Laut in New York, NY

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I kind of like the busyness of Union Square, its farmers' market, chess players, as well as other  (sometimes weird) entertainments that one can witness when going there. Food wise, there are quit e few options, cheap or not that are worth a try. As we were looking for a restaurant reservation on Opentable, we found out Laut, the first Malaysian restaurant in the world to receive a Michelin Star in the famous 2011 guide (they lost it since).

Laut means Sea in Malay; I admit that I did not know why they picked this name, considering that it is not a seafood restaurant, but learnt that it is because the straits and coastal cities played a crucial role in the region's history, navigating traders and travelers from all over the world. 

In term of cuisine, they serve South East Asian dishes, from Malaysia, Thailand and Singapore. So I was ready to see what the owner Salil Mehta was proposing in his restaurant.

To start off and to accompany my meal, I ordered a Thai Iced Tea that was perfect. 

Then, we decided to share dishes and order several appetizers, as well as one entrée, having already an idea before going there as to what dessert we would order. 

The first appetizer was the roti canai. 

Roti means bread; It is one of my favorite appetizers in Thai restaurants: I love the greasiness and slight crispiness of the bread, dipped in an awesome curry sauce. Well, for the first time, I did not like it! The sauce was good, but the roti was tasteless. This was so disappointing.

The second appetizer was the satay tofu puffs:

It was served with cucumber and bean sprouts and smothered in peanut sauce. This was really good: the tofu puffs were so light and airy, perfect with this delicious peanut sauce that was a bit sweet.

The third appetizer was Sotong Goreng or marinated crispy fried squid dusted with spices, salt, pepper and chili sauce:

I really liked it: the calamari were crunchy, not rubbery and not greasy that is already a good thing, and I loved the hints of salt and pepper. I just wished there was more of that chili sauce that was a bit spicy, but addictive with the calamari.

For the entree, we chose the glass noodles:

They were prepared with snow peas, carrots, bean sprouts, mushrooms, eggs and scallions. It was overall a very good dish that had lots of veggies in it.

For dessert, we wanted to order the mango coconut sticky rice. Unfortunately, they did not have any mango and proposed dragon fruit: we passed.

Would I go back? Well, I have mixed feelings about Laut: the food was good overall, but did not stand out to the point that I would love to go back or even to make me understand how they got a Michelin Star few years ago. I was definitely expecting more and they did not deliver. I should also mention the noise level that made me want to eat as fast as I could...

Enjoy (...)!

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Bangkok House in Hell's Kitchen, NY, New York

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Still exploring the many restaurants located on 46th, we noticed this small Thai restaurant called The Bangkok House. Well small from the outside, big in the inside, thanks to the long shape of the dining room.

There, no surprise concerning the cuisine served as it is pretty standard, the only thing that would make them standout from other Thai restaurants being the prix-fixe menu they propose for dinner, probably wanting to align with the other restaurants in the area that try to attract theater goers. 

I started of course with a Thai iced tea.

It was very good, but had too many ice cubes in it.

We decided not to have the prix-fixe and shared the spring rolls as an appetizer.

They were good, tasty and not greasy. Pipping hot of course...

For her entree, Jodi ordered the pad see ew. 

And I ordered the curry massaman. 

I asked for not spicy, but there was definitely a bit of kick that started building up in the back of my throat. 

The food, pretty standard, was good and the portions generous. The service was also excellent, ensuring that we had everything we needed and liked the dishes. 

Would I go back? Yes, if I am in the area and am looking for a Thai that serves traditional dishes. For a more modern, more original and a little pricier menu, I would go to QI in Times Square. 

Enjoy (I did)!

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Larb Ubol, Thai restaurant in Hell's Kitchen, NYC, New York

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Please note that the meal was complimentary. However, the opinions expressed in my blog are 100% my own! 

There are so many Thai restaurants in New York, that I was a bit skeptical when I received an invitation from Kao Srisuphasiri, one of the owners of Larb Ubol, a Thai restaurant located in the bottom part of Hell's Kitchen. Even there, that restaurant is surrounded by other ones serving Thai food. I soon understood why Larb Ubol is original. 

Well, like many Thai places, you do not go there for the decor and they admit that they prefer putting the money on the food as this is the reason why customers come back. Entering in the restaurant, you immediately notice the big empty space at the entrance: at this point, they are not really sure what to put there, whether a plant, fountain or tables. For the moment, it is nice because it does not feel too crowded. 

The decor is very simplistic: banquettes and chair backs are covered with Thailand’s traditional checkered pha khao ma cloth used to fashion everything from sarongs to hammocks. On the ceiling and walls, some small umbrellas coming from Thailand:

So, it was clear that we were there for the food, and we made sure we tried several dishes prepared by Chef Ratchanee Sumpatboon, who worked for 20 years in New York City, in well known restaurants, such as Zabb Elee. Her menu is Isan cuisine, from the North East of Thailand, characterized by its heat, chili peppers being prominent, as well as sticky rice, used as we would bread.

Looking at the menu, I immediately noticed the absence of the massaman or penang curry I am used to seeing in Thai restaurants, the only well known dishes being Pad See ew or Pad Thai. I guess that is where Larb Ubol is different. So, it was time to check it out!

To start our feast, we ordered a Thai beer (Singha):

As well as Thai iced tea that was perfect to cool me from the heat of the dishes.

To start, we ordered a couple of appetizers. First was the Larb, a spicy ground meat salad that gave its name to the restaurant (Ubol comes from the city of Ubon Ratchathani where the Chef grew up).

We had the following choices for the ground meat: chicken, pork, beef, veggie duck...We went for beef (Nuer Larb). It was good, but spicy and I loved mixing the spicy meat with the refreshing cucumber or mint leaves. I liked it so much that I kept going at it.

