Thai Market UWS: Not Your Typical Pad Thai Parlor

August 8, 2009 3:04 pm

Thai Market UWS: Not Your Typical Pad Thai Parlor

Nestled in the Upper West Side near Columbia, Barnard, and Bank Street College of Education, a likely local stomping ground for students, lies remarkably authentic Thai Market. I met my mom uptown for dinner and we took a chance on a nearly empty spot (which we never do). We soon came to realize as the crowd started pouring in, that we had just beat the dinner rush. Because the weather finally cleared up after what seemed like a year of rain, we got a chance to sit outside as the hot day started to cool.

When you look at the menu, it's like you're reading a news flyer, with thin printed paper and what seems like little articles tucked in between the $8 lunch specials and the appetizers. We decided to start with the Thai Crepe, stuffed with minced shrimp, toasted coconut, bean sprouts and peanut. It was amazing! If I only had that I would've been fine. I think what really made it so special was the toasted coconut...Yummo! (to quote my nemesis R.R).

Classic Michael Jackson tunes and some great people watching later, our main course appeared. We decided to share the Shrimp Pad Thai and Chicken Green Curry. Now I have to make a disclaimer. When it comes to green curry I am very picky. I am not picky about all food but I LOVE green curry and I just don't want a bad experience. Hesitant, I took the first bite. It was the perfect level of spice complemented by cooling coconut milk. The Pad Thai was also up to par, paired nicely with a few lime wedges for a little citrus burst. The noodles cooked to perfection, my only complaint was the dish skimped a little on the shrimp.

I'm glad we took a chance on this small Thai outlet. For a change, we even asked the waiter to pack up our leftovers to eat the next day.

Thai Market
960 Amsterdam Avenue (near 107th Street)
New York, NY 10025
212.280.4575

—Emily Rodney