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Museum Of Fine Arts (Green)
Mon-Thu. 11:00 a.m. - 10:00 p.m.
Fri. 11:00 a.m. - 11:00 p.m.
Sat. 12:00 p.m. - 11:00 p.m.
Sun. 12:00 p.m. - 10:00 p.m.
"I have lunch at Thai Basil at least once a month. The menu is a bit mundane, but everything is prepared well. Everything is reasonably…" read more »
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I returned to Thaitation on a cold, Tuesday night. After spending 4 months in Thailand- my expectations were high. The atmosphere was so warm- although sitting near the windows had a draft every time someone came through the doors.
I ordered cha-manow- slightly like thai iced tea, but with lime and 100 times better. It wasn't on the menu, but they made it anyway! I definitely recommend trying it if you like lime... it was absolutely delicious.
Then I ordered pineapple fried rice with brown rice. It was so good, I wanted to eat it all but the portion was huge! We ended the meal with mango sticky rice... I have to say- it might've been better than the Thai food I ate in Thailand- so make sure you order cha-manow AND mango sticky rice for dessert.
I was bumming when Brown Sugar left and Thaitation appeared. I had no idea about the chef from Brown… Read more »
I was cold and exhausted from the day and I knew that I wasn't going to cook that evening. I have passed this place a good dozen times since moving here and I knew that something spicy would warm me up for the evening.
Now, when I try a new Thai restaurant I have a standard order: fried tofu triangles and pork drunken noodles. Here is the logic behind this. First tofu triangles informs me if they can fry stuff(Important for some fish items), and pork drunken noodles are relatively simple. So, in other words good basics that are easy to screw up. Also, drunken noodles are a good gauge on how hot is hot.
The tofu was fried well, with a crispy veneer and a creamy center, the dipping sauce was overly sweet and didn't have the balance of spice or sour I was hoping for. The drunken noodles were cooked well. The pork was tender and there was a nice variety of vegetables that were coated/infused with the savory spicy hallmarks of Thai cuisine. I was happy to see that there was no leftover sauce on the plate. Although, the heat factor was moderate for my palette, but I my taste buds come in contact with capsaicin on a regular basis.
The atmosphere was nice and warm, the staff were gracious and attentive, and the mood was set by the dulcet tones of Asian pop music. I really want to rate this place a 3.5 as I need to frequent there a bit more to bump it up to a four. Alas, there is no option for that. So, three it is.
I've lived 500 feet from Thaitation for almost one year now but its only today that I finally decided to make a visit.
I wish I hadn't waited so long!
The atmosphere is very warm and comfortable, even with a cold steady raining falling outside.
The staff was attentive and friendly. At no point did I find myself without water (somewhat important for a Thai restaurant).
I ordered the shumai for an app and a Chang beer. The shumai came out in a brilliant but simple arrangement with broccoli and carrot garnish. The pork dumplings were firm and flavorful with an excellent sauce on the side. The beer came out in a bottle and matching chilled glass which my waiter delicately filled for me.
For my main course I selected the drunken noodles with pork. The noodles were soft and delicious, the pork moist and cooked perfectly, and the vegetables fresh and crisp. The entree was labeled on the menu as being hot and spicy, which it was, but only enough to force me to take my time with this excellent dish.
Being in no rush to go back out into the rain, it was appreciated greatly that the staff did not in any way make me feel I had to leave immediately after paying. I lingered at my table and leisurely finished my beer.
I read about Thaitation on Yelp before going. I saw that it was rated $$ for the price. I suppose that is technically accurate, however this is Boston and I consider any restaurant that lacks golden arches and has entrees under $10 to be a great bargain.
This is good, but not outstanding Thai food. The reason they get me coming back for more is the consistency. Most of the time I have Thai food there is a serious consistency problem. It seems that most cooks see a stir-fry as a half-ass way to toss crap together in gallons of oil, and serve it to you. Here they seem to get the low amounts of oil and the technique right 95% of the time.
The frosting on this cake is their wonton soup. The soup is delicate yet flavorful with delicious wontons in it. There is no scary pink pork or cheap mushrooms from a can with that sketchy slug like consistency. There is just wontons and a little Kale.
For menu items I have yet to have anything that I did not like. When my wife and I are here, and we cannot decide we always default to the wonderful create your own dish section. The premise is simple.....when you do not know the ingredients or cannot make up your mind default here. You pick a sauce/veggie style, and then pick your protein, and you end up with something you want.
Remember this is Thai food it can get very hot....if your tongue is on fire bypass the water and go straight for a Thai Iced Tea you will not regret it (unless you are lactose intolerant).