Then, I tried the grilled chicken liver skewer (Tub Yang), served with a tamarind dipping sauce:

If like me, you like chicken liver, this dish is for you. I admit that it was a bit dry, but the tamarind sauce did its magic, making it a very enjoyable appetizer.

The next dish was Peek Kai Tod or marinated chicken wings, served with a sweet chili sauce:

I thought it would be spicy, but it was not the case at all: the sauce was on the sweet side and was perfect with the moist chicken wings. Good dish for bird lovers.

Then, we had the Pukk Boong Fai Dang or sautéed morning glory with fresh chili:

I do not think I ever had morning glory before. It looks like this:

I enjoyed the dish, but should have ordered it with crispy pork as I am not too much of a vegetarian. The morning glory tasted a bit like spinach, maybe a bit less bitter.

Then was the Chicken Pad Ped:

It is one of their Chef's special, composed of chicken, Thai eggplant, bell pepper, basil, wild ginger and drenched in a spicy curry paste. I should add the large quantity of peppercorn...

After one bite, my mouth was literally on fire and I was glad I had the sticky rice and Thai iced tea to cool down!

I also ate some Pad See Ew that helped against the heat:

We went for the tofu version that was very good.

Last was dessert: we ordered the fried ice cream.

I always find fried ice cream to be an interesting dessert: who got this idea to fry ice cream? 

This was a very addictive dessert, the vanilla ice cream pairing well with its shell that was slightly crispy and deliciously sweet.

This was a very good dinner and I am glad I had the opportunity to try a different cuisine. Larb Ubol is definitely unique and stands out from the traditional Thai restaurants. Would I go back: certainly. But this time, I'll ask for non spicy dishes...

Enjoy (I did)!

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Larb Ubol

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E-San Thai in Murray Hill, NYC, New York

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We were recently invited to E-San Thai, a Thai restaurant located off the beaten path, in Murray Hill. This place opened in September 2012 by Chef Toi Kumdang who also owns a Thai restaurant in Brooklyn, Khao Sarn. From outside, the restaurant has nothing really distinctive, besides the bright yellow sign. At the entrance, first is the bar:

Then, on the right is the dining room, with its vaulted ceiling and warm colors.

There were not that many elements of the decor to remind you that you are in a Thai restaurant, except maybe the plastic lotus flower that was on every table:

Or the display on the right side of the bar:

We sat at one of the tables and

I started the lunch with a Thai Iced Tea, drink that I always order with Thai food.

I love the dark orange color with gradation of this drink. It was good and not too sweet.

Then the first appetizer was the vegetable spring rolls:

They were made of cabbage, carrots, celery and glass noodles, and served with a plum sauce. I found them delicious: they were crispy, not too greasy and there was the perfect amount of shell.

The second appetizer was the E-San sausage, that is a house specialty made with ground pork seasoned with Thai herbs.

It was good and tasty, the spices really coming through. I wish however that it was served with a kind of mustard or sauce to dip in.

The last appetizer was roti canai:

I love that dish that is kind of a fusion between Indian and Thai food. It is composed of a roti or paratha that was a bit thicker and less greasy than what I am used too. The bowl contained a dish made of a curry similar to a massaman, with potatoes, onions and chicken; it is the first time I got it with chicken as usually they propose it without meat. It was a delicious dish that I definitely recommend.

Then, we got Pad See Eew that are thick noodles, tofu, egg and broccoli, bathed in a black soy sauce.

Again another good dish: very tasty, I truly appreciated that it was not too salty.

The second entree was the Pineapple Na-Na, a crispy duck with a pineapple curry:

I was scared at first that this dish would be spicy, but it was perfect, having a little kick that  was well complemented by the sweetness of the sauce, as well as the pieces of pineapple. The duck was perfectly cooked and had a nice crunch.

It was served with white rice.


But what was the most spectacular was the sea bass that came after that:

It was a whole sea bass that was smothered with a sauce midly spicy and served with vegetables. The fish was perfectly cooked, moist and flaky, and the sauce was a bit sweet, with just the perfect kick. I never think about ordering fish, moreover a whole fish, in Thai restaurants, but this dish may have made me change my mind! If you go to E-San Thai, don't be freaked out by the mouth of the fish and enjoy it! I did!

Then, it was time to have dessert! The first one was the fried coconut ice cream that is one of their best sellers:

Fried ice cream is an interesting concept: the ice cream is first dipped in a batter and then fried. I can just tell you that I had to move fast with that one; not because the ice cream was melting, but because Jodi could not stop eating it!

That is true that it was delicious: the outside was a bit crunchy and the ice cream smooth, probably made with coconut milk. Another recommendation!

The second dessert was Thai donuts:

They were served with condensed milk and peanuts:

I liked them with or without the condensed milk...This is a very comforting dessert, a guilty pleasure that no one can resist, even after a full meal like the one we had!

With the desserts, I drank a Thai Iced Coffee that was a first for me:

It is like Thai Iced Tea except that the tea is replaced by coffee. I guess I will consider this drink the next time as I really liked it. It has a nice smokiness that I guess came from the coffee itself.

The lunch at E-San Thai was very good and made me want to discover more Thai cuisine. I often order "standard" dishes like Chicken curry Massaman, but there are so many other dishes to try. Of course my choices are also driven by the prix-fixe that restaurants propose, where unfortunately only these "standard" dishes are offered. I think it is a mistake, because there is so much to discover, and E-San Thai is the perfect spot for it.

Enjoy (I did)!


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Please note that the meal was complimentary. However, the opinions expressed in my blog are 100% my own!

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