Located in the middle of a neighborhood rich with food choices ranging from Spanish (bars Veloce and Carrera are just across the street) to Irish by way of Latin America, Thai on Two is one of those neighborhood mainstays that seeks to please everyone and still manages to offer up a few surprises.
On our first visit, we were directed to our table in the gorgeous garden—decorated with a small but attractive fountain with flowers, stones and colorful lighting—located at the rear of the restaurant. Despite having an appearance of a dive, the interior is also comfortable and spacious (sit near the front), outmatching other affordable Thai spots. Weather permitting, however, head for the garden. Where else can you get outdoor seating in the area without a headache-inducing wait?
The staff is quite knowledgeable and helpful to those not as familiar with the restaurant’s offerings. Sticking to familiar fare, we tasted their cashew nut entree, a mix of zucchini, mushrooms and peppers served with a side of rice and a choice of vegetables, tofu, chicken, beef, pork or seafood ($7.95-$12.95). Don’t worry about being over-spiced; you’ll have to ratchet it up a notch if tongue torching is your thing. I also ordered a small bowl of Tom Yum Gai ($3.25), a clear lemongrass and chicken soup that turned out to be one of the best I have ever tasted in town, measuring up to some of my favorite places in the outer boroughs (sorry, Jackson Heights).
A few weeks later we returned and began with the appetizer of Hoy-Ob-Mop-Din, or steamed mussels ($5.95). Although the basil overpowered the other flavors a bit, it wasn’t enough to ruin the experience. They were followed by the summer rolls ($4.95), containing clear noodles, tofu, carrots and a hint of mint rolled up in rice paper, accompanied by hoisin dipping sauce. The cold appetizer is the perfect choice to begin a meal on a warm evening, since its flavors, enhanced by the mint, are refreshing when paired with a glass of Thai white wine. Yes, that’s right, Thai wine.
We weren’t familiar with wines from Thailand and were intrigued to get our first taste. Along with a selection of California and Italian wines, Thai on Two serves two wines from Thailand’s Monsoon Valley not available in the general market. This wine’s produced mainly for export, since, according to the manager, there’s no real market for wine where it’s produced.
We especially loved the crispiness of the white ($20 for a full bottle), which has a very mineral aftertaste and a fruity nose, but weren’t as impressed by the red. Those who don’t have a taste for wines can, of course, enjoy the native Singha beer, which comes ice-cold and pairs perfectly with the spicy fare.
Classic entrees like masaman curry with tofu ($8.95-$12.95) or the baby corn entree with shrimp ($8.95) rarely disappoint, but instead of ordering takeout of the exotic comfort food, it’s worth basking in the garden with a bottle of the Monsoon Valley, experimenting with a few new tastes and enjoying a casual evening with friends in the East Village.
On our first visit, we were directed to our table in the gorgeous garden—decorated with a small but attractive fountain with flowers, stones and colorful lighting—located at the rear of the restaurant. Despite having an appearance of a dive, the interior is also comfortable and spacious (sit near the front), outmatching other affordable Thai spots. Weather permitting, however, head for the garden. Where else can you get outdoor seating in the area without a headache-inducing wait?
The staff is quite knowledgeable and helpful to those not as familiar with the restaurant’s offerings. Sticking to familiar fare, we tasted their cashew nut entree, a mix of zucchini, mushrooms and peppers served with a side of rice and a choice of vegetables, tofu, chicken, beef, pork or seafood ($7.95-$12.95). Don’t worry about being over-spiced; you’ll have to ratchet it up a notch if tongue torching is your thing. I also ordered a small bowl of Tom Yum Gai ($3.25), a clear lemongrass and chicken soup that turned out to be one of the best I have ever tasted in town, measuring up to some of my favorite places in the outer boroughs (sorry, Jackson Heights).
A few weeks later we returned and began with the appetizer of Hoy-Ob-Mop-Din, or steamed mussels ($5.95). Although the basil overpowered the other flavors a bit, it wasn’t enough to ruin the experience. They were followed by the summer rolls ($4.95), containing clear noodles, tofu, carrots and a hint of mint rolled up in rice paper, accompanied by hoisin dipping sauce. The cold appetizer is the perfect choice to begin a meal on a warm evening, since its flavors, enhanced by the mint, are refreshing when paired with a glass of Thai white wine. Yes, that’s right, Thai wine.
We weren’t familiar with wines from Thailand and were intrigued to get our first taste. Along with a selection of California and Italian wines, Thai on Two serves two wines from Thailand’s Monsoon Valley not available in the general market. This wine’s produced mainly for export, since, according to the manager, there’s no real market for wine where it’s produced.
We especially loved the crispiness of the white ($20 for a full bottle), which has a very mineral aftertaste and a fruity nose, but weren’t as impressed by the red. Those who don’t have a taste for wines can, of course, enjoy the native Singha beer, which comes ice-cold and pairs perfectly with the spicy fare.
Classic entrees like masaman curry with tofu ($8.95-$12.95) or the baby corn entree with shrimp ($8.95) rarely disappoint, but instead of ordering takeout of the exotic comfort food, it’s worth basking in the garden with a bottle of the Monsoon Valley, experimenting with a few new tastes and enjoying a casual evening with friends in the East Village.
