Singha Thai. CBD: 413 Carondelet. 504-581-2205.

Restaurants - Thai Restaurants

Singha Thai

CBD: 413 Carondelet. 504-581-2205. Map.
Casual
AE MC V

WHY IT'S NOTEWORTHY
Surrounded by office buildings (One Shell Square looms across the street, Singha Thai serves a steady stream of office workers who want something a little different from the standard lunch menu. As Thai menus go, it's abbrieviated, but they'll prepare almost anything you ask for. The prices are low and the service rapid.

WHY IT'S GOOD
This is far from the best Thai restaurant in town, but neither is it pure convenience food from a steam table. The kitchen uses fresh ingredients and prepares each dish to order, following your instructions as to spice level. The restaurant is good enough that it remains open through the dinner hour, drawing customers from the growing number of residential buildings in the CBD,

BACKSTORY
Singha Thai opened in 2000 in a much smaller space than it has now. It became so popular that it expanded several times, and still appears to be growing. The name is the same as that of the most common Thai beer, but there's no connection.

DINING ROOM
Singha Thai is a narrow room that gains a little space from big windows looking out into a heavily-planted alley. The kitchen, which you pass on the way inside, is so small that at times in the past they had to do some of the cooking on the roof. Although you might not realize it until you look carefully, the big dining room in the rear is actually a courtyard, insulated from the weather for year-round use. The customers are Gen-X and younger, for the most part.

ESSENTIAL MENU
starters
»Crispy spring rolls
»Thai fresh spring rolls
Chicken and shrimp dumpling
Fried golden brown squid, three-flavor dip
»Chicken satay, curry peanut sauce
»Gourmet Thai salad
Noodle salad, minced pork, chilies
Yum nua (thin-sliced beef salad)
Chicken salad
Soups
»Tom yum koong (lemongrass soup with shrimp)
»Tom kha kai (coconut milk, galangal, chicken)
Entrees
»Musuman beef curry
»Red Thai curry with chicken
Ka Ri Kai (yellow curry with chicken and carrots)
Cashew chicken
Basil chicken
Beef with vegetables
»Ginger fish (fried fillet with mushrooms, bell peppers, onions)
»Carondelet shrimp (stir-fried with vegetables and eggplant)
»Shrimp with green curry, bamboo shoots, fried eggplant
»Crispy duck
Royal duck with brown sauce over noodles
»Pad thai (pan-fried noodles with chicken and sprouts)
»Pad woon sen (glass noodles, chicken, shrimp, baby corn and mushrooms
Gold rush noodles (stir-fried with chicken and vegetables)
Mee grob (as above, with fried noodles)
Red curry crawfish with vermicelli
Beef chili noodles

FOR BEST RESULTS
The restaurant is geared up for fast service of a basic menu. If you want something complicated, go at an off hour.

OPPORTUNITIES FOR IMPROVEMENT
Although it's perfect for the needs of its clientele, one wishes for a bit more menu range.

FACTORS OTHER THAN FOOD
Up to three points, positive or negative, for these characteristics. Absence of points denotes average performance in the matter.

Dining Environment -1
Consistency
Service
Value +1
Attitude
Wine and Bar
Hipness +1
Local Color +1

SPECIAL ATTRIBUTES

Courtyard or deck dining

Good for business meetings

Open Monday lunch and dinner

Open all afternoon

Unusually large servings

Quick, good meal

No reservations

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