Thaisty – a new star in town?

“Thaisty” – the name rings clear and rolls off your tongue with ease, a refreshing change compared to the list of stagnant restaurant names sprouting up like poppies on the horizon. As the name implies, this is a new Thai venture that has opened right in the heart of picturesque Warsaw in Plac Bankowy, an enviable location that is routinely graced by heavy footfall and sports close proximity to the subway station.

Upon entering the restaurant we were first greeted by a waiting line. I’m not sure if I was more surprised by the waiting line or the fact that people were willing to stand for 20 minutes to get a table, a rare sight to behold in restaurants in Warsaw. The interior was bustling with activity, with tables crammed with chattering groups of people, groaning under platters of food and drink. The ambience was casual and relaxed with the décor consisting of wide wooden tables, unassuming plastic chairs and low hanging street lamps, which created an atmosphere of being in an outdoor picnic spot. An open kitchen managed by a bustling army of chefs allowed us to savor the aroma wafting through the restaurant, stimulating our salivary glands.

Once the painful waiting time was over and we were seated at our table, we had to overcome the next hurdle of flagging our waiter, which was strangely reminiscent of the process of hailing a rickshaw in the busy streets of Bangkok! The staff zoomed in and out of sight, skillfully balancing their trays as they navigated the maze of tables littering the restaurant. Luckily our table was smack in the middle so it was comparatively easier to grab their attention than those poor souls stuck in the corner.

Finally it was time to order! As it was our first visit we decided to play safe and ordered Fried Fish rolls (21 PLN) wrapped in crispy tofu with sweet chili sauce that gently awakened our taste buds. This was followed by my all-time favorite Tom Yum soup with fresh and succulent shrimps (25 PLN). The serving of the soup was surprisingly large, the multi-layered flavors of kaffir lime leaves, lemongrass and galangal creating a hearty, spicy and savory broth that made us go ‘YUM!’ For the main course we ordered Pad Thai (35 PLN) and Red Chicken Curry (34 PLN) accompanied with a side of fluffy white rice. The Pad Thai was delectable, the tanginess of the tamarind and soft texture of the noodles perfectly balanced with the moist and tender chicken and crunchy peanuts. The lime wedges and red chili peppers added an extra zing to the dish and also made for good additions to the Red Chicken curry, which fired up our senses and raised our temperatures quite a bit!

Was it authentic Thai cuisine? Probably not, as I felt that the level of spiciness had been reduced to suit local tastes, an unfortunate but common occurrence seen in cuisines that are not native to an area. But I was impressed nonetheless as it was definitely one of the ‘better’ Thai cuisines I’ve tried in Warsaw. All in all, a great effort. And definitely a tryout for all you Thai enthusiasts out there!