Chiang Mai Thai

Chiang Mai Thai Restaurant Review:

Giving local Thai stalwart Sawatdee a run for its money, this Uptown restaurant attempts to take pad thai on an upscale ride; for the most part, it succeeds. Owner Charles Lodge, who has paid dozens of visits to the motherland, tries to evoke the warm, colonial atmosphere of the great old Thai hotels of the 1920s, but we're more grateful for his insistence on including regional dishes such as nam prik ong on the menu. A spicy curry dip accompanied by vegetables for dunking, you won't find this tangy dish anywhere else in town. We also recommend the fried cashews and the spring rolls for starters, laab (“good luck”) salad and sweet, juicy mango salad (offered seasonally). Entrées include many curry variations, among them the Thai massaman curry, a heady blend of coconut milk, peanuts and potatoes with your choice of tofu, chicken, beef, pork or shrimp. The small bar has evolved into a neighborhood hangout, with a happy hour featuring great deals on wine and tropical drinks, like the Mad Mango martini. Spice aficionados, take note: Chiang Mai Thai takes its heat seriously, so go ahead and order your favorite curry with three ("really hot") or four ("crazy hot") flames.