Unforgettable Thai Cuisine at Mitr Thai NYC!
After a long day in New York City that had us wrapping things up at Grand Central Station, we wanted to find a place to sit down and eat. The problem was that we had no idea what to eat or where to go. So we looked online to see what was near us and stumbled upon Mitr Thai, a restaurant with raving reviews. Labeled as a fine dining restaurant in midtown Manhattan, we eagerly looked forward to it as we made our way there.
A Friendly and Fun Atmosphere
Seeing the sign shine through the dark streets of New York was like a beacon of hope to our hungry and tired selves. Rather unassuming at first, Mitr Thai quickly opened up providing an unmatched melding of the modern and traditional. First impressions are critical in any situation and this place did not disappoint. We were quickly greeted and shown to our seats which ended up being on the second floor and as we made our way, we were delighted by the moody lighting and the many fixtures on display only adding to the warm atmosphere.
Once seated, our attentive and energetic server handed us some menus. However, these menus were unlike many others. Adorned with a food-oriented map of Thailand, the offerings at hand were split up by region showcasing the robust diversity of what many people in the United States often mistake as a single cuisine. There were also a variety of 'street food' entries and other categories you'd come to expect like side dishes and drinks alike. In addition, they had a mixed drinks menu of their signature cocktails and mocktails with artistic renditions of each drink alongside a short description of the ingredients used.
Refreshing Signature Cocktails
After perusing the offerings and with a little help from our server, we started with a couple of non-alcoholic mixed drinks, the Now Yen, a sweet pink milk tea, and the Melon Must, a fruity drink containing cantaloupe, brown sugar, lemon, and lightly whipped cream, which honestly blew us away. So often we find that many restaurants tend to lean hard into their alcoholic offerings, almost as if that was their whole schtick, and that the food and mocktails, if any, happen to be there, almost like an afterthought. Instead of relying on expensive and fancy liquors, these mocktails had nothing to fall back on and stood on their own as some of the best-mixed drinks we've ever had.
The Now Yen was sala-flavored (also known as salak or snake fruit by our findings), getting its signature pink color from the syrup used, and was sweet and incredibly smooth. As for the Melon Must, the freshness this drink put out was intense, to say the least. It was as if you stuck a straw into the freshest melon right off the tree and that was this drink to a tee. To help round out the tantalizing flavor of the cantaloupe and lemon, the whipped cream was like an almighty balancer to the drink, becoming even more delicious as the flavors mixed over the course of our meal.
Savory Food Worth Remembering
Speaking of which, after much thought and consideration, we ordered the Gai Gor Lae, grilled marinated chicken skewers from the Southern region as our starter. As for our entrees, we got the Phuket Pineapple Fried Rice with Tofu from the Southern region and the Nam Tok, a dish comprised of grilled cubed sirloin with roasted chili rice powder and a Thai chili lime dressing from the Northeast region. The chicken skewers were incredibly flavorful and the sweet chili dipping sauce that came with it was also tasty, refreshing, and packed a bit of a kick. It was a great way to start the meal and by the time we were finished with it, our main entrées were ready. The pineapple fried rice came in an aesthetically pleasing shape that was almost a shame to break up. It was savory and flavorful with perfectly cooked tofu. As for the Nam Tok, the cubed sirloin was delicious and the very forward presence of lime and chili was a welcomed range of tangy and spicy flavors, pairing well with the smokiness of the sirloin.
We opted to finish our entrees and pass on dessert, but Mitr Thai was an excellent way to finish a busy day and we could not have prepared ourselves for the fantastic experience we had with them from the moment we walked in to when we left.