Over the past year, Mengrai has easily become my favourite Thai restaurant in the city. It's really tough to find quality Thai places that are authentic, creative and boast a great ambiance. Mengrai hits all three.
Food
If the Head Chef (owners wife, I think) is cooking on the night you're there, you are in for a treat. She adds complexity to her dishes but still maintains a fine balance of Thai flavours. My favourite dishes are the following: Lemongrass Coconut Soup, Red Shrimp Curry with Lychees The Authentic Pad Thai, Ginger Chicken and Filet Stripe Bass Tamarind Coconut. My only negative comment would be that they sometimes skimp on shrimp and their appetizer's are a bit small.
Ambiance
What an interesting location for a Thai restaurant. The exposed brick walls add so much warmth mixed in with modern/traditional Thai furnishing and accessories. Try to get the booth in the back. It's adorned with decorative pillows and is very cozy. It's made for 4 but we've squeezed 5-6 of us in the past.
Service
For the most part it's usually right on, but at times you get the server who looks completely lost, or the one whose trying to add charges you've never seen before. The owner and his son are fabulous!
I can be very hard to please and Mengrai Thai always has me leaving with a smile
** JUST DON'T ORDER TAKE OUT! It's not their strong point. Their food is meant to be eaten on plates, not out of a box