Appetizers range from $2.95 to a $7.95
Large Salads $2.50
Entrees range from $5.95 to $15.95
Desserts range from $2.50 to $3.50
Lunch specials range from $4.95 to $5.95

Hoboken residents are accustomed to tradition; we shop at the same delis, we eat at the same restaurants, we go to the same bars. I’m no different. I walk the same route to Washington Street where I catch a bus to work that has me passing the same places every day. Sri Thai being one of them, yet I’ve never gone in. Breaking all mile square standards I decided to try something new and brought along a friend for moral support.

Upon entering the Thai cuisine restaurant that sits on the corner of 3rd and Bloomfield we were greeted from behind the counter and seated immediately. The space is small, and fits about 10 tables but can accommodate large parties with some of the tables capable of seating up to 10. We arrived a little after seven on a Sunday night and were one of three tables in the restaurant. The décor was a mix between Middle Eastern and Middle America. Statues and ceramic elephants were sharing space with Christmas garland and lights that spelled out words like love and happy on the windows and the specials were scribbled on white paper and taped to one wall. Melodic music played on the speakers overhead as the hostess showed us to a table for two, near another table that was smoking. Being a nonsmoker who enjoys a smoke-free meal, I asked to be moved to the other side of the restaurant. Unfortunately because there were only two people in my party and the table was for four, they wouldn’t allow us to move, but said that if the table started to smoke again they would ask them to stop. I guess a nonsmoking and smoking section is too much to ask for. Not that I’m still bitter, but did I mention that no one was ever seated at that four-person table in the hour plus that we were there?

After some huffing and puffing on my part I decided to turn my attention to the task at hand and ordered an appetizer: Paw Pia (small $2.95/large $5.50). The small portion consisted of two Thai spring rolls cut in half and stuffed with ground chicken and vegetables, and served with a plum sauce. The appetizer was messy and just what I needed to distract me from noticing whether or not our neighbors had lit up again. Then having all but licked our plate clean we were quickly met with our entrees. I ordered the Kai Pra Ram Long Song ($8.50), better known as deep fried chicken with peanut sauce, served with broccoli. While my friend ordered the Koong Priew Wan ($8.50), sautéed shrimp with cucumbers, tomatoes, and pineapples served in a sweet and sour sauce. Both came accompanied with a bowl of white rice to share and instructions to holler if we needed more. Again, we weren’t disappointed with the more than enough meal and immediately began stuffing our faces. But being the dainty girls that we are we were unable to finish everything on our plates (okay, okay, so we just wanted dessert, who can blame us?). Out of the three desserts that they offer, Thai custard ($2.50), fried ice cream ($3.50), and fried banana with honey ($2.50) we opted for the latter. We were pleasantly pleased when a plate with five steaming banana spring rolls arrived at our table. Now the only question was who gets the last one?

I took the last one and the check when it arrived, but thought there had been some sort of mistake that an appetizer, two entrees, and a dessert would only come to $24.25, but there was no error. Between the cheap prices and amazing food I can see why the delivery guy never got a moment’s rest. And for the ‘boken residents that did venture out of their apartments that night, it was only long enough to pick up dinner. And because of this town’s pension for sticking with what we know (and love) those customers were greeted by name, while some even had their regular spouted to them before they had a chance to open their hungry mouths. But despite the fast service, getting it to go might not have been such a bad idea, at least at home I’m sure to get the smoking section of my choice.

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