Erawan

I’ve been frequenting this new Thai place near where I work in the Galleria, Erawan (in the Randall’s shopping center at Sage and San Felipe).

Turns out the place isn’t new at all, that’s just a new location for it.

Alison Cook reviewed the original location about a year ago:

There is a particular kind of moment that restaurant hounds live for, when the first bite of a dish forces your eyes so wide it’s as if they are rolling back in the sockets.

In a comic book, this rapturous occurrence would be illustrated by exclamation-marked “boings” and jagged lightning bolts. In real life, you just exchange pop-eyed glances with your tablemates, as if to ask how anything could possibly taste so good.

The eggplant with basil at Erawan prompted just such a moment.

A dark green shiver of licoricey herb; sparks of fresh red chile; eggplant so lush it was almost molten; a glossy brown sauce that was savory instead of sweet. All these elements twined together into an eyeball-snapping experience.

That it happened in a delightful and undiscovered little Thai place with modest prices and a wine-friendly BYOB policy made it all the more satisfying.

I’m a red wine drinker for the most part, and like the green curry/chicken dishes at Erawan, so the BYOB aspect is kind of lost on me.

But I’ve really grown to like the place, especially the green curry chicken, spiced up well beyond what is on the menu (you have to become sort of a regular before they will add that much heat to it). The decor is… unusual. Doesn’t feel like the strip center joint that it is. And the entire staff is attentive and friendly.

I don’t really do food reviews here. I just point out places I like. I’d be interested to hear what some of you who hit the Thai restaurants regularly think about the place.