience at The Dara is a beautiful balance of service, ambience, and flavors. After reading reviews, I planned a visit after hours. Beating traffic, the dinner bustle, and walking several blocks, the ambient glows through the storefront's glass panes brought a sense of intrigue. The staff tonight were very attentive and our server was so sweet. To start, the table shared lotus root and coconut shrimp. Both delicious, I loved the pairing of apple salad, savory and tangy, with the coconut shrimp. Tamarita (tamarind margarita) is a fave according to our server and tonight's mixologist made it to perfection. Lychee is always a choice of mine and their take in a mojito was fun. Light rum and delicious balance with lychee made it refreshing. For entrees, we chose the basil rice bowl with ribeye and panang with crispy chicken. The ribeye with basil rice was 8oz. plenty and the char was a wonderdul surprise. Rice was tender and oh the basil... yum. A misunderstanding with the panang caused a minor wait but was quickly fixed. Robust in every way, the silky light coconut curry with delicious vegetables and kaffir lime was everything rich and aromatic. The crispy chicken was served on the side, it was not greasy and so flavorful. Portions are generous. So good. The Dara won me. A wonderful first visit and certainly not the last. Definitely recommend and plan ahead with parking.

Rumesh V.

Hands down one of the best Thai restaurants in Baltimore. I was in the area for work and decided to catch up with friends in the evening for dinner. One of my friends recommended this place. Beautiful ambiance and the service was great. Cocktails are great as well. For entrees, I tried the softshell crab with lumps of crab in the creamy curry over a bed of purple rice. It's one of the best Thai food I have ever had. The softshell crab was nice and crispy. Lots of crab meat in the sauce as well. I am definitely coming back here to try other things.