Bai Som

Bai Som
2121 Clement St (22nd/23rd Aves)
751-5332, lunch 11am-3pm, diner 4–10pm, 7 days

Twenty years ago there was one Thai restaurant in the City. Now there are countless ones, especially with the new noodle houses which are taking advantage of Americans love for pasta. The quality varies, but only a few are really outstanding. Bai Som joins this small group of outstanding Thai restaurants.

Bai Som's small room — with about 35–40 seats — is beautifully decorated in lush Thai style and colors. Even the serving staff joins the picture by dressing in classic Thai attire. The food is outstanding, and served in attractive dishes — cloth napkins, of course, and attentive service.

Prices are also attractive. Portions are served on special plates or bowls, and are large in size. Curries, soups, and salads are especially recommended, as are some Specialties. All dishes, including desserts and noodles, lend themselves to family-style eating (e.g., one soup and two entrees are enough for 3 persons). The menu is formidable in size, but all dishes appear to be individually prepared.

Lunch, with soup & steamed rice, and choice of some 17 entrees $6.95.

Appetizers are $5.95 and $6.95, and portions are ample. For example, deep-fried tofu, 8 pieces, with sweet & sour sauce, topped with peanuts $5.95, vegetarian deep-fried wonton skins (12) served with sweet & sour sauce $5.95, vegetarian egg rolls (5) with veggies and silver noodles $6.95, deep-fried marinated prawns (6), wrapped in egg-roll skin, served with sweet & sour sauce $6.95, fish cakes (5) with marinated and deep-fried green beans stuffed with sweet carrots, served with cucumber salad $6.95.

Soups, all $6 for 2-3 persons, $7.95 for 3-5, chicken soup, with coconut milk, mushrooms, onions, tomatoes, & cilantro; mixed vegetable soup with same ingredients; prawn soup with same ingredients, plus hot & sour flavors & pineapple; chicken soup with minced pork, prawns, silver noodles,, onions, cilantro, mushrooms, & spinach; chicken soup with tofu, mixed vegetables, mushrooms, onions, & cilantro.

Thai salads with spicy lemon dressing, all $6.95 (except prawns $7.95), include veggies with crispy wonton skins; chicken beef, or squid salad with onions, tomatoes, cucumbers, & cilantro; maw salad with crispy rice, ginger, fried pork skins, & roasted peanuts, & topped with chili, onions, & cilantro.

Thai noodles, $6.95 & $7.95 — pan-fried rice noodles with chicken breast, egg, tofu, tomatoes, onions, bean sprouts, & topped with ground peanuts; with prawns $7.95; vegetarian noodles, with tofu, tomatoes, broccoli cabbage, carrots, with Thai sweet soy sauce.

Curries, all $6.95, with prawns $7.95 — yellow curry with choice of chicken, pork, or beef , with coconut milk, potatoes, carrots, onions; green curry with coconut milk, eggplant, bamboo shoots, zucchini, bell pepper, & basil; green or red curry with tofu, bamboo shoots, zucchini, bell pepper, carrots, broccoli, & basil; duck with red curry , coconut milk, tomatoes, pineapple, bell pepper, spinach, & basil.

Vegetarian, all $6.95, include sautéed eggplant with tofu & mixed vegetables; sautéed ginger with tofu & mixed vegetables, sautéed green beans with tofu & red chili paste; sautéed tofu with green beans in oyster sauce; steamed mixed vegetables with tofu, topped with peanut soy sauce.

Specialties – eggplant salad with spicy dressing $3.95, calamari stuffed with seafood in yellow curry $6.95, fried rice & egg with mixed vegetables $5.95, spicy catfish with red curry sauce & bell pepper $7.95, deep-fried chicken wings with garlic & chili sauce, & basil $6.95, BBQ pork or ribeye beef with Thai-style sweet & sour sauce, served with chili sauce $6.95, spicy fried rice & vegetables with chili & basil $5.95, garlic chicken , beef, pork, or tofu with baby corn, onions, carrots $6.95, roasted duck fried rice with pineapple & cashew nuts $6.95, spicy seafood combination hot plate with prawns, squid, fish ball, mussels, scallops, chili, onions, bell peppers, basil, served on sizzling hot plate $11.95 — a formidable dish.

Desserts. Mango with sticky rice $5.95, roti (sweet) $3.

Beer & wine. Thai beer $4, wine $3.50 glass, corkage $5.
(worth bringing your own).