New Thai restaurant in Avondale?

[blizz01]

The damn kitchen was upstairs, was ridiculous to send people up and down stairs with food, they eventually had an elevator for plates installed, dumb waiter, but by then it was too inconsistent, no parking, and anal neighbors who had cars towed which did them in.

That said, should we expect significant changes?

[grimss]

Looks like they've invested in some nice changes to the interior.  It appears to have held its opening night this evening--a ton of cars (nice ones, too) outside.  If their green curry is any good, I'm all over this place.

Also, looks like Benham Howard's 'town opened last night--big crowd there, too. Super cool interior.

[fieldafm]

This Thai place was open when I drove by tonight.

Grimms, The lady friend and I went to Biscottis for desert LAST Tuesday night and noticed people were in " 'town " so we went in.  It was really cool in there!  They have an open kitchen and seating at the kitchen.  Apparently it was their soft opening and we weren't necessarily dressed for or invited to the occassion so we kindly walked back out and went to Brick for a drink, lol. 

[mtraininjax]

Also, looks like Benham Howard's 'town opened last night--big crowd there, too. Super cool interior.

TOWN opened up last weekend. Their soft openings were last Wednesday and Thursday evenings. Fun place, but it only holds 60 people. It can't decide if it wants to be a restaurant or a shoe store.

[Dog Walker]

Shoe store?  Please elaborate.  Curiosity is killing!  LOL!

[jason_contentdg]

We just got back from grabbing lunch there.  Not too many people in at the time, food came out very quickly.  We all enjoyed the food, and we'll be going back for sure.

I had the curry with the cashews and avocado, really recommend it.

[iluvolives]

TOWN is part restaurant and part store- in the left side of the space they feature items that are sold next door in Emily Benham's retail space. I'm not sure if she is going to keep both open, or if she was looking to downsize her shop.

[MusicMan]

Just got back from late Sunday lunch at RUAN THAI in Avondale. Very, very good. Absolutely will return.
Had pad thai (shrimp): wonderfully tangy and a large portion, panang curry (chicken) with black sticky rice:excellent. The green papaya salad: light and fresh  and grandma had the beef and noodle soup: very large portion, tasty.  All dishes had a unique taste, extremely important in a place like this. Service was prompt.
Definately recommend.  Complimentary individual small egg roll for all 3 of us, also light and crunchy. I'm looking forward to going back.

[The Compound]

Whats the price ranges at Ruan Thai?

[Captain Zissou]

Whats the price ranges at Ruan Thai?

Between $12 and $25.  I went and loved it.  I had the crispy duck, DELICIOUS.  The service is excellent and the food was great.  The whole experience had all sorts of extra touches that made it wonderful.  The owner/ manager stopped by our table twice to check on us and chit chat, very pleasant guy.  I'll be back soon.

[ChriswUfGator]

Ate at Ruan Thai the other day. The food was good, and the service was great. But (as seems to be the case with a lot of the Thai food in JAX) the prices are steep. People keep saying "$15 to $25" but in all honestly most things seemed to be in the $20+ range. Add in an app, the tip, and a drink or two, and this winds up being a $40-$50pp dining experience, speaking realistically.

I'm usually not one to moan about money, but having made Thai food myself before, I know that it just doesn't cost that much to put a plate of Padt Thai together. I suppose they do have to cover the expenses associated with the new building and renovations, and all that kind of stuff, so I'm pretty understanding about it. Still, I wish there were a decent Thai place in Riverside that wasn't so expensive.

There is Thai place in the southside/baymeadows area with great food and the same dishes are each about $10 less (but of the same quality) and then there's another one in Arlington (can't remember the name at the moment) that also has excellent food and is even cheaper. But they both have much less expensive real estate. And both are a pretty good hike from my house, so I suppose Ruan does have its place. That's my $0.02 anyway.

[fieldafm]

You're talking about my friend Russ' place, Pattaya Thai on Baymeadows in the same shopping center CJ's used to be.  They've been doing it a long time(in that location, and formerly on Atlantic Blvd adjacent to the Subaru dealership).  Pattaya is by far the best bang for the buck in Jacksonville... very good food that isn't priced too high.

[Dog Walker]

Russell learned the business from his mother, Lek, who has to be one of the best chefs in the city.  She can cook any cuisine, add her on twist to it and make it better than the original.  Even her Southern fried chicken (not served at the restaurant) is the best I've ever tasted and she has an entirely original take on kimchee.

Pattaya Thai is highly recommended.  Just wish it wasn't so far away from me!

[ben says]

Honestly, the new Thai place in Avondale just really isn't that good. I'm a huge Thai fan, and actually enjoyed their restaurant in Savannah. Big disappointment.

1) It's overpriced

2) The food isn't too authentic.

The mango sticky rice wasn't sticky, wasn't fully cooked, and the sauce wasn't sweet enough. My drunken noodles also weren't cooked authentically. Too much fusion action going on...and I know that wasn't their goal either.

I prefer Pattaya Thai, Tuptim Thai, or Thai Room at Jax Beach

[ChriswUfGator]

You're talking about my friend Russ' place, Pattaya Thai on Baymeadows in the same shopping center CJ's used to be.  They've been doing it a long time(in that location, and formerly on Atlantic Blvd adjacent to the Subaru dealership).  Pattaya is by far the best bang for the buck in Jacksonville... very good food that isn't priced too high.

Yeah Pattaya that's the place, thanks for reminding me. The food is excellent, and the prices are about 1/2 of any of the Thai places in/around Riverside. You're not eating in a million-dollar building since, as with everything on the Southside, it's located in a strip mall. But the food's excellent and the prices are reasonable. If you're really going for the food and you like Thai, this place should be at the top of your short-list.

Ruan is more about the dining experience as a whole, I think. Which some people get into, so not knocking it. But I find that, as I've moved into my late 20's, I just don't care about the "vibe" or any of that "see and be seen" stuff anymore. If I am feeling like good Thai then I just want some good Thai, I don't really care who sees me there or whether there's a $5k handblown milkglass chandelier over my table. Ruan's food isn't bad, don't get me wrong, but the prices are up there and it's not the food that you're paying for, if you get my drift.