Oh yeah they are wicked nice here both in person and on the phone. They have an excellent knowledge of English so there are never aggravating order mistakes. The wine list is small, but good for the food. I recommend the Gewurztraminer ( which has the strength to stand up to the food, the sweeter notes to combat the spiciness, and the chilled factor that stops the heat induced sweating from certain dishes).
Will certainly go back here to try out the unique menu items. Just for a comparison of my favorite Thai dish--I ordered the drunken noodle and coconut chicken soup.
The soup was great, the drunken noodle was spicy, good, but I'd prefer more noodles. I've had equally good food at other Thai restaurants--maybe my expectations were too high.
I used to love Brown Sugar, so (like everyone else) when I heard that Thaitation was going to have the same chef, I was excited. However, I've been disappointed every time I've gotten their food. The only reason why my fiance and I eat here is because we're obsessed with Thai food and it's literally behind our building.
I will say that the Curry Puffs are pretty delish, and not very common in the Boston area, so that's definitely a plus. I've gotten the fresh rolls several times, but they're not served with the usual plum sauce that other restaurants serve them with, so they're not my flavor. The crab rangoon was also pretty good.
I've also ordered the Pad See Ew on several occasions, and it's very inconsistent. Sometimes it's pretty good, other times it's really bad, but never as good as Thai Dish. We've also tried a few of the curries and fried rices (once got no mango in the mango fried rice!), and, again, sometimes the food is ok, and other times it's really disappointing.
I hate to give them a terrible review because everyone who works there is so nice, but to me, the food isn't really worth what you have to pay. Here's hoping that they'll rebuild Rod Dee 2 soon!
My fiancee and I went here before a movie at Fenway, because I had a serious hankering for Thai food. I had arrived about 15 minutes before him and ordered a Tom young soup, which arrived in about 2.7 seconds. The soup had a perfect balance of sweet and spicey. A party of 19 walked in about 10 minutes after I arrived. We had a movie to catch, so I was concerned that putting in an order in for 19 would slow us down and we would miss our movie. However, it did not slow anyone down. Everyone got their food and was so happy. We ordered the summer rolls, which were moist. The "turnip sauce" was sweet and crunchy with crushed peanuts as a delightful component. I ordered the veggie pad thai and he ordered the Salmon three ways, which on the menu said it would be salmon prepared in three different sauces . Although it came with only one flavor sauce, the salmon melted in our mouths, was very flavorful and came with a generous portion of broccoli.
The service here was excellent, and the food was very tasty. Would definitely go here again :-)
I would go here again, although its not a place I rave about. Its a little too expensive for what they offer.
First of all, fabulous service. When I leaned over to pick up my fork after dropping it on the ground (like the klutz that I am), a server was already standing there with a replacement fork in hand when I sat back up. And I don't know if I ever actually saw the bottom of my cup of Thai hot tea, so attentive were the beverage refillings.
The food was delicious, fresh, and vegetarian-friendly. Those still in mourning over former occupant Brown Sugar Cafe's closing can put the Smiths records away and start wearing colors again -- there's lots to love here! And the new restaurant's name is definitely more fun to say. Try it -- Thai-TA-tion!
I should add that I had to place a large order for an event and they were great -- very helpful on the phone about how much to order, and then delivered everything right on time and with nothing missing (and the food was a hit, of course). Four stars!
Sorry to disagree with most of the other posters, but this was my experience.
I hated this place. The portions were small, the food was way overpriced, and the staff were mediocre.
I went in this place and sat down, and it looked nice, similar to how it was before when it was Brown Sugar, but less Thailand-ish glitz. That was fine, it was still nicely decorated, just not as nice.
I was really surprised at how many wait-staff they had considering the time of night, how cold (freezing) it was outside (meaning there were less people out and about going to dinner), and how many (few) people were in the restaurant to begin with. They had like 8-10 wait-staff working. It was ridiculous, I met 3-4 of them because ever time someone new came to assist me, however, they were really not very attentive. Additionally, they couldn't understand my English, and I could barely understand theirs. Which is fine, I suppose, I've dealt with worse.
To continue, the prices on the menu were absurd! It was so ridiculous! The prices were 50% higher than any other thai restaurant in Boston that I've been to! Panang curry chicken was $2 more expensive than any other curry dishes, and I don't understand that.
They also refused to make a substitution on an appetizer I wanted. I asked if they would replace half of one appetizer with another type of appetizer... It was the sort of thing you could easily do - 6 pieces of individually fried/steamed whatever, and i just wanted 3 of them to be replaced with 3 pieces of individually fried/steamed of something else - and each appetizer was the same price! He went back and checked and then came back to tell me no - i'm sure he was assuming i'd just order the appetizer un-changed, but I didn't want it. When I told him I was fine with just the Papaya Salad and side order of tom yum soup (not very good and extremely small!) he looked at me like he was shocked that was all i was ordering, but I couldn't afford anything else and i only desired the type of appetizer i desired, not the kind they offered.
