‘Thai’d up in noodles: restaurant provides tasty variety
Cuisine, hospitality surpass expectations
By Erin Rolfs, Contributing Writer
PHOTO
When a restaurant’s motto is “Take Home a Thousand Smiles” there is an expectation placed on the food and service. At Thai Kitchen on Perkins Road both elements of cuisine and hospitality generously meet those expectations.
Many define eastern cooking as Chinese, Japanese and Middle Eastern and overlook Thai food. In 1989 Sam Sanguanruang wanted to give Baton Rouge a broader selection.
“Before Thai Kitchen opened there was only one other Thai restaurant,” said Sanguanruang. “I wanted to give customers a choice.”
With more than 70 menu items, Thai Kitchen offers a wide variety of dishes, signature of Sanguanruang’s homeland.
Appetizers include traditional egg rolls and steamed dumplings as well as more unfamiliar choices such as satay, broiled marinated pork served with peanut sauce, and mee krob, crispy sweet rice noodles sautéed with shrimp and orange sauce.
Several Thai dishes rival Cajun classics when it comes to spiciness. Some items on Thai Kitchen’s menu are labeled with a pepper. This offers the choice of mild, medium, medium-hot or just plain hot.
“We come here once a week,” said Greta Hill, a patron of the restaurant. “The food is fresh, prepared well and spicy. We particularly like the soups.”
Choices in soups range from wonton soup to cream of chicken coconut soup. A favorite among guests is lemon grass soup which is a hot and sour broth with mushrooms and shrimp.
Entrees are divided into “Seafood, Poultry, Pork and Beef,” “Chef House Special,” “Thai Classic Curry” ” Rice and Noodles” and “Vegetarian Corner.” Most entrees come with a choice of meat or seafood. The meat and sauteed vegetables are particularly well-done.
The curry selection includes red, yellow, green and panang curry, which are variations of a grounded blend of spices mixed with coconut milk. Most of these items come with a vegetable.
Vegetarian plates consist of vegetables with different sauces and offer noodles or tofu. Rice and noodle dishes are more tame and simply prepared.
Thai Kitchen also offers seven different salads and five dessert choices.
The service at this restaurant is the key reason it keeps a large group of regulars.
“I go to Thai Kitchen all the time. I crave it,” said Jennifer Walker, 24. “Sam and the waitresses all know me and are so happy to see me when I come in.”
The atmosphere is enhanced also by authentic Thai art decorating the walls and shelves. Pictures of satin elephants and miniature replicas of traditional Thai houses surround guests. These items also are for sale.
“The people are friendly, the food is good and it’s something different but welcoming.” said Kimberly Blanchard, 25.
The balance of quality in service and food, in addition to the reasonable prices, make Thai Kitchen a great place to go when students are ready to expand their culinary horizons. It serves a buffet Monday through Friday from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. and dinner from 5 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday. Friday and Saturday dinner hours are extended to 10 p.m. Catering is also available.