What to Eat at Georgetown’s Homestyle Thai Spot Rimtang | Eater DC

"Just a block away from M Street, this brick-walled, two-story townhouse serves Thai comfort food inspired by Isan and Bangkok, where head chef Prapit La Femina grew up and ran a popular restaurant; her son, Saran “Peter” Kannasute, runs the kitchen, and it definitely tastes like a mom is cooking — you’ll even see La Femina checking in on tables. The menu ranges from familiar dishes like pad thai to specialties like a crab omelet and chile jam clams. To start, get something fried: incredibly crispy and spicy calamari ($17) and charming crab meat spring rolls ($15) are great, but the giant fried shrimp with Thai chile and garlic salt ($22) had a perfect crunch and we were scraping the plate for the last bit of crispy, spicy garlic topping. The tom yum seafood soup ($30), the priciest item on the budget-friendly menu, is so worth it — filled with shrimp, squid, and small clams in an aromatic clear broth seasoned with lemongrass, cilantro, holy basil, and a tiny bit of chili that builds nicely as you finish the bowl. There aren’t many places serving lump crab meat folded into a perfect fluffy omelet ($25); crisp on the outside, incredibly rich on the inside, it’s a must order. If you’re a real funk and heat lover, go for the papaya salad ee-sahn ($15), the bold Isan version packed with fermented fish sauce and hog plum. The drinks list sticks to wines, beer (classic Singha hits the spot), and teas poured into plastic pouches that recall Bangkok street stalls, and a corner off the upstairs dining room looks over the quiet Georgetown street." - Emily Venezky