Chicago Bites #87
Thalia Spice
The signature seafood salad, sprinkled with cilantro, was off-putting.
Thalia Spice holds the promise of every other neighborhood Thai restaurant, but can they overcome obsequious service, questionable seafood and no liquor license to meet that standard? Listen in as we navigate through an interesting evening.
(10.9 M)
00:00 - 03:12 Neighborhood vibe and lofty space and the chill
03:13 - 04:56 Authentic Thai?
04:57 - 07:30 Timing is everything
07:31 - 12:44 Placement is everything, too
12:45 - 14:00 BYOB
14:01 - 16:20 Appetizers and stinky feet
16:21 - 19:37 Entrees
19:38 - 21:45 Perking up for dessert
21:46 - 23:41 Ratings and sign-off
Thalia Spice
833 W. Chicago
Bridget rates Thalia Spice 2/10
Tammy rates Thalia Spice 4/10
The panang curry was a tasty entree.
Related Chicago Bites Posts:
Arun's
PS Bangkok
Republic Pan-Asian Restaurant & Lounge
Comments
1. Perhaps the "stinky feet" phenomenon can be explained away by the presence if fish sauce, a common ingredient to Southeast Asian cuisine. It might also explain away the "interestingness" of the "spices" you note in the other dishes, as well.
2. In Asian cookery, fish cakes are not the meaty, moist patties that you encounter in the U.S. (i.e. salmon or tuna burgers). Asians often incorporate squid and/or shrimp, which gives it a more bouncy, or as you described it - rubbery - consistency. It may have also explained why the cakes seemed "normal" to Yukako. Ask her. I'd be curious to know her response.
3. Those "vegetable noodles" that B had: were they mung bean noodles (a.k.a. "glass noodles because they are clear)?
Posted by: the ulterior epicure | December 12, 2007 10:43 AM