It's been so long since my last post... I've technically been on break for more than a whole week already! Time just seems to fly by. I guess it started right after Thanksgiving break, though, when I was hit with thermodynamics homework due the Monday after, a Biomechanics midterm that same Monday (which was moved to Wednesday anyway... >_<), Contemporary Biotechnology homework due Tuesday, a project and presentation due the next Tuesday, a 10-page paper based on research in published literature and a 15-page paper based on my own research, all topped off with 4 finals in 3 days! And I have so many things to share, a birthday cake, scones, a pink velvet-cheesecake confection, green tea shortbread, persimmon bread, peppermint chocolate crinkles and first attempt at petit fours among them. Where to start...? None of the above, just to be contrary. I'll start with my very first restaurant review post. It seems fitting, since my last night in New York was spent there with my boyfriend and some very good friends of ours.
I was actually introduced to this restaurant through my friend, who works there. Her family immigrated from Thailand a few years ago and her parents started the restaurant. It is small and welcoming, decorated with several Thai elements including paintings, lamps, statues and a flat screen television that displays beautiful scenery. There's a bar, but I've never seen it in use. However, most of my friends are still below the drinking age in the U.S. (as am I!), so perhaps the point is moot. The service is quick, water glasses kept filled and the food brought out as it is made. The only drawback to this restaurant is the dim lighting. Most of the light streams in through the large windows, filtered by curtains. This is about comfortable reading quality in the daytime, but fades to a low, romantic-but-inadequate-for-my-camera level at night. I will apologize for the quality of my photos now. If you'll remember, my camera screen was broken a few months ago by yours very clumsy truly, and I've only managed to use the macro setting ("food" label on camera button). These pictures were actually taken about a week and a half after the accident, with a different camera that I struggled to learn to use, kindly lent to me by my boyfriend's family.
Also, their fried ice cream is stellar. Having freshly fried your ball of ice cream and batter in searing hot oil for barely 60 seconds, your server emerges from the kitchen carrying the ice cream and a small metal dish of fiery liquor. She lightly drizzles strawberry sauce over the golden-brown orb, pours the flames over your ice cream and places it in front of you. After a few seconds, it burns out and you are left with a wonderfully crisp shell, still slightly chewy inside, encasing your still-frozen vanilla, mango, green tea or red bean ice cream. Their flavors vary from day to day, but always remains delicious.
The website is here, and you can find a menu online. It's a very simple website, but contains all the basic information. Prices are reasonable and the portions generous; we usually end up with enough left over for lunch the next day.
Phayathai Restaurant
735 Hawkins Ave.
Lake Ronkonkoma, NY 11779
(631)981-0303
Note: I have no disclaimer. My friends and I have always paid for our meals, although occasionally we receive drinks, dessert or appetizers on the house. I think this is due to their eternal niceness and the famous "friend discount," what my roommate called when I sold her a textbook a good deal below market price. This doesn't take away from the fact that the food is really just plain good.
I was actually introduced to this restaurant through my friend, who works there. Her family immigrated from Thailand a few years ago and her parents started the restaurant. It is small and welcoming, decorated with several Thai elements including paintings, lamps, statues and a flat screen television that displays beautiful scenery. There's a bar, but I've never seen it in use. However, most of my friends are still below the drinking age in the U.S. (as am I!), so perhaps the point is moot. The service is quick, water glasses kept filled and the food brought out as it is made. The only drawback to this restaurant is the dim lighting. Most of the light streams in through the large windows, filtered by curtains. This is about comfortable reading quality in the daytime, but fades to a low, romantic-but-inadequate-for-my-camera level at night. I will apologize for the quality of my photos now. If you'll remember, my camera screen was broken a few months ago by yours very clumsy truly, and I've only managed to use the macro setting ("food" label on camera button). These pictures were actually taken about a week and a half after the accident, with a different camera that I struggled to learn to use, kindly lent to me by my boyfriend's family.
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| Thai Iced Tea, a delightful starter and accompaniment. |
The food is really wonderful, authentic Thai. You can start with some Thai iced tea, a refreshing blend of strong tea and rich sweetened condensed milk that will later soothe your palate if you choose a spicy dish. Next are appetizers, spring rolls or richer fare like fried tofu, chicken wings and calamari. Once you find your way to the main dishes, you'll find that the vegetables are fresh and lightly cooked, noodles well-cooked and the whole delicious pile gently seasoned and spiced. I personally don't eat land animals, but all the people at our table enjoyed their dishes, meat, vegetables and all. My favorite dish happens to be the Drunken Noodles, with vegetables and tofu. Many main dishes come as a choice of vegetables and tofu, beef, chicken, shrimp or seafood. That night I happened to try the Pad Woonsen; it was just as good, but I prefer my flat rice noodles in the slightly spicy Drunken Noodles :) Unfortunately, my pictures of our dishes were entirely unusable, low light and all.
Also, their fried ice cream is stellar. Having freshly fried your ball of ice cream and batter in searing hot oil for barely 60 seconds, your server emerges from the kitchen carrying the ice cream and a small metal dish of fiery liquor. She lightly drizzles strawberry sauce over the golden-brown orb, pours the flames over your ice cream and places it in front of you. After a few seconds, it burns out and you are left with a wonderfully crisp shell, still slightly chewy inside, encasing your still-frozen vanilla, mango, green tea or red bean ice cream. Their flavors vary from day to day, but always remains delicious.
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| My friend, carrying a purple flame and fried ice cream! |
The website is here, and you can find a menu online. It's a very simple website, but contains all the basic information. Prices are reasonable and the portions generous; we usually end up with enough left over for lunch the next day.
Phayathai Restaurant
735 Hawkins Ave.
Lake Ronkonkoma, NY 11779
(631)981-0303
Note: I have no disclaimer. My friends and I have always paid for our meals, although occasionally we receive drinks, dessert or appetizers on the house. I think this is due to their eternal niceness and the famous "friend discount," what my roommate called when I sold her a textbook a good deal below market price. This doesn't take away from the fact that the food is really just plain good.
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