My reasoning for their expensive prices is the fact that they were over-staffed, and in order to pay all those people they must have to charge too much. I won't support that kind of business tactics ever again.
Avoid this place at all costs.
Went here with my girlfriends for dinner one night, and we were all happy with what we got. There wasn't a wait for seating (we were the on a Saturday ~7:30) and the waiters were smiley and helpful. I got the chicken with cashew nuts, which was enormous and served in a hollowed out pineapple. I tried a bite of my sisters' pad thai, which was also really tasty! The sticky rice was good but I make better - ;)
The prices were average. I think we spent around $20/person.
I would definitely go back.
Thaitation is supposedly run by the chef from Brown Sugar that was originally in the same spot. So the food has been consistent, despite the ownership change. Their prices have gone up slightly, I'm sure due to the economy, but the food is still quite good. I usually get the Country Pad Thai, which I would prefer over my own children, if I had any. The other chickeny plates I've had there were good as well, and I enjoy their salads. However, I find their food less spicy then I would like it, so if you aren't crazy about super heat, they are good for that.
The service is always very attentive, very quick, and my water glass is always full. They are located conveniently near my work in the Fens, and my coworkers and I love getting takeout from them for lunch. I've never been there for dinner though.
It is hard to match them against Rod Dee in Brookline, which I adore as well. I find the portions are larger at Rod Dee, so you get more for your buck. Still have no reason to complain about Thaitation though, and would recommend if you are in their neighborhood.
As a huge fan of Brown Sugar, I was very sad when I learned that it was going away. But this place is the same cook as Brown Sugar, and it is absolutely delicious.
I've been here twice now, and I'm still surprised at the amount of food that you get. My first time, I had one of the duck dishes, and this second time, I ordered the Seafood Volcano. The Volcano was absolutely delicious, and had delicious seafood (enormous muscles and even some surprisingly tender squid) and veggies, in an incredible sauce. It's also served with a fun surprise.
The service is incredibly polite and attentive, to the point that I never got the bottom of my tea. It feels like the servers don't come around frequently, but they are definitely checking up on you.
It came to around $50 for an appetizer, two entrees, and tea for two, so it's a bit more than I would spend on an average night. However, it's a great atmosphere, great service, and delicious food. Highly recommended.
I'm so glad this place opened up. I was really concerned after Brown Sugar closed and Rod Dee burned down. I have to have at least a handful of thai joints within a 10 minute walk at all times!
It obviously has retained the atmosphere of Brown Sugar and the food is the same too. Love the Massaman Curry with Tofu and the Pad Thai. Delivery is a bit pricey but when it's super cold and I'm hungry, I will order knowing that I will have a great meal!
Thaitation held its Grand Opening on Thursday, January 22nd in the same location that used to house Brown Sugar Cafe...and Brown Sugar fans will be happy to know that the same chef is at the helm.
The decor remains relatively unchanged although the giant urn containing live fish is gone and replaced with a hostess stand. The servers are friendly and very attentive - perhaps a bit over the top, but hey, better that than be completed ignored. The new menus are HUGE...page after page after page...try not to get overwhelmed by what appears to be a limitless supply of suggested Thai cuisine. You'll get through it and perhaps end up with the summer rolls - large and quite delicious. The beef macadamia was piled high on a plate and the flavor was tasty.
Same space, same good food, different name.
I live around the corner from Thaitation and am super excited to have a great Thai spot with easy access. I did not live here in the days of Brown Sugar so I am rating Thaitation for what it is, not what it is inevitably compared to.
I have had the Tom Yum Goong soup, which was totally amazing. I slurped down the whole thing and then realized I had a whole huge order of drunken noodles left to eat. So needless to say I didn't get through all of the drunken noodles, as I found the portion to be pretty large. They were spicy, which I liked and there were tons of veggies, also a plus, but at the same time I would like more noodles, as someone mentioned earlier.
I have had a Massaman curry dish here as well, which was fabulous. It could have been spicier, but it was my first time eating here so I was unsure of spice levels. Next time I will just ask them to kick it up a notch.
Overall, great food and lots of options. I will be back to try more.
