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Ai Mei Thai Restaurant
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- No
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Alcohol:
- Beer & Wine Only
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
6 reviews for Ai Mei Thai Restaurant
6 reviews in English
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Review from Joe E.
Largo, FL
1/9/2010 1 photo
My girl and I were out to celebrate a little holiday romance. Dinner and a play were on call that night as my friend's play was showing on this rainy Friday night. We meandered our way through the St. Petersburg streets looking for a decent place to eat. Running out of options and time we decided Ai Mei was the best candidate available around St. Pete little theater.
We were sore thinking about missing the all you can eat sushi - not all is lost. The night is young, my girl looks great, and Im hungry.
We entered Ai Mei and were seated almost immediately. The decor was interesting. Wood paneled walls with a bamboo theme. It sounds cheesey but somehow they make it work. For those of you who love watching football while having california rolls, they have a big screen plasma in the place. Looks great. They also have a "Voted best in Tampa Bay - 2008" sign. I'd like to know who voted on this and what drugs they were on. Perhaps they should be more specific in what theyre the best at.
We noticed we were limited on time - I asked our waitress if we could expedite our order and explained our need to rush. She took our order only to return and say the cook (I dont think he was a chef - please continue reading) only addressed each order on a first come, first serve basis so we'd have to wait our turn. I felt this was a dick move since you should at least humor me and tell me it would be rushed and cook my food as time allows. At the very least - please give me that.
We started with some apps. My girlfriend ordered seaweed salad. Our waitress in training was unsure if they even carried it. She went to "check" and said they didnt. Later we found it on the menu. By then it was too late; my girlfriend went without an app. I got miso soup - I got it. It was your run of the mill soup. No complaints except for feeling like a jerk for eating in front of my hungry girlfriend.
Finally, the food. I got the cashew beef. She got the curry shrimp. The portions were large and the dishes were hot. Plenty of food for the both of us. The beef was tender and the flavor was good. Nothing really stood out but I was satisfied.
The shrimp curry was unacceptable. The shrimp were undercooked and felt flimsy and rubbery. While I wasnt expecting the freshest food - it should at least feel like food.
I wouldnt trust Ai Mei for their sushi. Their food is ok, the experience is the same. Dont expect much from this place but it may be worth trying again if no other options are available.
In the end, we made it to the play just in time. A good night all in all.
Check out the pictures of our food. The presentation was good. -
Review from michael s.
St Petersburg, FL
Updated - 12/25/2010
The tempura was soaked in grease, rendering all but the broccoli inedible. Something else bothered me too..the had no paper napkins on the table in which to remove from my mouth a rather stale piece of sushi. I had to go to the restroom to spit it out. If I would come here again I think I'd just stick with the fresh spring wraps.
The owner asked us how the food was and my friend told her of the greasy tempura but she didn't take it off the bill. It was sad to see we were the only people in this large restaurant. Something's amiss here.1 Previous Review: Show all »
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12/12/2010
Since moving nearby, I have been curious about what restaurants lie nearby. My friend suggested Ai… Read more »
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Review from Jeff and Nina B.
Pāhoa, HI
10/11/2009
The first time I went to this restaurant, it was actually a little over mediocre. I even brought out-of-town friends from L.A. to enjoy some sushi and Thai food.
Over the next 10+ times I went back, the service and food just got worse and worse. The last draw was when they served me wilted vegetables and smelly tuna in a roll. Before that time, it took them literally 35+ minutes just to have 1 sushi roll ready.
I've given this place more than a few chances to redeem themselves but they just got worse and worse. They are inconsistent with how they serve their food, the service is always slow and awkward because the servers don't quite know their own food.
I actually wanted to give them 1 star, but I figured it's fair to give them 2 for the mediocre experience I got during the first few times I went there. -
Review from Jeff L.
Culver City, CA
5/18/2008
I've been to this restaurant maybe over 30 times or so since it opened in 1998. They now have a full sushi bar and I think their sushi is actually better than their Thai food, interestingly enough. Prices on sushi are good, although you could probably get better value for thai elsewhere, though not in that part of town. Their thai dishes taste less salty than other thai restaurants (could be a good thing, maybe healthier but the taste is more bland?). I was a bit skeptical about their sushi (which they've been serving for a little more than a year now), but after ordering 10+ items, think it's pretty good. For some items, I prefer it to Kinjo's (which is one of the sushi restaurants close to here). They have some rolls called US19, D.O.M. (Dirty 'ol Man), Buccaneer roll, and SFC (Southern Fried Chicken?) that's worth checking out.
On Tuesdays, they have $1 sushi (which is more like 50% off). If they improved their Thai food a bit (used to be better), I'll give it 4 stars. -
Review from Dana S.
St Petersburg, FL
1/23/2011
When I went here I got the all you can eat sushi.. it wasn't the best. Like the same quality you would get at an all you can eat Chinese buffet. My boyfriend got a different dish and there was a hair in it. Not appealing at all. At least he got his money back.
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Review from M. D.
Manhattan, NY
1/29/2011
Not so good. Lad Na has no flavor. Massaman Curry had a strange flavor, like something chemical. Peanut sauce on salad had a frightening consistency. Service was fast and friendly, that's the only reason it gets 2 stars. Banana Leaf is head and shoulders above this place. We didn't try the sushi--it may be that Ai Mei's strengths lie there, but certainly not with the Thai food.
