Amarin

Doesn't Recommend

MarknMai

Joined 5 years ago

Thai Food for Children Under Twelve. MnM Cincinnati Authentic Thai tasting food search. Our reviews of Cincinnati area Thai resturants is focused primarily 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. Amarin is a cozy little resturant similar to Lemon Grass. We found Amarin service to be timely and our server kind. Thai CONDIMENTS were NOT AVAILABLE. We were provided with stale Japanese chili powder. Amarin did not have chilies in vinegar, chilies in faish sauce, or even dried chilies- all important for Thai dinning. Portions were large but over priced at 2 for $59. In terms of authentic Thai tasting food, the Mexican cook got only 1 out of the 4 entres to taste Thai. We ordered Thai fried spring rolls, Yam Won Sen (Silver Noodle Salad) Pak Pak Ruam Mit (mixed fried vegies in a sauce) and Pla Rad Pik (a spicy cut fish in vegies). The fried spring rolls were good and the sause was Thai but its difficult to mess up fried spring rolls. We ordered everything to be as spicy as possible, "Make it like for Thai's" we said. The Yam Won Sen was so sweet, LIKE CANDY, we could not finish it. Yam Won Sen is supposed to be spicy and light. Amarin used some sort of sweet sauce. (WRONG). The Pak Ruam Mit was edible but overly salty. The Pla Rad Pik was super sweet, like it was cooked in some sweet & sour sauce from Happy Wok. It was not spicy at all. Amarin Problems: like Lemon Grass, Thai Taste and Tan Thai, what we have come to expect of Thai resturants in Cincinnati- too sweet, too salty and prepared with this false asumption that mid westerns can only eat food in Chinese style sauces. It's not the Mexican cook's fault. The fault lies with the Thai owners teaching them to make bland, sweet or Chinese hotel style Thai food. Another good gauge of authentic Thai taste, ask your Thai servers about each entrees flavoring. "Is it really like Thai food?" "Do you like it?" Generally they will tell you true.

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cincyreviewer

Joined 5 years ago

Good Thai Food with Lackluster Service. This restaurant offers Thai food and sushi. Amarin sits in a former small branch of a bank. Parking seems tight and it offers an experience simply to park your car when they are busy. Inside the layout places patrons very close to one another in cramped quarters. Frequently when going in the restaurant, employees look at arriving customers as if the employees are confused about what they should do, so they simply ignore customers much of the time. Inevitably the hostess, looking down her condescending nose, will stumble onto waiting customers. Once seated, water can take from five to fifteen minutes to arrive. Again customers must endure the ignore game. So why go? The food tastes great! The portions are appropriate in size, not to small or too large, just right. The flavoring and spices used in this restaurant provide authentic tastes to those experienced in Thailand. The good tastes cannot be overemphasized. So endure the pretentiousness of the area they likely term ambiance and enjoy a decent meal. Dinner partners indicate the sushi tastes great as well.

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Contributor

Joined 10 years ago

Editorial Review. Pan-Asian restaurant serves traditional favorites like curries and pad thai, along with unexpected treats like sushi, green mussels and duck.