IN GOOD TASTE
When what matters is on the plate
Sawasdee Thai Cuisine
2887 Johnson Dr., Ste A
Ventura, CA93003
805-642-8879
$9 - $15
By Stacey Wiebe
VCReporter : May 19, 2005
Some things are worth searching for:
But unlike true love or that lost $20 sucked up by
the sofa, SawasDee Thai Cuisine is sure to be there when you’re
done searching for it.
Like many best-kept secrets, Sawasdee’s corner
of Johnson Drive is, well, kind of secrest. Situated across
from a furniture store in one of the sleepiest corners of
town, the little eatery is hidded in broad daylight-daylight
that shines into its dining room and onto the freshly delectable
food on your pretty plate.
But then again, everything between Sawasdee’s
walls in pretty. The place fairly exhales a brand of quiet
class, right down to the purple décor, to the linen
on the tables and the rings on the fingers of the statues.
It’s a surprising find, the startlingly clean
little “hole-in-the-wall” with its mellow soundtrack.
In such a setting, it’s a blessing that the hideaway
it far from the traffic of cars and feet. It’s easy,
in Sawasdee, to feel like you’re in a kind of nowhere
land where what ever’s on the outside isn’t the
whatever that counts.
And the whatever that does count is resting on your
plate.
I dined on the pepper and garlic wok-seared vegetables,
topped with chicken and dressed with garlic sauce atop a bed
of white rice.
The dish appeared pretty much as you’d expect
it would straight forward in its simplicity and in its health
benefits. But it was also surprising in the subtlety of its
flavor. As one who prefers very strong spices to the point
of culinary brutishness (meaning I want to be clobbered on
the head with it). I dove for this dish because I figured
I couldn’t miss.
And, like most of the time, I was right (wink, wink).
I definitely did not miss. The food was every bit as
flavorful as I had hoped, the tastes were more complex than
a heap of garlic and pepper thrown together with a bunch of
vegetables-albeit very fresh and not at all over cooked vegetables.
The cook was able to compliment the natural flavors
of the veggies while adding that peppery-garlic zing. Likewise,
the spices were and excellent compliment to the chicken, which
was extremely tender.
Perhaps the best thing about Sawasdee is the graciousness
of their wait staff, people who seem to actually care whether
of not you like your stay in their corner of the world.
And if that’s the case, you can always order
in. They offer free delivery within a certain radius and for
orders $12 or more.
Then there would be no searching at all. Just finding.
