Thai Food
Before I get into this, let me say that our current fave Thai joint is Vietnamese Garden Cuisine on Battleground. The food, service, ambience and prices are excellent. The Chicken Chili Lettuce Wraps put that joke, P.F. Chang’s, to shame.
Just down the road on Mill Street is Taste of Thai, which in my opinion, used to be the best around. I’ve eaten there a couple of times recently, and while the love is still present, the food is a tad off. Still, they offer a complementary appetizer of raw collard green wraps with toasted coconut, ginger, onion, peanut, lime and sweet sauce. We had wonderful fresh rolls, but the Pad Thai was bland. We tried in vain to pick it up with the hot and fish sauces. They also offer an complementary bite of custard at the end of the meal. Sadly, I think the Thai competition and Saffron Indian Cuisine next door are taking their toll. However, we’ve been to Saffron a couple of times and simply prefer Thai.
Thai Garden on Tate Street used to be a fave, but we haven’t been in a while.
Likewise, Rearn Thai on West Market is wonderful, but the parking and acoustics are horrendously bad.
Unfortunately, there is a Thai restaurant downtown which we cannot recommend.
And while it takes all afternoon to prepare, I make Vietnamese rolls as good or better than any of them.
Vietnamese Garden has evolved past good Asian joint into a seriously fine restaurant that serves food based on regional cuisines.
I don’t mean to cloud the central message here (“damn, that’s really good eats” ) in food geekery, just making a distinction between Thai or Vietnamese places, however good, and the small miracle on Battleground — which is still casual and fun, too.
For me, Thai denotes all the cuisines of the Mekong delta. For instance, there used to be a killer Cambodian restaurant in Asheboro.
From recent anecdotal experience, Vietnamese Garden Cuisine has almost taken on a viral reputation. One concern is why they insist on including a limp piece of pork in the fresh rolls.
Is Bangkok cafe on Holden just past Patterson still open? I always enjoyed eating there but change of work keeps me out of that side of town on a regular basis.
Prices are very reasonable and the food is excellent.
I subsequently performed a Google search of area Thai restaurants and found it, but must plead ignorance for never having been there. Thanks for the comment.
It’s a small place that is family run, non-pretentious setting. I think you’ll enjoy it.
While Taste of Thai remains my overall favorite Thai ($8 lunch buffet is hard to beat) my favorite Thai dish is the Ocean’s Nest preceded by a hot beef salad at Bangkok Thai near 68 and Wendover. It’s worth the drive.
http://www.busybeingbornblog.com/?p=506
I’ll be heading over to Battleground to check out your recommendation at Vietnamese Garden. Thanks for the tip.
Thanks, I didn’t know about that one. I agree the buffet at Taste of Thai is great. I especially like the satays and curries.