I took a new friend Yong Hoon to try Thai food for his first time this past week at Sawatdee, a USF-area restaurant located only a short drive down from the university down on 56th Street. The ambiance is similar to many small Thai restaurants: decorated lavishly, quiet, and a nice place to have a conversation with a friend or two. Lunch specials there come with three courses: soup, entree, and dessert.
The chicken vegetable soup was satisfying, but lacked any real substance to it…something to just pass the time. We both ordered Chicken Pad Thai (only $6.95 for lunch) with my friend ordering a spicy version of the entree. I also ordered a Thai Tea because my friend has never had one and that is something I think everyone should experience at least once.
Your food critic =P
Yong Hoon trying Thai food for the first time.
Chicken Pad Thai…just looking at this picture makes me hungry.
The orders came out quick and although they accidentally gave me a mildly spicy version of Pad Thai, the waitress quickly resolved the issue when I brought the matter to her attention. I have to say that a spicy and non-spicy Pad Thai are almost completely different meals even though it has most of the same ingredients. My friend and I both enjoyed our meals, the noodles were filling and there was a nice balance in extra ingredients added in, it wasn’t overdone like in some other restaurants.
The small free dessert they pass out to end the meals gives the meal a nice ending and they have a rewards card for customers who pay in cash.
Thai mission complete!
Restaurant Name: Sawatdee Thai Cuisine
Address: 10938 N. 56th Street Tampa, FL 33617
Phone #: (813) 985-2071
Website: http://www.sawatdeethaitampa.com/
Carlos Eats 