Ar Roi Thai Restaurant

Invariably, I end up having Thai food at least three times a month. Usually, I'm going to Koh Samui and the Monkey for lunch or Osha for pre-drinking Thai noodle goodness. Occasionally, I make the trek out to the Lower Haight for the excellent dishes at Thep Phanom. As you can see, I take my Thai food seriously. So, when faced with trying to put together a last minute meal for four yesterday (Saturday) in a location close to Rye for after dinner drinks, I immediately thought about choosing a Thai restaurant, and the location that came to mind was Ar Roi. I've been to Ar Roi at various points throughout the past decade, most recently with a large group of coworkers in 2004. Back then, it was a solid Thai restaurant, and I wondered how it stood the test of time. The answer is that they stood the test of time very well. The restaurant interior has been updated since my last trip - deep copper tones accented by dark greens and purples. It was warm and definitely felt Thai without being kitschy. Since it was a larger group, we went with two appetizers, a soup, and three entrees. We started with the Goong Hoompa (aka Goong Gaborg) - shrimp wrapped in wonton wrappers and deep fried as well as an order of Pork Sate. The shrimp were larger than most, extremely fresh, and very well prepared. The pork sate was good, but there was nothing special or distinctive about it.The soup - Tom Kha Goong - or spicy coconut soup with shrimp was better than average - full of flavor and without the typical sheen of oil on top. For the main courses, we ordered Gangaree Gai (yellow curry chicken with potatos), Gai Grapao (chicken with chili and basil) and a seafood talay (mixed spicy seafood). The curry was mild but richly flavored and for a non-spicy option, it was fantastic. The talay was fine - but the calamari, mussels and scallops were overcooked (the shrimp were fine). The outstanding dish was the grapao - instead of the typical sliced chicken, it was minced and sauteed in a fantastic spicy basil sauce. It's been 24 hours and I am still thinking about that dish. All of this and three Thai iced teas came to $75 without tip. They're certainly on the list for good Thai in the city. It's not as good as Thep Phanom, but for the price and location, they're certainly going to be part of my regular restaurant rotation. more

Recently went back to one of the few solid restaurants in this city. To my surprise, Ar Roi has undergone a design makeover and raised the stakes in Thai restaurants. The place is now simply stunning, changing from the subtle blues to attractive reds and oranges. But this only complements Ar Roi's already awesome food. This is why my friends and I keep coming back here. The restaurant looks different in the inside but the food is consistent as ever. Staple Thai dishes like their Pad Thai and curries and on the mark, but we love their specials, dishes which you can't really get anywhere but back in Thailand. If you haven't tried this place, you are missing out. With the new look, this is the place to impress now. more