Siam Hartford

Siam Hartford Restaurant Review:

In a setting that seems almost theatrical, with a curved wood-slat wall and an artistic woodcut serving as the dining room’s backdrop, this Thai restaurant in the heart of downtown Hartford makes cuisine from the nation formerly known as Siam infinitely approachable. While Siam Hartford’s lunchtime and takeout businesses are thriving, quiet evenings here are the time to converse with your server about customizing spice levels and ingredients, then to sit back and sip Singha beer from Thailand or a glass of Chardonnay while appreciating the nuances of traditional dishes. Skip the spring rolls, but don't miss the steamed vegetable dumplings on the appetizer menu. Vinegar soy sauce lends a tangy punch, and the vegetables inside are minced so fine, the texture is velvety: an unexpected treat. Entrées essentially consist of three types of dishes: noodle, rice and vegetable. But the combinations are more infinite than they seem at first glance, with meats from pork to crab, vegetarian proteins like tofu and mock duck, plus choices aplenty for seasonings such as curries, basil sauce and Sriracha. Pineapple fried rice with shrimp is our go-to, but we sometimes splurge on chili red snapper or simply opt for soul-soothing duck noodle soup. Authentic desserts include sweet sticky rice with coconut ice cream.