Erb Thai, 950 Wealthy St SE - 3/15/12

We have written up a few other Thai restaurants in Grand Rapids over the past couple of years but haven’t visited Erb Thai, until today.  On the corner of Wealthy and Diamond, the restaurant looks bigger than it is. 

Upon entry, you are greeted by the counter on your right, and small tables along the large windows on your left that continue along in an “L” shape past the counter. Although there were restaurant employees at the counter, no one greeted us and we were unsure if we were supposed to order at the counter or if we would be served at our table. We took a table at the bottom of the “L” and waited to find out. It felt a little like sitting in a long, abandoned hallway but we did have privacy. And a friendly server soon came along with a carafe of water for us.

The two-page menu was a very reasonable size for a Thai restaurant (dwarfed by Thai Express and Angel’s Thai Café, and larger than Rak Thai Bistro). 


There were plenty of choices for appetizers and we began with Veggie Fresh Rolls: lettuce, carrots, green onions, cucumbers, rice noodles, and cilantro wrapped in soft rice paper. The rolls were served with a sweet sauce topped with peanuts. It was lovely to behold and taste. They were indeed made fresh and the sweet sauce enhanced the flavor of the vegetables beautifully.

Unfortunately, the dish arrived without napkins, chopsticks, or silverware and we had to ask for them upon our server’s return. 

The Raa Naa noodles sounded irresistible so they became our first selection. Tofu, bean sprouts, pea pods, broccoli, mushrooms were sauteed over thick, rice noodles and served with a garlic, brown sauce. (The leftovers carried out subsequently leaked sauce all over my jeans and shoes but that’s another story.)

The noodles had a good consistency and were not over done; the dish is marked on the menu as being a customer favorite and we can understand why. 

Our next item was the Peanut Broccoli with Shrimp (Ram Long Song - the Thai name has a much better ring to it). The menu describes it as broccoli, string beans, and carrots stir-fried in creamy, sweet peanut sauce. The white rice was above par for an Asian restaurant, and the shrimp was fine as was the sauce. But the broccoli was a bit scarce considering the name of the dish.

The most important thing to know about this restaurant is that they will deliver the spice level for which you ask.  Instead of the far-ranging 10 spice levels found elsewhere, they offer six, beginning with mild (no spice).  Fresh peppers are used and the increments start with ½ tsp up to Erb Thai hot with 3 tablespoons. 

Out of the six levels, the Raa Naa noodles were ordered at three and the Peanut Broccoli at four. We were both happy with our spice levels and really appreciated receiving what we ordered.

So to sum up, the ambiance is not great but our food was fresh, nicely presented, and very well-prepared. The menu is excellent with a made-to-order spice level, and our server was friendly and polite. The small restaurant is a worthy addition to the Thai food scene of Grand Rapids. If you complain that your food was too “hot” then you didn’t read and believe the menu. 

Erb Thai is on Facebook and Twitter, and you can find their website at: www.erbthaigr.com 

Previously reviewed Thai Restaurants:

Angel's Thai Cafe - 1/7/10

Thai Express - 5/6/10

Thai Cuisine - 11/3/10 (closed)

Rak Thai Bistro - 12/22/10

Thai Chef - 4/13/11

Nu-Thai Bistro - 8/18/11

Nu-Thai Bistro, 2055 28 St SE - 8/18/11

This fairly large retail, strip center has housed a great variety of businesses over the years, and this Thai restaurant is a wonderful addition. Thai restaurants are springing up all over Grand Rapids and this is one you should visit.

The restaurant is small, and has a smaller menu to match, which is very refreshing. Five booths and four tables populate the space, and the booths have divider curtains for a sense of privacy. Unfortunately, mirrors on the walls defeat the privacy curtains. Heavy plastic is placed over the tablecloths but the setting is otherwise very pleasant and comfortable.

From the four-page menu, we ordered Shumai Pork to start but were informed that it wasn’t available today. So we opted for potstickers that were served with Shumai sauce. They were perfectly prepared for our tastes, very lightly fried, and the sauce was tastier than the usual soy/ginger sauce that accompanies potstickers.

Before they arrived, however, and immediately after ordering, we were served Tom Yum soup that was soon followed by a Spring Roll for each of us, complimentary.

The soup was a Thai hot and sour broth that contained mushroom, onions, basil, tomatoes, lemon grass, and lime leaves. The taste was very interesting with a subtle but distinct citrus flavor. The vegetarian spring rolls were nicely prepared as well.

Our first main selection was from the curry category: Panang with chicken, green and red peppers, string beans, broccoli, basil, and baby corn, with coconut milk and Thai Panang curry. We like spicy and this dish came as ordered. The vegetables were all there as promised and the chicken was tender.

Our second dish came from the Nu-Thai specials, Sesame Chicken. The fried meat had a thin coating of breading and was served with red and green peppers, white onions, peapods, and carrots, and it was all stir-fried with sesame sauce. Of the two dishes, and although the curry was good, the Sesame Chicken was the favorite.  

Instead of having to choose between spice levels of one through ten, we had only to select from four. We both went “three” and were very satisfied. Our server did not try to talk us out of it but did confirm that we like our food spicy.

Service was perfect, prices are reasonable (we came in under $26.00), the atmosphere is not quite intimate but close to cozy, and the food is very good. Menus are online and the owners have no visible facebook or twitter presence. And don’t bring your American Express card.
                        
www.nuthaibistro.com