Thaitation artfully avoids the cloying, tacky, over-sweet Americanized Thai that runs rampant through less scrupulous restaurants, and for this, I am thankful. If you order carefully (or ask for suggestions), you may even get a dish that tastes "authentic," if that's a thing. Curry is the star of the show for me, as it often is, and loaded with fruit and vegetable. Nothing tastes like it came from an "open your own Thai place kit" that seems to have gone around town. That said, there's a little something missing (perhaps a broader flavor profile? more heat?) to take it from an "hmm" to a "wow;" I hope that through a bit more digging through their generous menu, I find that extra star that's lurking there somewhere.
I really would like to give it 3.5....But I can't figure out how to do that... My experience at Thaitation would have to be what exactly Yelp says; an A-OK one. As Thai restaurants go, it would have to be at the top of a short list. It would be number one if the prices were a little bit more reasonable. Other than that, I had a hell of a time! Flavors were robust and tropical. And, there was a lovely atmosphere about the place. A good dinner for two (appetizer, beer, and two entrees) will run you about $50, so make sure you like your date... haha but it's well worth it. It was great food. Service is fine (very attentive and friendly). They even have cayenne pepper shakers on the table!
by the way, this was posted by Jackie's boyfriend, Jeremy :)
Complete reincarnation of Brown Sugar. The service here is fantastic, and the food comes out super fast. This place never disappoints.
Very underwhelming and overpriced. Our dinner was by no means bad and the service was good. However, there's no shortage of Thai in Boston and why anyone would go here and get bent over by the prices is beyond me. Try the Thai joint in kenmore by uburger. It's my darkhorse spot in kenmore square. Never seems busy and the service is great, the food is better, and the prices are cheap. Thai dish is the name I think. Thai is hard to screw up. Why pay so much more than the next place? Also, they are across the street from the best restraunt in Boston. That doesn't help their cause especially when they are similarly priced.
An ode to yummy Thai food:
Pad Thai is delish
And oh, how I wish
I could eat it every day
But, I fear it cannot be that way...
Because I am a broke college student.
Ok, that aside the price really isn't bad at all, particularly considering the massive amount of food they give you. Lunch for the week.
Go here.
My boyfriend won't eat anywhere else. Its like crack cocaine for engineering students. I don't mind because it is delicious, and the staff is the most friendly staff in the Fenway area.
The portions are big and we always have to roll ourselves out.
Yum, this place is great.
I was sad to see Brown Sugar go, but when it was replaced by Thaitation, I was rather pleased. Turns out, it's basically the same thing (the food is almost identical). The people who work there are really nice, and turns out, the owners of the place actually live in my apartment building. I don't think I've ever gone here and been disappointed. It's a lot like any other Thai restaurant in the city (I find them to all be rather similar), and the quality is pretty consistent each time I go. Definitely try to the red spicey sauce on the table (or if you get take out, tell them to include it on the side). I'm addicted to it. Next time I go, I'm going to ask them where they get it from. Good place to go as a family, couple, or with friends. Nothing fancy, but still cozy. The food comes out unbelievably fast.
I ordered take-out this week (opposed to eating in)... while the food is still delicious, the portions are alightly smaller and you miss out on the restaurant's charm.
Yes, it's more expensive than the typical Thai place, but the ingredients are high-quality (fresh… Read more »
Good not great food, a little overpriced, but good place in general. Fun place for a birthday. I would have given Brown Sugar Cafe four stars, but they have declined slightly from those days.
I've been here a couple times and gotten delivery another few times. It's excellent, definitely the best Thai food I've ever had. If I had had the Thai Chili Fish the first time I was there, I probably wouldn't have ever tried anything else. Instead I've had something different each time, usually with appetizers and dessert, and everything has been creative, satisfying, and very, very tasty. Highly recommended.
This place is wonderful. The food and service was excellent. The staff were incredibly friendly and attentive. We had the Bangkok duck and the old lady made with pork. We enjoyed both, however, the old lady dish really stands out- the complexity and flavor of the sauce was killer. We like really spicy so next time we will ask for it a little spicier. The duck had nice crispy skin and the sauce was also quite good. The atmosphere is cozy and warm. I had 2 minor complaints- our sticky rice was on the dry side and the men's bathroom could be a little nicer (it was clean). This restaurant will be added to our short list of places that we will frequent on a regular basis (along with Shiki and Ken's Ramen). Check it out.
Solid replacement to brown sugar. Fresh spring rolls actually have flavor, country style pad thai is good, though I would not say phenomenal and red curry has good blend of favors, though I should have ordered a bit more spicy (for me).
Brookline, MA
Category: Thai
Neighborhood: Allston/Brighton
Category: Thai
Neighborhood: Allston/Brighton
Category: Thai
Boston, MA
Category: American (New)
My local dry cleaner, watering hole, deli, cafe,…
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