One of the joys of being in the cosmopolitan city of Madrid is that the gastronomy is permeated with international influence. From Indian to Italian, Mexican to Japanese, the city offers many diverse restaurants with delectable cuisine from around the globe. One such international jewel is located in the heart of the city, above street-level on the vivacious Calle de Arenal. This Thai restaurant, Bangkok, refines dining with flavorful dishes, attentive service, and a tranquil, southeast Asian ambience.
Upon entering the restaurant and climbing the steps to the second level, the space opens into a soothing haven; sapphire and lemon walls, muted candlelight, stone statues of Buddha, and elegant, long-stemmed orchids. A fine-crafted pergola swathed in colorful drapery envelopes the central booths, while tables along the exterior receive spectacular views of bustling Arenal from enormous picture windows. Once settled near one of these windows or by a trickling fountain, the attentive staff will be quick to serve you, with almost no wait period even during busier hours.
Reasonably priced, the menu presents all of the classic recipes needed to satisfy Thai cravings. The spring rolls are crisp and fresh, while the egg noodles of the Pad Thai are fully infused with the rich flavor of chopped peanuts. One reliable and tasty plate, Khao Pad or fried rice, combines long-grained jasmine rice indigenous to Thailand with slices of beef. A more zesty option, Red Curry Chicken, features tender cuts of chicken and peppers soaked in a piquant red chili curry sauce, accompanied by sticky rice. Other savory dishes on the menu include chicken coconut soup, pineapple pork, green mango salad, and a crab legs in yellow curry sauce. The dessert menu also boasts Thailand’s popular Kao niao ma muang, sticky rice with ripe mango.
A word of warning to zesty-food lovers: although the dishes are full of flavor, don’t expect to thrill your taste buds with fire. The spices in the cuisine are palpable, but relatively moderate by Thai food standards.
PRICES:
Menú del Día (two plates, drink, dessert)-11.50 euros
Regular Menu
Appetizers- 3.50-9 euros
Soups and Vegetables- 6.50-8.90 euros
Rice- 2.50-8.50 euros
Noodles- 7.50-12.50 euros
Curry- 8.90-12.50 euros
Meat- 8.50-10.90 euros
Fish- 9.90-14.40 euros
Bangkok
Calle Los Bordadores, 15
Metro: Sol, Opera
Telephone: 91 559 1696
Hours: 1:00-4:00 p.m., and 9:00 p.m. to 12:30 a.m.
By Jane Caffrey
1
places are mentioned in this post!
Click on the place name to learn more
No Comments
Permalink
Thai — By admin on January 26, 2009 at 1:00 am
Phuket’s food offers a superb taste of Thai/Thai fusion cuisine. Nearly everything is medium to spicy, and it’s fun to pick out a handful of dishes and throw in a few small orders of steamed Jasmine rice. A word of warning for the economic diners, though: a full meal ends up costing about 20 euros with starters and drinks. Perhaps the Menú del Día (the daily lunch menu) is the best bet, which rounds up to about 9,75 euros a person.
The tofu, which is included in many of the vegetarian-friendly options (such as the Green Tofu Curry), has that perfect not-too-smooth texture and a lot of flavor. All the veggies taste crisp and fresh, including the green and red bell pepper that accompanies most of the plates.
The classics here are still classics: the Pad Thai (served with lemon, not lime here) and the Tom Yum are highly recommended. All of the curries – green, yellow, and red – are creamy and packed with spice. If you’re worried about variety, don’t fret. The beef, chicken, and pork dishes all have their own unique taste, from Red Beef Curry (tender and hearty) to Thai Beef Massaman (very peanut-y and rich). The Chicken with Lemongrass was a bit dry, but the Yellow Chicken Curry held up our expectations with its coconut milk-meets-spice punch. The Pork with Pineapple was sweet, spicy, and palatable. If you’re not a vegetarian or a meat-lover, then check out the lengthy list of seafood options, which offers the same kinds of combinations but with fish or seafood instead. Or consider ordering the Menú Phuket Thai; it’s only 14,50 euros a person and includes spicy shrimp, soup, salted greens, fish with Thai spices, and rice.
When in the mood for a bit of everything, try the Menú Degustación (the Sampler Menu) for 18,50 euros a person. You can choose from four starters and four main dishes, and there’s rice and veggie options for each course. If you want a filling meal and would prefer to choose everything yourself, don’t worry the menu is several pages long. Everything looks promising, and there’s even an exquisite dessert list. While I didn’t try any of the desserts, I think I’ll have to go back for either the Sticky Rice with Mango and Coconut or the Cake Banoffi Cream Pie.
At the end of the meal, I didn’t feel like I had eaten too much oil, which is always a risk when eating Thai. Also, Phuket sells Singha, a nutty Thai beer that complements the rich, peanut-y flavors perfectly.
One last word about the décor: it’s bizarre, yet casual and inviting. The saffron-colored walls, Art Deco combinations, and the musical styling of Michael Bolton fuse comfort with elegance effectively…and may even render a laugh or two.
Phuket Thai Restaurant
Calle Atocha, 115
Hours: Lunch and dinner, Monday – Sunday (all week)
Metro: Atocha
By Michelle Campagna
1
places are mentioned in this post!
Click on the place name to learn more
No Comments
Permalink
