Thai Me Up
Once again the Harris Teeter supermarket on Cloverdale Avenue in Winston-Salem is the improbable home to a Thai restaurant, Thai Sawatdee. Vegetarians can celebrate - most of the dishes can be made with tofu, so there’s a great variety to choose from. (Although I haven’t found a Web site for the restaurant, local blogger Julie James has posted an image of the restaurant’s takeout menu.)
Everything I’ve tried at Thai Sawatdee has been delicious. The Pad Khing is a gingery stir-fry brimming with bright, fresh vegetables - light and satisfying. The Som Tum, a green-papaya salad, singed my eyebrows. Next time I’ll order it mild, rather than spicy. (You can request a condiment tray of pepper flakes, red-pepper sauces, etc., so that you can adjust the heat of any dish to your liking.) But my true love is the rich, coconut-milk based green curry. It never, ever fails to make me happy.
Lunch is an incredible deal - $5.95 for an entree, soup of the day and spring rolls. On days when the soup of the day has been non-vegetarian, the hostess has gladly substituted a vegetarian soup in its place.
A small dining area with about a half-dozen tables is tucked into a niche beside the entrance to the store. It offers a good view of grocery shoppers and folks coming in to order takeout from Thai Sawatdee. To me, this simple setup is part of the restaurant’s charm. And even if it weren’t, the green curry would keep me coming back for more.
Comments
The Nam Prik Prow is amazing here, one of the very best spicy Thai dishes in town. (Ask for it “Thai hot” if you’re a true fan of heat.) My wife usually orders the Panang Curry or Red Curry, and these are both excellent as well, full of sweet, creamy coconut milk, chili pepper, and fresh veg. Eating in for lunch is a surprisingly pleasant experience: the service is brisk and cheerful, the food fresh and plentiful, and the space itself, while nothing particularly fancy, is clean and comfortable. All in all, one of the better options in town for a quick and tasty lunch in an unpretentious setting.
Joe
The green curry is my favorite too!! Delicious every time :)
Julie James
I tried the Pannang Curry a couple of days ago, and my wife tried the Yellow Curry. Both were fantastic! The spice was just right and the flavor of the sauce was incredible. While it’s not a place I want to eat at, I am VERY happy it is close to my home!
Jimmy