If you enjoy appeThaizing but seek a more authentic Thai experience, consider going to Thai Flavor on Erie Boulevard. Traditional cuisine that provides a spicy kick and Thai-inspired décor will ignite a passion for Thai food.

Thai Flavor, located on 2863 1/2 Erie Blvd., next to Koto Syracuse Japanese Steakhouse, offers a wide variety of dishes sure to satisfy even the most apprehensive diners. The restaurant’s well-rounded menu features well-known, traditional Thai dishes. Appetizers include chicken satay, curry puffs and Thai dumplings. Entrée choices feature chicken jungle curry, beef panang, pad thai and see ew beef.  The menu also contains multiple vegetarian dishes, as well as a ‘recommended’ section, which boasts the house specialties.

We went for dinner on a busy Friday night, and upon entering, we were seated promptly, despite the restaurant being fairly busy. Nearly all the tables were filled with happy-looking guests engaged in hushed chatter. The décor in Thai Flavor is simple yet vibrant. Gold and silver elephant figurines decorate the walls,and brightly colored lamps hang from the ceiling. Instrumental music playing in the background and exotic plants lining the walls give the place an authentically Thai feel. There is a cozy bar located toward the front of the establishment and an enclosed outdoor seating area that can be used all year round.

For an appetizer, we ordered the curry puffs ($7). Afresh tasting cucumber and red onion dipping sauce accompany curried chicken and potatoes encased in a crispy puff pastry, garnished with a flower-shaped carrot.  The sweet and mildly spiced curry puffs were a great way to start the meal and enough to split between two people.

From the entrée lineup, we selected the chicken red curry ($12),filled with chicken pieces, diced mango, sliced red and green peppers, broccoli, carrots, bamboo shoots and sweet basil. The delicious coconut milk and red curry broth provided the perfect balance of heat and sweet. The varied vegetables added an element of freshness to the spicy broth, and the pieces of mango provided just the right amount of sweetness to the dish.

For a less spicy option,try the pad thai ($13). This traditional dish contains egg noodles, chopped peanuts, eggs, bean sprouts, scallions and your choice of chicken, shrimp or tofu, stir-fried in a sweet and savory tamarind-soy sauce. The meal, served in a lovely boat-shaped bowl and garnished with a lime segment and the same carrot flower, was the perfect embodiment of Thai cuisine:a bold, delicious and complex combination of sweet, savory and tart flavors. But the overabundance of noodles and sauce overwhelmed the scarce vegetables and scrambled egg. This boldly flavored pad thai quickly became redundant without the balance from the more subtle ingredients on the plate.

Finally for dessert, we decided to take our waitress’ recommendation and go for the Thai custard with fruit ($7) — a custard made from warm Thai tea and sweetened condescended milk. Beautifully presented in a golden fondue pot, the dessert came with pieces of warm bread, strawberries, bananas, orange slices and pineapples for dipping.

Overall, our meal at Thai Flavor was memorable. If your spice-loving taste buds crave delicious and authentic Thai cuisine,make sure you stop by Thai Flavor. The slightly pricey dishes might make a small dent in your weekend beer fund,but the unique flavors and tasty dishes offered are well worth the splurge.

jpimente@syr.edu

Published on March 8, 2011 at 12:00 pm