Many returning to Dartmouth in the Fall were disappointed to learn that Mrs. Ou's had closed its doors. However, another restaurant has decided to fill the vacant space.
Mai Thai is a new Thai restaurant that offers several spicy but delicious foods. Thai food has a reputation for being hot and highly flavorful, and Mai Thai's menu is no exception. Most of the dishes are marked with cautionary stars that indicate spiciness.
There are no true standouts among the appetizers. The satay, a traditionally Malaysian item, is decent. The same is true of the fresh spring rolls.
Mekrob, a traditionally sweet dish, is actually balanced by a sour touch and makes a pleasing combination. The serving is fairly small; so don't plan on sharing.
The soups are all fairly spicy. If you prefer something flavorful but not too hot, try the Tom Kha Kai, an excellent chicken soup in a coconut milk base. Again, be warned that the serving is small. A vegetable soup with tofu is also a nice alternative on the non-spicy side.
There is a wide variety of entree options. Almost everything can be prepared with or without meat which should make vegetarians happy.
The curries are fairly liquid and all are rather spicy. Mai Thai's green curry is excellent, some of the best that I have ever tasted. I would recommend the chicken, which is a fantastic flavor match with the green curry.
Avoid the Pad Kapow, however. It was a fairly bland dish, overcooked and low on vegetables. The Garlic Shrimp is better, but really it's not that highly spiced. You have to go looking deep to find the garlic in it.
The Yum Naeur is a fantastic beef dish loaded with peppers. The dish required two glasses of water and a second helping of rice to go with it. Proceed with caution.
With the exception of the noodle dishes, the entrees are served with a choice of sweet, brown or jasmine rice.
Dessert is a choice between iced fruit or mango with coconut rice. The latter is superb. The mango tasted fresh and the rice with coconut sauce was fantastic.
The restaurant offers full bar service and a wide selection of imported and domestic beer. Surprisingly, I found The Newcastle Brown Ale from England makes a nice accompaniment to the spicy dishes.
Service has improved since the restaurant first opened and was understaffed; however, the wait can be over thirty minutes just to get a table. Arrive early to avoid the rush.
Mai Thai is open for dinner from 5-10 p.m. from Monday to Thursday, and 11 p.m. on Friday and Saturday. Lunch hours are 11:30 am until 3:00 p.m.
