Tong Thai Brasserie

02/06/09

no longer in business

by ireneleung at Citysearch

Their food began to decline in quality by November (within two months of opening). By January, Spice (from University Place) moved in and it's the end of quality regional Thai food. Crowds continue to pack into the space for lunch etween thumping techno music and bland food... This is really sad.

• Cons: Music, tight spaces between tables

11/28/08

Good New Thai

by babywong at Citysearch

Went for lunch special, $8.50 includes appetizer, main entree and rice. Ordered the Braised Pork, excellent, succulent, juicy with a little bit of spice. Very good, extra bonus, due to price.

11/24/08

great new Thai place

by evillagefoodie at Citysearch

alright alright the neighborhood definitely did NOT need another Thai/Pan-Asian restaurant at all, but this place definitely delivered with well-priced and delicious food with a good ambience.

The menu is not your typical Thai but definitely more french and euro-influenced with some dishes that are unique to Tong.

I would recommend the skirt steak entree, the omelet side, and any of the yummy appetizers!

• Pros: great value, delicious unique menu items, not your typical that place in the city
• Cons: in an area that has so many asian restaurants already (including Thai)

11/15/08

New Thai in town!

by rajagb at Citysearch

Have eaten here twice already and not surprised at all by the venue or the food! Great food, good variations from other " Nouveu Thai" places. Always can impress an out of town guest but keeps your wallet in check. Staff is friendly and attentive. Definitely stays in line with its other sister restaurants Highline, Peep and Sea. Excellent papaya salad!

11/13/08

Watch your back

by twoCreativei at Citysearch

My wife and I visited here based on the location and reviews. Contemporary decor and good lighting. The downstairs has too many tables and is cramped, very warm and noisy. I ordered a beer and my wife tea. We were still deciding on entrees when our waiter approached our table with a carafe of wine, which we didn't order, lost his balance and his tray holding the carafe and spilled the whole thing down the back of my head! The wine quickly made it's way down the back of my shirt and onto my bottom. I was soaked! The manager saw what had happened and was very apologetic and made sure we were not charged for our dinner. The food was good, spicy, and well presented. And for the price a good value. Although it was an accident, it was difficult to enjoy my meal while I was drip drying in wine.

• Pros: Great location, ambience and food
• Cons: Clumsy waiter

Trendy Thai from the master of balancing sexy style with wallet-friendly prices.

by Brian Merchant at Citysearch

In Short
Lenny Limleartvate, owner of casual-chic spots SEA, Spice and Peep, adds a sleek new restaurant to his trendy-yet-accessible Thai empire. Stark orange and black walls may lend the decor a sort of Halloween-nouveau look, but Tong Thai is both sufficiently hip for the young East Village set and relaxed enough for the meandering lunchtime visitor. The modern setting points to a more adventurous menu than at most standard Thai spots (no endless indiscernible variations on Pad Thai dishes here) including skate wing in banana leaf and braised free-range pork in hung-lea curry.

Hits: The lunch specials alone are worth dropping by for. Enjoy them in the relaxed, capacious two-story dining room where you'll have plenty of room to breathe. Plus, the staff is ultra-friendly.

Misses: Avoid the dumplings and other easy-to-cook en masse entries on the menu. They've obviously been pre-prepared, and, tasting spongy and a little tough, they taste it.

09/03/08

Great food and service next to Union Square. I will be back!

by xkmasada at Citysearch

Great quality Thai food at this beautiful new restaurant steps away from Union Square Park. The service was very good. I was very impressed!

• Pros: Great food and a great price. Very good service.
• Cons: Parking

08/27/08

Best Thai Food!

by richietran at Citysearch

New and upscale decor with excellent service and exceptional dishes that are out of this world. Best of all it's actually affordable!

• Pros: great location