Pinto

 

0

58

katie s.

Brooklyn, NY

Searching for a meal in the $10-20 range in this neighborhood is like a quest for the grail:  you have a hankering you can work it out, even though you aren't totally sure it even exists.  

So glad I stopped into pinto in spite of being underdressed.  The food was phenomenal.  Pretty ritzy decor, I suggest you bring a date here.

Bookmark   Send to a Friend Link to This Review

Elite '08

1232

1717

MiRIAM w.

New York, NY

I have a plan to survive the heat and humidity that is August in New York!

No, I am not taking a Hawaiian holiday.
No, I have not invested in a KoolerAire personal air cooler.
No, I am not going to lock myself in a cave until Fall arrives.

My plan is simple. It's the lunch special at Pinto. To beat the heat I am going to head to Pinto, luxuriate in a crisp green salad, an appetizer and an entree. And best of all, it's only going to set me back $8. Mmm...papaya salad and pad Thai!

Design-wise Pinto competently and chicly pulls off a nice, simple, modern interior that's still warm. In that way it's similar to what I've been finding in many new Thai restaurants. The bathroom, however, is curiously dark. I thought I was turning on the lights but I was actually turning them off. This was in the daytime so the candles weren't lit but if they were I hope they'd give off enough light so that you could see yourself in the mirror.

Pinto is a good restaurant but at lunch, with the $8 special it's a great restaurant. Oh and, the air conditioning works well.

Bookmark   Send to a Friend Link to This Review

Elite '08

93

805

Jen D.

San Francisco, CA

While on my recent visit to NYC, I was staying at a friend's place which happened to be directly across the street from Pinto. Fancy dancy thai food? Eh... I wasn't too sure about that. Then I saw the lunch specials. $8. YES. $8 for a lunch special.

You get:
- a green salad with a nice tangy balsamic dressing
- choice of 6 appetizers
- choice of 7 entrees

I went with the:
- green salad
- fried organic tofu w/ spicy mayo
- grassfed skirt steak with steamed veggies and rice

The tofu was fresh and delicious. Fried to perfection and the spicy mayo was a nice touch for dipping.

The grassfed skirt steak was FANTASTIC. Good portion. For the veggies there were sliced yellow squash, onions, baby bok choy one of veggies I couldn't recognize, but it was very very tasty.

To wash all of that down, I ordered the Pinto Thai Icea Tea. This is not  your normal thai iced tea. This was FRESHLY BREWED thai ice tea with a twist.

For starters, they brew the tea and use it to make ice cubes. This proved to be very good, being that the drink never got watered down. Secondly, they also brew fresh tea that is used as the actual drink. On the side there are two little glasses. One contains the heavy cream and one contained lemongrass syrup. The lemongrass syrup is a tweak to the original recipe.

All of this comes out on a tray and the main glass has a metal stirrer which is also used as a straw. Clever.

The service was polite and fast. Lunch was perfect and CHEAP.

*pics are up above*

Bookmark   Send to a Friend Link to This Review

Elite '08

63

68

Keri M.

New York, NY

I got takeout for lunch this week and was pleasantly surprised they had a great special: $8 for a salad, appetizer and entree (for example: salad, spring rolls, basil chicken).  I mean, come on, that's a sweet deal.  The food was tasty too!  

I'd go back for dinner next time because the decor inside looked really fun and modern.

Bookmark   Send to a Friend Link to This Review

Elite '08

22

69

Anne C.

New York, NY

After a failed attempt at Little Owl, we stumbled onto Pinto and I was certainly glad we did.  The decor is crisp and appealing without being too stiff or cold.  As with most Thai restaurants the service was polite and prompt.  I appreciated the care taken to select their food sources - i.e. free-range chicken, grass-fed beef, organic tofu, etc.  This is classy thai - not your neighborhood take-out joint (although they DO have delivery).  My one complaint - no brown rice.

Bookmark   Send to a Friend Link to This Review

 

6

13

Mark L.

New York, NY

PINTO -- The Take-Out Review

Though I've never actually enjoyed my meal AT Pinto, it is definitely a hidden Thai gem amidst a sea of tattoo parlors and porn shops.

The wildly-congenial staff is quick with fresh water and smiles as the kitchen curries away.  Soft tea lights, soothing music and a warm wooden bar often make me wonder why I opt to carry-out in the first place.

