Delicious Thai, Not for Purists

Published on Friday, September 4, 2009, by Mark Hokoda / Edit Post

Purists and chileheads might as well pass on Sura Thai. “This isn’t the place for you,” warns cimui. “Nothing is terribly hot.” But for sheer deliciousness, high-quality ingredients, and kitchen chops, she adds, this place is sure worth a try.

Fusion preparations are unusually well executed, cimui reports. Pinot Noir duck is a knockout: fried marinated duck breast with beautifully crisp skin, cooked with shallots and sun-dried chile, and topped with tamarind reduction. It comes with steamed Chinese broccoli and a tempura-style hard-cooked egg (“sort of reminiscent of a Scotch egg—in a good way!”). Almost as good, cimui says, is tender, well-marinated honey-glazed duck over bok choy. Other winners include banana-leaf-wrapped barbecued trout (with caramelized fish sauce, shallot chips, roasted chile) and drunken noodles, low on chile heat but full of tender seafood and vegetables.

Simon, who prefers authentic Thai food, is unmoved by Sura. He finds its cooking less Thai and more standard Upper West Side Chinese-American. cimui agrees that the menu isn’t uniformly strong, featuring some skippable “Chineseified” fare. Best bets are duck and seafood dishes, she advises.

Sura Thai [Upper West Side]
2656 Broadway (between W. 100th and 101st streets), Manhattan
212-665-8888

Board Link: Sura Thai UWS

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  • The smell and taste reminded me of Thailand, and it was a wonderful way to begin our dinner. We split the Panang Curry and the Pad Thai. The Panang Curry was delicious. The Pad Thai, on the other hand, was something we gladly jettisoned, having a burnt taste and little flavor - probably the worst pad thai I've ever had! Overall, we enjoyed our dinner and we do plan to go back. Next time we'll...+READ

    The smell and taste reminded me of Thailand, and it was a wonderful way to begin our dinner. We split the Panang Curry and the Pad Thai. The Panang Curry was delicious. The Pad Thai, on the other hand, was something we gladly jettisoned, having a burnt taste and little flavor - probably the worst pad thai I've ever had! Overall, we enjoyed our dinner and we do plan to go back. Next time we'll skip the Pad Thai and try another curry.
    For the purist, Sushi Hana is better, although I prefer the Lake Falls Village location. You can do better at Wegmans than pulling stuff off the rotating sushi bar. If you order off the menu it's better, but with the other options, ... I like San Sushi Too/Thai One On. But only for the sushi, not so much for the Thai food. But I was spoiled by living in Northern Virginia for a while, where Asian food reigns and tastes about 100% better than it does in Baltimore. ...
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    Good source for Thailand travel deals-COLLAPSE