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Amarin Cafe
Category: Restaurants Thai Thai [Edit]
617 Manhattan Ave(between Driggs Ave & Nassau Ave)
Brooklyn, NY 11222
Neighborhood: Greenpoint
(718) 349-2788
- Nearest Transit:
-
Nassau Av (G)
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- No
- Parking:
- Street
- Attire:
- Casual
- Price Range:
-
$
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Takes Reservations:
- No
- Delivery:
- Yes
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Good For:
- Dinner
- Alcohol:
- No
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
106 reviews for Amarin Cafe
Review Highlights
-
"Favorite entree: Chicken Masaman Curry." In 4 reviews -
"The DELICIOUS pad thai made up for it." In 32 reviews -
"Their Green Papaya Salad is great." In 8 reviews
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106 reviews in English
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Review from Valerie R.
New York, NY
1/16/2012 3 Check-ins Here
Loved this place!
My boyfriend and I split the Green Papaya Salad (which was great and had a little kick to it) for an appetizer and then we split the Pad Thai with Vegetables. It was cool because the server actually asked us how spicy we wanted it.
I would definitely go back - really affordable, especially when you BYOB -
Review from matt w.
Brooklyn, NY
1/14/2012
my girlfriend and i ordered from here the other day and (i'll sound like everyone else here), but their lunch special is bangin
got pad thai special with two free dumplings, gf got the ginger chicken with dumplings also. both were really good (if you add the rest of the dumpling sauce it makes it even better (thanks to gf for that))
off http://delivery.com, it's def one of the cheapest and best thai places in wburg area -
Review from Caroline L.
Brooklyn, NY
1/11/2012
FINALLY. SPICY!!! This place was awesome! I didn't have high hopes, I'll be honest. And it's not exactly beautiful from the outside, in fact, it borders on sketchy, but wow, what they lack on exterior beauty they completely make up for with delicious food!
I got the medium spicy Pad Thai and it was a generous portion, and just the right kind of spicy, which is real real spicy for me!
My BF and I ordered a plethora of food and the damage was only about $25, which considering we got drinks, and Ap, and entrees is pretty slammin. Will def be back -
Review from Heather R.
Brooklyn, NY
5/25/2012
This place is delicious, but be prepared to smell like smokey food if you dine in. They definitely need better ventilation.
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Review from Erica J.
Updated - 5/8/2012
I recently tried Amarin after protesting it for quite some time. While I still feel the menu is a tad too small, I tried the vegetarian spicy noodle (I got medium- and I'm usually a girl who gets spicy) and they were amazing. Not greasy, not under or over spicy, and a good amount of fresh vegetables mixed in. I'll definitely be coming back again.
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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11/19/2011
I have yet to be wowed by Amarin. It's okay; but nothing out of this world. The portions are small… Read more »
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Review from Waylon K.
Manhattan, NY
5/15/2012
Slammin' curry. Delicious shrimp fried rice. Very reasonably priced. Only did the delivery but was shocked by how tasty it was.
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Review from Grace K.
Brooklyn, NY
5/11/2012
Once, long ago, I lived above Amarin. Our building had rats. This did not dissuade me from eating at Amarin. You may think me a fool, but I don't care. I still eat there.
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Review from Justin L.
Brooklyn, NY
1/2/2012
Its
Not the
Prettiest
Interior
But BYOB and best Greenpoint Thai. -
Review from charles s.
Brooklyn, NY
3/13/2012
Consistently good Thai food. I recommend the Panang chicken and Thai lemonade. Also, they can make their food pretty spicy if you want.
I would give them 5 stars if they had a cheaper lunch special. -
Review from Heather H.
Brooklyn, NY
11/26/2011
This is one of my preferred lunch options in Greenpoint. Not the loveliest of places to dine-in, but service is quick, the food is good, inquiries are made as to the desired level of spiciness, and the desired level of heat is in fact delivered. Everything I've tried has been good so far, but I haven't ranged very far from the usual suspects (I'm not looking for a transformative authentic dining experience; I just want a good lunch. and on that front, in fact, this place is 5 stars).
Prices are fine: not the cheapest, but perfectly reasonable considering the quality and quantity of food. I didn't go hungry.
Sadly cash only. (I'm only in Greenpoint because of work; work pays for lunch, and I have to use the corporate card, it's a pain when I don't, etc etc. So this is an issue for me. Phooey). -
Review from Ben G.
