Henry A.
Yelp
Sparse, Uninspired, and Far From Worth the Price
While the flavors showed some promise, the execution and substance of the dishes fell flat--especially for a city with such a vibrant food scene. My wife ordered the Panang curry with chicken. The sauce itself was flavorful, with the creamy depth you'd expect from a well-made curry. However, the dish was strikingly bare: just the curry, a modest portion of sliced chicken, and bell peppers. No green beans, bamboo shoots, basil, or other traditional components that typically round out this classic Thai dish. Without the accompanying white rice, it would've bordered on a snack rather than a meal.
I chose the garlic and pepper stir-fry, expecting a balanced wok-tossed medley of seasonal vegetables and aromatics. Instead, I received a sparse plate of intensely pungent white onions--barely caramelized--laid over a bed of lettuce and topped with just five shrimp. The dish lacked texture, color, and the kind of layered flavor profile one expects from even a basic stir-fry.
Both lunch specials--priced at $15 and $16--came with a single potsticker (unfortunately served lukewarm) and a small salad topped with a peanut dressing. The salad was fine, and the dressing added a mildly interesting twist, but it wasn't enough to elevate the experience.
Overall, the meal felt minimalist not in a refined, intentional way--but in a cost-cutting, corner-cutting one. There's a clear distinction between focused, clean cooking and simply under-delivering. Sadly, this leaned hard into the latter.