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| - On a recent trip back to the burgh in June, we had already had Thai at our usual hangout and decided to go out for Thai a second time. Being that NTK had made the top 25 restaurants in the burgh, i had to try it. So we made a rez and headed over.
Let's start by saying it is in an interesting neighborhood. They are rehabbing lots of houses so there is some other activity on the street. But it is a teenie tiny little house converted to a restaurant.
When you enter, you will look at those front steps and think "it's not too late to turn around" - but ignore the cracked steps and keep going.
Then you enter the house and walk down a long hallway when you think "i should have turned around at the steps" but keep walking.
When they seat you, you immediately realize that you are in a tiny little dining room and it is rather cozy.
And then - the menu comes. Wow. Just wow. Yeah, they have pad thai. and they have curry. and they have rad na noodles. and then they have lots of other choices - vegetarian, thai-hesitant (for those who don't like thai or are fearful of thai), and just some really really cool dishes.
So here goes the rundown of what was ordered.
The appetizer dog choice was the fresh spring rolls. So how do you differentiate yourself from the competition? Slice them into manageable chunks so that they can be shared easily and dipped into that Yummy dipping sauce.
I start with me as I can't rave enough about what I had. Phar Luck Chicken. it was a plate of steamed veggies (gr beans, snow peas, broccoli) covered with rice noodles, chicken breasts that were lightly spiced, then a peanut sauce on top. I ordered a level 5 not knowing how it would be as one restaurant's 5 is another one's 3or 7. Veggies were nicely steamed and crisp. The chicken was mildly spiced atop a bed of noodles. And finished with a medium spiced peanut sauce. Just enough to taste but not over soaked. And the surprise? Two shrimps and some lump crabmeat.
Ok chef - one comment here. I loved the seafood but I know not everyone can eat that so including something that can trigger an allergic reaction without disclosing it can lead to disaster. And no customer would ever assume to ask about shrimp in a chicken dish. Maybe add it to the description or have waitstaff mention it when it is ordered?
DH had green curry with chicken. Lots of veggies, nicely spiced but nothing out of the ordinary. It was good but maybe not as strong of a curry taste as he was used to. But it held its own with the other Thai restaurants.
DSS had crab pineapple fried rice. Ok. Seriously. How could you not love that combo. It took self-restraint on my part to not just grab that plate from him. Now THAT was an unusual combo I have never seen elsewhere and according to DSS, it was great (first sign of a good dish? No offers to share :)
Our server was excellent. Never was a water glass empty. plates were removed promptly. We were never rushed as we lingered in conversation.
So this is now added to my "places to visit when back in the burgh" list.
7/16. Update.
I decided while back in the burgh again on business to revisit NTK. I ordered takeout to nibble back at the hotel. A few comments.
1. The Phar Luck was as good as I remembered. Yum again
2. I passed on an appetizer so I could Try their sticky rice with custard. Imagine my surprise when I opened it and discovered black sticky rice....oh my....wow. Topped with a square of creamy smooth custard topped with coconut. Again the little details that make NTK just stand out from the pack.
3. I was surprised to be charged a surcharge for a takeout order. Seriously? Each item was marked up for the privilege of saving them the salary they pay their waitstaff when I took the food out. No, it is not a big deal (a little over 10% or so). Again, disclosure would have been nice. Or no surcharge at all.
4. Speaking of takeout, chef, how about using some of that surcharge to pay for decent plastic ware? I don't do chopsticks and found that it was impossible to spear the steamed veggies with those dollar store forks. Since I was in a hotel without a kitchen, that was the only fork I had and when it snapped in the broccoli....well....let's just say it wasn't pretty. So maybe think about some decent flatware, so I don't need to pack my own next time I get takeout?
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