I've sampled across the menu and as previous reviews note, it is difficult to find a true clunker here.

My hang-up with Pinto is that an overachieving staffer with champagne tastes and caviar dreams must spearhead the carry-out division.  He clearly cut his teeth at Tiffany's or envisioned holiday windows for Barney's before segueing into Thai cuisine.  If Queen Elizabeth snacked on the lawn of Windsor Castle, her staff would pack the tea and crumpets up in this.  Clear capsules encase elegant plastic cutlery, silver embossed stamps stay sleek black boxes and silky rich ribbons keep bag handles in order.  

All quite decadent but I'm certain I can hear Al Gore sob atop a slushy ice cap everytime I untie the bow to my dinner.

Bookmark   Send to a Friend Link to This Review

Elite '08

15

96

Andrew D.

New York, NY

Stumbled onto this place the other night and found it a charming and tasty place. We don't do random that often in terms of restaurant choices but times like this makes the adventure worth it.

Some nice visual touches  to the interior design of the place and settings. The food was very good. And because we were the only ones there that late evening, the service was, of course, impeccable. Looks like there are a few who ordered for pick-up.

Bookmark   Send to a Friend Link to This Review

Elite '08

55

65

Taiyo O.

New York, NY

Tom Yum Goong, the vegetables, shrimp and mushrooms (lightly sauted with butter) kept fresh, crisp and scrumptious, especially the broth was pored over the soup at our table. Green Papaya (I love GP. I always order when I am in Thai restaurant), it was delicious but I am found of authentically prepared one (add more chopped peanuts for texture.  Smashed green papaya and with garlic and some heat for flavor).

For entree, we had Muscovy Duck Breast, with Japanese somen with tamarind and grilled pineapple (it was too complicated taste for us). Classic Panang Curry with beef (home made curry was full of flavor).
For desserts, there were two choices. We picked banana leave wrapped sweet sticky rice with nicely sliced meat of mango on top with shot of Mango mouse. It was delicious!

I thought I wish I had my camera with me. The presentation of each dish was exquisite Thai that I know. The space is equally modern yet comfortable.

We had two bottles of sparkling water with our dinner. Total was $105 for two.

I found out that they serve lunch. I try their lunch next time.

Bookmark   Send to a Friend Link to This Review

Elite '08

29

213

olivia l.

New York, NY

Very new Thai restaurant on Christopher Street. Food is very good, although some items are surprisingly spicy (they have a Thai ceasar salad that had a major kick, although it was very tasty). The salmon with a tempura style shredded parsnip on top was very good as well. They are still developing a clientele and so some things on the menu might be out (the berkshire pork chop was sold out, I was sad), and there is only one desert choice (chocolate layer cake with vanilla bean ice cream, tasty but overpriced for a tiny portion at $9, not enough to share easily). Decor is very sleek and modern, but comfortable and pleasant with a big vase of huge white lilies softening the vibe. Wait staff is very sweet. It was pretty empty when we were there, so it may have been easier, but they were very attentive. Prices are a skoosh high for Thai food, but it's really cute inside and the plating/presentation is way above the average Thai joint. It's a nice date place.

Bookmark   Send to a Friend Link to This Review

 

6

28

Joe R.

Haddonfield, NJ

Pinto is a small (10 table) Thai Restaurant recently opened by chef Tony Phutchapong. A group of 5 of us dined at the suggestion of somebody who lives in the neighborhood, and who was making his third visit since the place opened 2 weeks ago. Located on Christopher, off Bleecker, the place has a homey but stylishly elegant feel.
Overall it was a very enjoyable experience. The menu features a variety of continental-inspired dishes (Roast Duck and chicken Breast, Pork Chops, and a variety of grilled fishes) in addition to more traditional Thai offerings (Pad Thai, green curries, and Penang). We got to sample a nice selection of the menu, both appetizers and entrees, and everyone enjoyed the dishes. I had the Beef Penang, which was sliced beef in a nice curry base reminiscent of Malaysian preparations I've had. The rest of the group had chicken, pork chops, and duck, all of which were prepared with flair. I was particularly impressed with my colleague's Pad Thai, which featured the most succulent-looking shrimp I've seen in a while.
Pinto has a bar and a reasonably-priced wine selection. Entrees range from $15-$25.
Also, the music selection was very...chill. Modern and hip. I liked it.

Bookmark   Send to a Friend Link to This Review