Doesn't Recommend

MarknMai

Joined 5 years ago

Not Thai. Pathetic Chinese-Thai Fusion. MnM Cincinnati Authentic Thai tasting food search. Our reviews of Cincinnati area Thai resturants or places that advertise Thai cusine is focused only on the taste of the food. Our credentials: Mark lived in Thailand for 10 years, 4 in the US Peace Corps. Mai is from Thailand & cooks amazing Thai food.

In terms of taste, Tan Thai was worse than Thai Taste. It suffers from all 5 of the major Thai cooking pitfalls. 1) It's overly salty. 2) The taste is not Thai at all, but Chinese. 3) In attempting some sort of bizare red sauce fusion, many of the dishes taste the same. 4) They can NOT get the food spicy enough, dispite being told to make it level 10, as hot as possible or "Bap Thai" (make it like you are making it for Thai's).

5) There are no Thai condiments readily available.

We are not saying that the food is bad. We suppose that many people eat at Tan Thai & think it good. However, they are not serving Thai food. If you are interested to eat authentic Thai tasting food, as of Feb 06 2008, we have found two resturants out of 6 that are doing Thai food mostly traditional w/ the right flavors. These places are Thai Express near UC in Clifton- very good Thai street food. And Green Papaya in Hyde Park- actually serving spicy papaya salad & minced chicken salad very well! Though the servers sometimes give you European favored sauces that do not go w/ Thai food. Many Thai places in the mid west appear to do this because they assume Americans can not handle Thai spices and sauces. If you get something creamy- it not Thai.

Signs that you might be in a real Thai cuisine place: A) pictures of the King & Queen. B) Thai condiments- if not on the table, available: fresh cut chilies in vinegar, fresh cut chilies in fish sauce, & dried crushed chilies. C) Served w/ spoon & fork- no knives as they are not required for Thai food. Chop sticks only if eating a noodle dish. D) "Cow neow" or sticky rice- though this is tough to find.

Goodluck,

MnM

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LawyerEd

Joined 5 years ago

Too bad it's only open for lunch.. This is a lovely little restaurant, with a broad menu. Its choices seem to be based on one sauce, with numerous variations -- and they're all good. Dozens of lunchoen selections all are in the $6.95 range. Service is unobtrusive; during the very height of the lunch hour, it can be a bit . . . uhh . . . delayed, but never too long.

The good: great food, excellent prices, charming service.

The bad: it's no longer a secret, so it can get crowded. Not open for dinner.

Bottom line: Get there by 11:40 or after 12:40, and prepare for a real treat!