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For those looking for a bit of a
change from Chinese Buffets and mediocre Japanese cuisine, look no
further than Thai Kitchen. Located in an easily forgettable section of
Greenville , Thai Kitchen is a welcomed change from the usual cuisine of
the typical Greenville Boulevard strip of restaurants.
From the exterior, Thai Kitchen doesn't look like much of anything.
Situated by Colony Tire, Rent-A-Center, and H&R block on the Dickenson
Avenue area of Memorial Drive , the Thai restaurant leaves a lot to the
imagination. Upon entering the restaurant, you are greeted by the
charming owner, who is affectionately called "Nandy." The layout of the
dining area is reminiscent of a deli that has had a sushi prep and
presentation area. The aesthetics of the restaurant are not very
promising. Seating roughly 40 people, the dining area is remarkably
dull. However, the lack of charm in the design is made up for by
owner/waitress Nandy.
After some small talk and a feel that I have just been welcomed to
someone's home dinner table, I started off with an appetizer. One of
their more delicious items, the Spicy Tuna Volcano was an absolute
delight. After that, I sampled one of the restaurant's signature dishes,
the Tom Yum soup. The Tom Yum was presented much like you would see in a
fine dining establishment in a very beautiful bowl and was served
tableside by Nandy. It is rare in this area that I see the attention
paid to the ingredients and preparation of soup. Most restaurant soups
are pre-made and then warmed to order. The Tom Yum was obviously made
fresh. The light but very tasty dish of tomatoes, cilantro, lemon grass,
mushrooms, and other fresh ingredients make this the best Hot & Sour
soup I have had in some time. On to the entrée, I had the simple Asian
staple of Beef & broccoli stir-fry. Now, for those who have the
pre-conception that all Thai food is overly spicy, Chef Victor
Kasemtreerat will prepare each dish as mild or as spicy as you desire. I
love spicy food so I asked the Chef to make me the spiciest dish he
dared to serve. I was not disappointed. The dish was well presented,
very tasty, and oh yes, HOT! Not to leave out the sushi, I also ordered
a roll from Thai Kitchen's extensive sushi menu. Out of all of the sushi
I have had, this is by far in my top 10. The bill was a bit more
expensive than I am used to spending in a Greenville restaurant, but
well worth the expense. For those who don't want to spend too much
money, Thai Kitchen has a wonderful Lunch menu will items ranging from
$7-$9.
Overall, Thai Kitchen has the potential to be a very successful
restaurant. Its location and décor issues aside, the service and the
food have made fan out of me. The restaurant is located at 2400 S
Memorial Drive and is available for Dine-in, take-out, and Catering.
More information can be found at
www.thaikitchengreenville.com
Location – D | Atmosphere – C- |
Service – A+ | Food Quality – A
Price Range - $6.99-$20 per meal
Overall Grade - B
*In early 2009, Nandy, the pleasant waitress and co-owner of
Thai Kitchen passed away after a battle with cancer. My deepest
sympathies to her family and friends. Thai Kitchen is still in
operation by her husband, Chef Victor. - Bigus
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