Los Angeles, CA
10/20/2011
Look... I am one of those people that only gets chicken pad thai from thai food places.. so I can't tell you how the Crab Rangoon is or anything like that. I never want to try anything else because chicken pad thai is my jam.
That being said, Amarin makes a great chicken pad thai. If i order delivery or pick it up, it's always steaming hot and delicious. It's also always spicy as hell. This place doesn't mess around. "Medium" is your usual SPICY (if not more spicy than the usual spicy) and "Spicy" is "Holy shit this is going to clean out my sinuses tonight and my bowels tomorrow."
I guess what i'm trying to say is ... Order "Medium." or "Mild" -
Review from Kyle L.
Brooklyn, NY
1/23/2012
My favorite deliver thai in the area. Finally a Thai place that takes spice seriously. They will try to make it to your preferred level of spice for each dish, and while at times it has varied, overall they do a good job. I always ask for between their mild and medium levels, as this is Thai spicy, so don't go crazy. They have the best Pad Thai I think I've had since moving away from my old spot in Pennsylvania... not too sweet or too savory. All of their curries are very decent as well, and their Thai Iced Tea is well made.
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Review from Bin H.
Manhattan, NY
10/9/2011 1 Check-in Here
Quality Thai food at excellent prices with great portions!
Some friends of mine who only live a few blocks from this place told me it's their go-to Thai restaurant in the neighborhood. I don't blame them because it was seriously good!
It's BYOD so my friend got a bottle of white from across the street. We ordered family-style and shared the green papaya salad, fried calamari, duck & mashed potatoes, pad thai chicken, and spinach noodles. All were full of flavor, but each dish had its own unique taste. My favorites were the pad thai chicken and the duck. I loved how the duck was served under a bed of mashed potatoes. Their portions are very generous, too!
The servers were nice, brought wine glasses immediately upon seeing our bottle of white, checked frequently to see if we were doing okay, brought out the food really fast, and even refilled our water glasses each time they passed by. I had an excellent experience and will definitely be back when I'm in the neighborhood again! -
Review from Sphinx D.
Greenpoint, Brooklyn, NY
2/19/2012
My second favorite Thai place only because it's ten blocks away. Great food, very consistent, killer green curry, great specials menu. Still, just about the best and tastiest Thai food you can get in a simple atmosphere that is well-lit and clean, with great service.
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Review from Jessica L.
Brooklyn, NY
7/15/2011
When I first started eating there three years ago, Amarin served very decent Americanized Thai food. The fried calamari was tender, the papaya salad fresh and perfectly seasoned, and the green curry was carrot-less.
Since then, their food has deteriorated. I've ordered the calamari on two occasions and both times, it's been chewy and gross. The curry is coconut milk goop, not spicy enough. And, they also commit the sin of sins - putting carrots in the curry! I have a few pet peeves and this is one of them: bad Thai restaurants of the world, stop putting carrots in the curry.
It's a bummer because this is the closest Thai place to me and it's cheap. My boyfriend loves their BBQ chicken, though. -
Review from Laura B.
New Orleans, LA
1/28/2012
This is real Thai food made by people who understand their chilies. Even the papaya salad has a kick. I love the veggie pad thai- it's loaded with fresh produce and not too starchy. Fun to watch the guys cook and the smell is heavenly. I've been eating there for nearly a decade and you can't go wrong with any dish. Just be sure to tell the waitress what your spice preferences are and be honest ;-) When its too hot, the food can make you cry, so be careful!
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Review from Pam S.
10/23/2011
Pretty decent Thai food (considering the lack of good Asian cuisine in the hood). The pad kee mao can get SUPER spicy, be warned! But it's pretty authentic tasting. The green curry is pretty much at par with most white-washed Thai places around NYC. Overall - decent. Quick delivery as well.
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Review from Bee D.
Brooklyn, NY
8/1/2011
Came for dinner with my boyfriend recently to relieve a Thai craving.
The staff here is very friendly and they seem to really care about their customer service. A big plus in my book.
Prices were very reasonable for the whole menu. We shared the fried spring rolls and the Thai crab rolls for starters. Both came very quickly and were very good. Great seafood flavor in the crab rolls. The calamari looked absolutely amazing, a must for next time.
