Thai Taste - South Portland, Maine

What I love best about Thai Taste in South Portland is their minimal use of oil and abundant use of fresh ingredients.

I was so disappointed when we moved from Cape Elizabeth three years ago that Thai Taste would no longer be on my way home to satisfy the occasional Thai craving. In my opinion this is the best Thai restaurant in Greater Portland (followed closely by Sala Thai).

We found ourselves in the neighborhood on a recent Friday evening and while I had high hopes of cocktails and appetizers in town at Fore Street, I was glad my husband convinced me that Thai would hit the spot. We were seated at a table for two by the window and immediately offered a drink. A soft bar allows for beer and wine choices only.

I prefer Thai Taste for take out. It occupies a former day care center and it still feels like one with cheap carpet, drop ceilings and inexpensive tables and chairs. They should close for a month, gut the inside and make the atmosphere one that people would choose as a destination.

Despite the atmosphere, it was a pleasure to enjoy the food fresh from the kitchen rather than re-heated in a microwave for a change.

We started with fresh vegetable spring rolls. Tightly rolled rice wrappers held crisp fresh vegetables and a perfect basil leaf graced each. Sweet and sour sauce was served for dipping. Dancing Shrimp was a creative presentation of fire grilled shrimp on skewers that pierced a half-orange - upside down - allowing the shrimp to "dance" in the air. A mild peanut sauce accompanied the shrimp. It was one of the best Thai appetizers I have had. The Krat-Tong-Thong, pre-filled crisp pastry shells filled with a combination of sauted chicken, onions, carrot, green peas, corn and Thai spices, served with a cucumber chutney lacked flavor. More spice and a thinner pasty shells are needed.

Pad Thai and Red Curry, both with steamed tofu, were our entrees of choice to share. The Pad Thai, normally laden with fish oil at so many Thai restaurants was unique in that the flavors of the noodles, scallions, bean sprouts, peanuts and egg shone through. The Red Curry, sweet and delicious, the vegetables crisp and flavorful, was served with both white and brown rice at our request.

We left happy, satisfied, and definitely craving another Thai dinner soon!

A note about the cost: most items on the menu are about $3-$4 more expensive than you will find at other area Thai restaurants, reflecting the lack of price sensitivity in their Cape Elizabeth clientele. Our dinner as described, with two beers and two glasses of wine was $70 before gratuity, as compared to the $50 spend that is typical at Sala Thai. However, given the quality of the food and the healthiness from the minimal use of oil, I gladly pay the additional cost.