[CH] Great Northern Virginia Thai
Eggert, Len (leggert@sysplan.com)
Fri, 24 Jul 1998 09:12:43 -0400
My son and I checked out Tara Thai in Arlington (Ballston, on Fairfax
Drive) the other evening. This is the newest of the four Tara Thai
restaurants in the Washington metro area (the other three being in
Vienna and Falls Church, VA, and Bethesda, MD). The appetizers were
both excellent, shrimp cakes and Num Tok (beef salad). The entrees were
chicken with basil and a noodle dish with chicken, shrimp, and other
delectables. Both dishes were "rated" with three chiles on the menu,
presumably the top of the scale as I saw no dishes with four. We asked
for a tad more heat. Actually, a tad more than a tad:
I: "Could you ask the chef to make this very hot?"
Waitress: "What do you mean by 'very hot'?"
I: Tell him he can't make it too hot. Tell him to make it 'Thai hot.'
"
She: "I'll see what I can do."
My son: "Tell him I want mine the same way."
She: "Okay."
When she appeared with our food, I knew we were in trouble. Both dishes
were actually red from the chopped prik ki nu chiles. This was in
addition to the abundance of whole green Thai dragon chiles that
normally adorn these dishes. She announced that this was the hottest
food she had ever served, claiming that the chef had added 15 prik ki
nus to each dish. Several of the other folks on the wait staff were
observing from the wings, and one later came over to ask us how things
were going. He asked if we minded if he sniffed the dish, adding that
he didn't care for highly spiced food.
Both dishes were wonderful and easily eclipsed the hottest food I have
ever eaten at a restaurant. And the portions were uncharacteristically
generous for a Thai restaurant. Neither of us finished our meal, mostly
because we were simply full after sharing two appetizers and two huge
entrees. I enjoyed the leftovers the next evening.
Check it out. The restaurant is beautiful and has a large patio for al
fresco dining.
Len Eggert
leggert@sysplan.com