I ordered the spicy spinach noodles with shrimp from the specials menu. The spice level (which I requested medium) was perfect. Hot enough for that slow burn, but not hot enough to prevent me from finishing my meal. Flavor was decent, but it wasn't my favorite. Kind of just...okay.
My boyfriend had the crispy duck, who's presentation was fantastic. He enjoyed the texture and flavor, but complained about the over-kill of the honey's sweetness. It came with mashed potatoes, which I was originally thinking was strange in a Thai restaurant (how are mashed potatoes possibly going to taste asian or good at a Thai place?!?), but they were actually very tasty and asian-esque (hehe).
Overall, the meal was average. We will continue our search for the best Thai around Williamsburg. (Wouldn't be opposed to coming back to try some other dishes though!)
NOTE:
I hate to do this but...our food seemed to have majorly upset BOTH of our stomachs. Yikes... -
Review from Grace P.
Manhattan, NY
5/2/2011 1 Check-in Here
Delicious and smells good! We went to *erb but left because of the pet store smell and the staff's lazy appearance.
VEGETABLE CURRY (ordered Mild) = good!
GARLIC & PEPPER CHICKEN (ordered Medium) = also good, not very spicy!
BROWN RICE isn't just plain but has cabbage & carrot pieces = nice!
CHICKEN MASSAMAN CURRY (ordered Spicy) = warned that it'd be spicy but was sweet, not hella spicy.
Would definitely go back. (Then maybe go to Van Leeuwen for ice cream across the street, mmm.) -
Review from Jess C.
Brooklyn, NY
3/5/2012
The food quality here is as you would expect from any standard/decent Thai restaurants in NYC (yes, i hold a certain standard due to the over abundance of Thai food in NY, as i should). However, the fried spring rolls are on the skinny side, but tasty nonetheless. What really bothered me was the open-concept kitchen - by open i mean grills and pots & pans in plain sight right behind the tables and cashier counter, no walls/windows or any separation. The smoke and grease filled the entire restaurant and by the time I left the restaurant, my clothes and hair had been soaked in the smell of food as if I had been cooking it myself. I'm not sure if this can be fixed, but if yes, this would be a nice little casual thai spot in green point.
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Review from mack d.
Brooklyn, NY
12/25/2010
Every week and a half or so, I get the craving for Thai.
And Amarin is my spot.
One amazing/fun fact... In all my years of calling Amarin, the same woman has always answered the phone. Does she ever take a day off? Is she a robot? I'm not sure.
But, I can tell you that the food is consistent, fresh and tasty.
Their prices are very reasonable - two entrees usually come in at $17-18.
One thing to avoid - eating there. There's something about gazing out onto beautiful Manhattan avenue that spoils a dining experience. -
Review from Molly L.
Brooklyn, NY
3/11/2012
The food looked like it was going to be great but turned out to have hardly any flavor. I expected basil and lemon grass-I don't think used much more than salt to flavor the vegetable curry I had. BAD news.
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Review from Lauren S.
Englishtown, NJ
3/4/2011
I have yet to find any pad thai dish that comes close to the yummy meal I had at Amarin. This place is authentic.
The appetizers I had there were all good, but the dessert - creme brule - was a bit burnt. The DELICIOUS pad thai made up for it. Everything about it was perfect.
Cheap prices, fast and very helpful service. I originally ordered the pad thai at the "medium" spiciness, and the waitress advised me that these dishes were REAL thai spicy (they'd laugh at what I think is medium...) so she said she would tell the chef to give it a degree of spiciness between medium and mild. I'm glad she did, because anything hotter I would not have been able to handle. If you're not sure if you can handle it - get mild. -
Review from Alex S.
1/24/2011
It's good, and it's pretty cheap. Dining in experience isn't the best, but it's a BYOB which = a major plus.
Great place to order delivery from. Used to order frequently when I was a Greenpoint resident....back in the dizzay -
Review from julie s.
Brooklyn, NY
2/14/2011
a few of us were meeting up for cheap foods before a show at Brooklyn Bowl, and we picked this place seriously at random by zooming in near the Nassau Ave station on Google Maps. Of course, everyone bailed at the last minute, so it turned into a semi-awkward two-person dinner with me and my ex-boyfriend, but seriously, as far as the choice of restaurant goes, I can't complain. :P
I got there a good 20 minutes before anyone else, and when I realized it was primarily a carryout place, I was a little scared, figuring I'd be ignored for ages. But instead I was helped immediately by a very sweet lady who paid me just the right amount of attention--waiting for someone else in a restaurant can be super awkward, especially when the person waiting on you shows up every 5 minutes to check on you, but she was like a mind reader--mostly left me alone to read my book, but when I finally decided to order, she popped up like 15 seconds later without me saying anything.
