by erin thursby scopes1925@msn.com
Thai restaurants seem to be popping in every neighborhood around the First Coast these days. Thai food has become one of the most popular ethnic foods in recent years and it shows in the quantity of cuisine available. But quantity has nothing to do with quality.
If you’re a Thai food lover, Ponte Vedra has a new hot spot you should taste, it’s called Galangal. Owned by the same folks that brought us the delicious Lemongrass on Baymeadows and the Thai Room in Jacksonville Beach, Galangal is worth the drive from wherever you live.
Many of the dishes they serve are similar to the ones you’ll find at their other two locales, such as the packed-with-flavor Amazing Peanut Curry. Although significantly/slightly more expensive than Lemongrass, Galangal has a unique dinner atmosphere you won’t find anywhere else.
With a number of different seating areas, this hip and elegant Asian restaurant is a study in well-wrought design. The walls and accents are done in sinuous curves, contrasting the back wall of the main dining area. This wall is cleverly lit with soft purple and blue lighting on a frosted glass that looks almost metallic. Very cool and futuristic. In front of that wall are long, thick pieces of bamboo, jutting out at different angles. The art on the walls is contemporary and abstract and the lighting is softer and more appealing than the standard track lighting.
The different dining are each designed with their own appeal. The bar is cosmopolitan, the main dining room has the bamboo lit wall and there are private dining areas that are more secluded, including the round room with its warm tones. There is also a banquet area where you could hold an event without the traffic of the main dining room.
Their full bar has an urban appeal that you won’t find in most Thai restaurants around town. Utilizing hidden lighting, reticulated curves and contemporary art, the chic eatery transports you to a hip, upscale bar in Manhattan.
Besides an extensive wine menu, ranging in price from $6 a glass to $300 a bottle, they’ve also got an interesting selection of cocktails and specialty martinis. With colorful names such as Drunken Elephant and10 Buddhas, they must be good. The specialty martinis cost $10 but they use top shelf liquors in their mixes.
I began my meal with some well-plated appetizers. The chicken satay is always a savory choice, and theirs has just a little bit of a kick to it. The lump crab and lemongrass infused bisque is one soup on the menu you shouldn’t miss. Their ahi tuna martini appetizer had the best presentation. It looks gorgeous with a toasted lotus wafer on the edge of the glass and you get a generous amount of high-quality tuna. However, I found it to be a bit lacking in flavor. The coconut and panko crusted prawns made up for that deficit with their delicious Thai golden curry.
If you haven’t had prawns before, don’t shy away from them. Basically just giant shrimp, they’re often overcooked and tough, but the prep here is just right. I also sampled grilled jumbo black tiger prawns in a vegetable pad thai served with the golden Malaysian curry. The golden curry is served in a number of dishes and I highly recommend trying anything that features it. The curry favors flavor over heat and it’s a terrific choice for those who don’t like too much of the spice.
Spice fiends can get their fix at Galangal, they just need to remember to ask for it.
The dishes are well-balanced and delicious, but they’re geared toward an American palate. Most start with a mild heat, but they’re willing to take it to the limit if you ask for it. Be careful though, Thai hot is a slow, scorching heat that builds and might eventually have you begging for more water. But Thai afficianados will tell you, milk squelches a spicy burning tongue better than water. Thai tea is the secret of the pros!
If you’ve never tasted a Thai preparation of Chilean sea bass, it might be time. There’s something about Thai flavors that really makes the lemongrass crusted Chilean sea bass even more extraordinary than this fish usually is.
You can finish you meal with style by ordering one of their sumptuous desserts. Coconut lovers can’t go wrong with their chocolate coconut tart. As for chocolate lovers, there’s chocolate decadence to be had in the deceptively small but oh-so rich, with a molten center, chocolate soufflé. The intensity of the warm chocolate is balanced out by a scoop of vanilla ice cream. For something a little different, try their fruit-filled fried banana mango roll served with berry compote and a light caramel sauce. It’s an elegant end to a superb Thai meal.
145 Hilden Rd Suite 110 Ponte Vedra Beach 904-827-1150
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