Thai House Restaurant :: 53 W. Main St., Smithtown

The Thai House Restaurant on Main Street in Smithtown is tucked discreetly along the main row of narrow storefronts. Joan Reminick from Newsday says, “The spice is right at this up and coming Thai House in Smithtown.”

Jennifer ate:

Pad Kae Mao ($7.95 lunch special)
House Salad (comes with lunch special)
Thai Iced Tea ($2.95)

It’s easy to miss the Thai House on Main Street. An unassuming exterior boasts a favorable Zagat rating in the window and opens into a tasteful and simply decorated dining room. (But don’t come on Tuesdays, it’s closed!) It was fairly quiet for a weekday lunch hour with three or four other parties already seated. Menus and water were brought to the table quickly, but nothing on which to nibble as you browse meal options.

An extensive selection of Thai cuisine is presented in an easy-to-understand fashion, with additional pages in the back to explain various spices. (A helpful tool if some of the menu items are unfamiliar to you.) Each menu item is also clearly explained so you have a very good idea of what you’re ordering.

I treated myself to a Thai iced tea, which I highly recommend. It’s a creamy, sweet tea that compliments potentially spicy dishes typically available at Thai restaurants. The lunch menu was diverse and extensive. I chose the Pad Kae Mao, a mildly spicy, sauteed flat noodle with vegetables, basil, onion and red bell pepper. Lunch menu selections come with a small house salad with lettuce, cucumber, tomato, fried bean curd and their house special peanut dressing.

Both were delicious. The salad was light and tasty. The Pad Kae Mao portion was on the large side, but was full of flavor and well balanced. (I’m stuffed!) Contrary to other local Thai restaurants and in keeping with more traditional Thai customs, chopsticks are not made available. It is my understanding that chopsticks are not traditionally used in Thailand, Thai people use spoons, forks and knives to eat their meals.

The bottom line:
Thai iced tea – Always a treat. A sweet, flavorful tea.
Pad Kae Mao – Well seasoned, not too spicy, just enough to “feel” the flavor.
Overall rating: Yum! Great traditional Thai food at an affordable price. I will most definitely go back!

Chuck ate:

Gang Massaman w/ Chicken ($7.95 lunch special)
House Salad (comes with lunch special)
Thai Iced Tea ($2.95)

What an interesting little restaurant. Inside was nice and bright; from the Thai design decorating the interior to the photos on the wall — this was an inviting and comfortable place (nice plush seat cushions, too!). The service was prompt and very respectful/friendly. They seemed genuinely thankful that we were dining with them, and were eager to refill water glasses and clear our empty plates.

Since this was the second time I had ever eaten Thai food (the first being Pad Thai at a Manhattan restaurant last month), I wanted to try something different that included curry. My palette is fairly resistant to spicy foods so I figured I’d be safe . I really appreciated the “spicepedia” (my word, not theirs) that explained all the spices used in Thai cooking, as well as their medicinal values (who knew curry had anti-flatulance qualities?).

The Gang Massaman was excellent. The combination of the sweet coconut milk and mildly spicy Massaman Curry complimented with chicken, onions, potatoes, red peppers and rice was amazing. I only wish the dish had more red peppers.

The salad was nice and light with a sweet peanut dressing. On Jennifer’s insistence I had the Thai iced tea. It was very unique, having an initially “rounded” sweet taste with a sharp tea aftertaste. I liked it, but not being an (unsweetened) Tea drinker, it had limited appeal for me (Jennifer actually finished mine).

The bottom line:
Thai iced tea – If you like tea, you will like this alot. It would be really good on a hot day!
Gang Massaman – Mild and sweet with the vegatables cooked to perfection.
Overall rating: Great price, great place, great food. I will be back. Oh yes, I will be back!