I got one of the specials, which was spaghetti noodles, some kind of spinach-y thing, shrimp, and some sort of really spicy chili sauce. It sounds bizarre but it tasted awesome--I destroyed it. The portion size was totally reasonable, too; I was definitely stuffed by the end, but didn't have leftovers, which was great since since I couldn't exactly take it with me. The medium spice was perfect--it was definitely hot (yay!), but not so hot that it distracted from the flavor and gave me heartburn for hours afterwards.
Also, the beverage selection is somewhat limited, but the iced coffee is really really good. And I mean, come on--huge plate of food and coffee for $10? Yes please.
I will definitely come back here the next time I'm in the area! -
Review from Kevin T.
Brooklyn, NY
3/13/2011
Really great food, super cheap and also byob! Sold.
All dishes I've had have been pretty solid -- currys are good and the ladies here know how to make stuff real spicy. Pretty good food and super cheap.
Decor is weird, staff is friendly and open kitchen in the space, which I think is pretty neat.
Good place to hang out w/ friends before going out. -
Review from Amy K.
Brooklyn, NY
8/10/2010
I go to Amarin Cafe about 2 times a week, its really that satisfying. The papaya salad, the fresh spring rolls and the beef curry are my favorites. I discovered this place about 8 months ago, and right now I am pretty sure I am eating there more often than food I've purchased from the grocery store. I also love the fact that take out is ready in 10 minutes, and it's exactly a 10 minute walk from my apartment!
... I could keep going with this but it's getting silly, I just really love it there... -
Review from Briana M.
9/10/2009
Titz, I hope you didn't fail me.
Since I had read so much praise about this place I decided to take the plunge and order some Thai for dinner. Maybe I ordered the wrong thing. My pad see ew was very bland, unlike any I had ever tasted. I will say that the components were definitely high quality, and well cooked, but the flavors weren't there. I was really disappointed. My boyfriend felt the same way. I had to keep telling him that the spot has really great reviews, maybe we just have to order something different.
Next time I might get a meat dish, to play it safe. One thing that I will not bash is the "Fried Wontons", or Gari Pup as they are called in most other restaurants. These are far from wontons. Chicken, curry and potato stuffed inside flaky and delicious pastry. Amazing. This was a serious hit, possibly the best I've ever had!
Amarin...I'm going to give you one more chance. The reputation of the Sweet Titz is on the line. You better impress me.Listed in: The Greenpoint Chapter
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Review from Audrey F.
Brooklyn, NY
1/4/2010
MUST KNOW: It's not highlighted on the menu, but you can substitute tofu or vegetarian duck (yum) in most of their dishes.
Sadly, the coconut soup cannot be made vegetarian. I asked. There is some kind of fish or oyster sauce in it. BOO!
The fried veggie spring rolls with chili sauce are amazingly crispy and delicious.
Delivery was quick and the food was piping hot. -
Review from Jim C.
Brooklyn, NY
4/16/2011
Amarin is the best place to eat in the neighborhood for the price. The food is consistently good, and the people that work there are always friendly. The delivery seems to show up as I'm hanging up the phone sometimes. The food isn't the most authentic thai, but it's delicious and satisfying.
Surprisingly, one of my favorite things on the menu is the roast chicken and mashed potatoes. I tried it on a whim one day, and it is awesome!! It's been super juicy and tender every time I've had it and the mashed potatoes are great also. Really bizarre, but hey, whatever works. -
Review from Val S.
Brooklyn, NY
12/21/2006
OMG...
I love Amarin, so so much.
I think that this restaurant single-handedly has cured my homesickness from moving out here from California. Not that I've even had Thai food this good in California. I guess the thought of eating Amarin is enough to make me forget about all problems and realize how awesome life is.
The pad-see-ew(sp?) with tofu is my favorite. And we have only ordered delivery here, which is always fast and great. One time the guy accicentally brought 3 pad-see-ew's for my and my boyfriend, and he didn't even charge us extra for keeping the mistake. That was a very gluttonous night.
It makes me sad when I look at SEA on Bedford, which is packed almost every night, because its nowhere near as good as Amarin but gets more business. Oh well.
