Restaurant review: Big Thai

Big Thai- Big Time!

Perhaps many of you are unaware of a hidden gem nestled in the Brooklyn Arts district of North Fourth Street. Big Thai is located in an unremarkable corner shaped building -- completely misleading you as to the culinary delights within! As I try to develop a stronger palate for spicy foods I have discovered that Eastern cuisines are the best way using their balance of heat and sweet and yummy and umami.

Big Thai is not as opulent as some of her other competitors (Rim Wang and Indochine) but has a style all its own. The décor is very simple -- clean and sparse with hints of color and art scattered about. It is a very fun and noisy place when busy, making you feel as if you are indeed somewhere exotic as you sip steaming fragrant jasmine tea and bite into a perfect basil roll dripping with a scrumptious plum sauce. Or perhaps you are imbibing in a bitingly cool breathtakingly sweet Thai iced coffee and slurping up a coconut shroom soup which is creamy and hot and zingy with lemongrass and chile oil… Uh sorry, I got distracted!

Lunch is always good and quick and reasonable. Plus they are inordinately helpful by providing health conscious diners with a little brochure to help them safely navigate the menu. The staff is always gracious and patient while explaining the nuances of the different dishes on the menu. Of course the Pad Thai is good, but for you predictable souls who order that in EVERY THAI RESTAURANT, be brave! There are so many other excellent choices! Chicken noodle bowl, Duck Curry, the delicious array of soups…or skip the entrée and everyone order lots of appetizers, especially the dumplings! Then, because you want to support your local talents, have an enormous piece of coconut cake and a luscious scoop of mango ice cream. Especially if you ate a health conscious meal-you don’t want to return to work with your poor nerve endings frayed because you didn’t have any fat during lunch with which to coat your delicate Myelin sheaths! Your coworkers will be grateful for your thoughtfulness and you will have done your part for the day in encouraging the local economy!

Big Thai- lunch, dinner or take-out. Monday-Fri 11 a.m. - 2:30 p.m. and 5 p.m. - 9 p.m.

Sat- 3-9 p.m. Sun 4-9 p.m.

(910) 763-3035