Thursday, August 1, 2013

Lantern Thai Kitchen closes on Avenue A; Bangkok-based Somtum Der coming soon



Lantern Thai Kitchen has closed at 85 Avenue A... and a sign for its replacement is up (you could actually read it if this photo wasn't blurry). The Bangkok-based Somtum Der will be opening here soon...



The eatery is the first in the United States for Thanaruek Laoraowirodge, who is growing a mini-empire of restaurants in Bangkok.

Here's a quote from him in BK (Bangkok) magazine:

"People in New York already have a good perception of Thai food. They are not just familiar with tom yam, but regional dishes too."

Here's a 3-star (out of 5) review of Somtum Der via BK:

Together with Chef Kornthanut Thongnum, Khon Kaen-native Thanaruek Laoraowirodge has brought his Isaan roots to the capital in the shape of this somtam-focused restaurant whose objective is to steer our taste buds back towards Northern Isaan, and away from the sweeter flavors that Bangkokians so cherish.

And!

Of the score of somtam varieties available, standouts include the tam sua Sakon Nakhon (B65), which comes with freshwater crab and kratin beans, and the tam pla tu khao man (B85), which comes with mackerel and is served with a comforting side of rice cooked in coconut milk. In very different ways, they’re both exemplary of what Thai food does best: balancing a range of flavors and textures. Of course, there’s also a long list of usual suspects, from laabs to tom saep, all equally well executed. We’re less impressed with the deep-fried or grilled meats.

Lantern Thai Kitchen opened in January 2012, replacing Cafetasia, which sported the 100-ounce beer tube.

The Lantern remains open on Second Avenue at 18th Street.

14 comments:

Anonymous said...

Please... Please... All I beg of this is finally a Thai restaurant that actually is the least bit remotely Thai...

I'm sorry but there is not one good Thai restaurant in this whole fucking city. It drives me crazy...

So please, to the Thai gods of flavor. Do not americinize your dishes, keep this thai restaurant Thai....

Anonymous said...

Anon - what about Zabb Elee? And that's just in the East Village.

Anonymous said...

Anon 8:58

I will try it tonight... Thanks for the suggestion...

Gojira said...

Finally! Why I stopped eating Thai food, it was just too sweet. I look forward to trying this place!

IzF said...

I miss Holy Basil

abrod said...

Lantern won't be missed, 2nd Ave has all of your Thai food needs covered. Thailand Cafe is awesome Bangkok / Americanized Thai, while Zabb Elee is very authentic (read: spicy) and cheap to boot.

Legitimate Golf said...

+1 for Zabb Elee. And what about the superb East Village Thai on 6th st???

nygrump said...

Legitimate, you mean East Village Thai on 32 E 7th St? I stopped going there because they insisted on serving me yellow broccoli. Americans don't eat yellow broccoli, that mean it has gone bad. if they didn't know not to serve yellow broc, then gods only knows what else they are passing off. After the 2nd time, that was it, I knew it wasn't an accident.

Anonymous said...

This space has been doomed for as long as I can remember. Before Lantern and Cafetasia, it was Tigerland, which was actually pretty good as I recall. And there may have been something that came briefly between Tigerland and Cafetasia. Can't remember what was there before Tigerland.

EV Grieve said...

Kim's Video!

Anonymous said...

Yes the Kim's Video, with the funkiest carpet in the EV and at that time that was saying a lot, has left a curse upon this space.

Anonymous said...

Oh, how could I have forgotten it was Kim's, with its surly and dismissive staff. Any restaurant is preferable to that...I just wish I could remember the name of the place that was there between Tigerland and Cafetasia. There's not enough room in my old brain anymore to keep a mental catalog of all the changes in the East Village. Or even just along Avenue A!

Chris F. said...

Damn. I actually liked the pineapple fried rice and the cheese rangoon at that place. Then again, maybe my patronage was a sign that they weren't long for this earth (*cough* Baby Jake's, Baby Jupiter, The Levy, Zozo's, Alias, Yoshi, Leshko's *cough*).

Anonymous said...

i miss kim's video but i guess that's kind of silly since no one including me has a video player anymore. the people who worked there were so incredibly knowledgable and passionate about film. will probably try the new thai place. thanks for the heads up.