Go to Amarin! You won't be disappointed!Listed in: Top Restaurants, My Neighborhood
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Review from Justine S.
Brooklyn, NY
11/10/2008
There's a recession people! Maybe even great depression-esq times approaching. I cannot think of a better way to get fed and drunk on a single dime than Amarin Cafe! (maybe more than a single.. but ya know)
Kitty Corner to this fine dining establishment is a wine shop - and since it is BYOB, you are all set!Listed in: BYOB All Over!
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Review from Sarah H.
Brooklyn, NY
11/25/2007
Yum!
and
Cheap!
Amarin is BYO, so don't come expecting to be able to order a cocktail to complement your Thai food. The place is small and no-frills, but the food is tasty and very affordable. Staff is friendly. Definitely recommend you check it out next time you're in Greenpoint (bonus point: it's basically steps from the G train at Nassau Ave).Listed in: Greenpoint, Brooklyn, Veggie-Friendly NYC
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Review from Scott R.
7/4/2007
Nondescript Thai place that my date and I settled on before a show at the nearby Warsaw.
Started with a green papaya salad that was mediocre. But the Penang Curry Chicken entree was fantastic. It was spicy but it didn't overwhelm the dish. Having not read the Yelp reviews in there, I didn't quite expect such a good dish.
As for ambiance, there isn't any. Prices were affordable but not super-cheap (maybe $12 for the app and entree)
So this is a 4-star rating with potential for 5-star if there other entrees were as good as the Penang Curry. Might be a while before I'm out here again to see...Listed in: Thai One On...
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Review from heather C.
New York, NY
6/15/2009
I wasn't too impressed with Amarin despite it's good reviews.
I've been wanting to try a new Thai place, so I thought I would check it out. The atmosphere is pretty standard, nothing fancy, but not dumpy, the menu had standard dishes with some specials, and the service was decent. They only take cash, which is really really annoying, but whatever.
To start we had the vegetable dumplings which were GROSS. They didn't have any taste, they were super soggy and watery, I couldn't even eat them. It was just unappetizing.
Then, I have the spicy noodle which was decent and the pad Thai which was also decent. Portions were smaller than I expected and the prices were a drop higher than song and sea from what I remember.
It was OK, but I wouldn't come back necessarily. -
Review from Adam G.
New Brunswick, NJ
12/15/2010 1 Check-in Here
Damn, this place was great. I got the chicken pad Thai and asked for it to made spicy. You know you have come to the right place when the waitress asks you twice if want it made made spicy. It gives you the assurance that the meal will be prepared with a healthy dose of heat.
The portion size was spot on and the meal was really tasty. -
Review from Stephanie T.
Los Angeles, CA
11/14/2008
This little thai place in Williamsburg/Greenpointe is super adorable. Friendly staff, amicable artsy fartsy patrons (all eating alone), wonderfully tasty noodles....
yum. -
Review from Laura Y.
West Hartford, CT
2/27/2009
Do yourself a favor and stop by the restaurant for lunch or dinner!
I've gotten take-out from here in the past and it's good, but eating at Amarin is even better! Thai iced tea is now a new favorite of mine along with ol' standbys like their Pad Thai and Pad See Ew.
Only one word of warning for those of you with sensitive taste buds, some of the dishes can be pretty spicy, so try out their mild dishes if you're unsure. -
Review from Tracey T.
Brooklyn, NY
10/19/2011
Go to Thai for Greenpoint! We typically order delivery from here and it rarely disappoints. The sauce for the fried calamari is legendary.
Love it! -
Review from Grover S.
Brooklyn, NY
1/23/2011
I have to say, I've never actually eaten at Amarin, I've only ordered take away. I agree with Mack D., the same woman ALWAYS answers the phone and they must not have a caller recognition system because every time I have to give my number and address and go through the hassle of explaining where exactly I am. That said, expect the delivery to take a bit longer than most places, but it's worth it.
Amarin is always tasty, definitely wins the best Thai within my delivery zone. I lived for a year in Thailand and Amarin isn't afraid to melt your face off with heat, so if you order it hot, be ready to have it uncomfortably hot. The Pad Thai is solid if that's what you go for, the Massaman is rich and spicy, and the thai iced tea is sweet and creamy. It's cheap too, cheaper than most places, much love to this little restaurant.
