TravelValue: Portland, Oregon: Thailand

Showing posts with label Thailand. Show all posts

Wednesday, March 21, 2018

This Peacock Has A "Plume" Of Flavor

Thai Peacock
219 SW 9th Avenue
Portland, OR 97205
Phone number (503) 228-2310
Website: thaipeacockpdx.com
Prices: $$$$

After going to a matinee play at the Armory a few blocks away, we were feeling a bit peckish and the menu in the window looked interesting, so we decided to give them a try. The place is small on the inside with 6 or 7 tables (one big family table) downstairs and a few more in the small loft above the kitchen. The service was efficient, a little too efficient actually, and friendly, and the prices reasonable, particularly for downtown Portland.

Not overly hungry, hence the term "peckish", we ordered the Chicken Teriyaki Balls (#2 - $6) as a starter and for entrees, my wife the Pad Ruam Mit (#37 - $10) stir fry and I the Kaeng Matsaman (#28 - $10.50) curry. I also had a Ninkasi IPA ($5) that was very cold and tasty.

The teriyaki balls came out post haste. They looked burnt, but it must have been the teriyaki sauce because they were delish, having been drizzled with a creamy garlic sauce and served with fresh, sliced cucumber and zesty sriracha pineapple chili sauce ... YUM!

Then we experienced the sole downer of the meal and one of my primary pet peaves. We had barely started eating our appetizer when our entrees arrived. Fast is usually good, but there is nothing I hate worse in a restaurant than the main course coming before the appetizer has been finished and the plates cleared away. BUMMER!

My wife's meal had broccoli, carrot, baby corn, cabbage, onion, bell pepper, shitake and white mushrooms, bean sprouts and scallions stir fried with garlic and tofu. A little bland by my standards, she thought it was wonderful and that is all that counts. My "matsaman" (spelled "massaman" at every other Thai restaurant I have ever been to) curry was rich, creamy, delicious and just the way I like it with slices of beef, potato, onion carrot and peanuts, both meals accompanied by a side of steamed rice.

Overall, the food, service and prices were excellent, but I have to deduct 2 Bombs (1 Star) for bringing the entrees WAY too soon. Otherwise, this was a "top notch" meal worthy of my highest rating. So, if downtown enjoying a play at the Armory, perusing the books at Powell's (just a block away), or whatever else you may be doing, Thai Peacock is worth a visit.

CombatCritic Gives Thai Peacock 8 Bombs Out Of 10 ... More Bombs Are Better!

Eight Bombs Equates To:

Translation for Civilians: "What-The-Fuck ... Over!"

Monday, February 6, 2017

PSSSSST ... Entrees Come AFTER The Diner Has Finished Their Appetizer

Thai Ginger
2020 N. Rosa Parks Way
Portland, OR 97217
North Portland, Arbor Lodge
Phone number: (503) 283-9731
Prices: $$$$

I arrived an hour before closing, but the man and woman running the place had already started closing. Beer and wine prices were a bit high and the selection of bottled beer was mostly from Asia, not my cup of beer, I mean tea, so I had water.

$4.95 for teeny tiny fried Thai Egg Rolls (aka frozen lumpia) and $10.50 for Beef Massaman Curry, $15.45 with NO TAX ... WHOO-HOO, not bad for a "decent" meal. The egg rolls were OK, but my entree arrived before I had finished my second egg roll, a pet peeve of mine, so they get dinged right off the bat, The curry was tasty enough, comparable to many similar curries I have had, but was a tad light on the beef (2-3 ounces at best) for the price.

I love Thai and this was mediocre at best, not a great value and less than stellar service, Thai Ginger was a bust.

CombatCritic Gives Thai Ginger 4 Bombs Out Of 10 ... More Bombs Are Better!

Four Bombs Equates To:

Read Reviews By CombatCritic:

Yelp - Elite '14/'15/'16/'17

Tabelog - Official Judge (Silver)

Zomato - #1 Ranked "Verified" Foodie

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Read Chris S.'s review of Thai Ginger on Yelp

Title: Portland, OR: PSSSSST ... Entrees Come AFTER The Diner Has Finished Their Appetizer

Key Words: Thai Ginger, Thai, Thailand, ginger, curry, egg roll, appetizer, Portland, Oregon, OR, CombatCritic, TravelValue, travel, value, restaurant, menu, review, Yelp, Zomato, Tabelog

Translation for Civilians: BOHICA = "Bend Over, Here It Comes Again"