Ar Roi
San Francisco, CA 94109-8215
Phone: (415) 771-5146
- Cross Street:
- Taylor Street
- Specialties:
- Thai Food
- Hours:
- Daily 5pm-10:30pm, Mon-Sat 11am-3pm
Editorial Review for Ar Roi – by Gina Goff
In Short
Dark wood moldings, spiritual-themed artwork and a prominent Buddha sculpture set a moody ambience in the orange- and red-toned dining room of this cozy restaurant. Swift servers deliver extra-spicy Bangkok favorites to diners with ultra-bold palates. Dishes include peanut sauce prawns, pad Thai and salmon filet with garlic and red curry sauce. A mostly Californian wine list includes nearly two dozen by-the-glass options alongside a short list of Asian beers.
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User Reviews for Ar Roi
09/05/2007 Posted by zenjewel
My husband and I went by the place over the weekend. We used to live in Singapore, where most Asian food comes in the most authentic manner possible. We also have spent many a lovely weekend away in Bangkok or Phuket; where the lovely manner and food of our Thai neighbours have won us over. And we love to cook, so we know what Thai food should look and taste like... We thought we would get good service coupled with good food. We were sadly duped by excellent decor. It is a place catered for the uninitiated American palate. Complete with silly spring rolls that seem to be a plague in the Asian food of America. Good reason though; I quickly realised the staff were Chinese not Thai. We ordered the som tam (papaya salad). It arrived completely void of ANY chilli, although it was labeled 'SPICY" on the menu. We sent it back saying we want it prepared the Thai way; with some chilli. It came back with a coat of chilli powder so it made it so spicy it was unpalatable. Next was the Tom Yum Goong. It was again with chilli powder; instead of bird's eye chillies. Not a sign of galangal or coriander. And from the taste, it was obvious they used a Maggi Tom Yum bullion cube. And the prawns were so rubbery and hard it was disgusting. Don't cheat the customers; serve good fresh food. And do not assume every customer that walks in hasn't a clue what the authentic stuff tastes like. We called it quits then and walked over to the Indonesian Borobudur restaurant across the street; it was slightly better food. Do not go there - it's fake Thai food.
Pros: Good decor, good service
Cons: Bad food.
04/08/2007 Posted by genevaringel
Ar Roi Thai Cuisine serves up tasy Thai cuisine along along with beer, wine, and liquor. The atmosphere is very comfortable and inviting with a decor that mixes traditional Thai decor with modern touches. Lighting is kept low and comfortable and the high ceilings of the location give plenty of space for air and noise to circulate. We ordered the Spring Rolls and Tao Hoo Tod (fried tofu with house sauce) and a Singha beer to start the meal. The presentation was georgous, again both Asian and modern. The Spring Rolls had an incredible taste and unique texture which kept your mouth and tastebuds engaged. The lunch serving was generous with 3 spring rolls cut in halves. The Tao Hoo Tod was good, but not memorable. For the entree, we ordered the Pad Grapao Rad Kao, which was a sauteed chicken with chili, garlic and sweet basil served with steamed rice. Superb! The flavor was clean, fresh, and savory. For my pallette preferences, I particualry enjoyed the amount of whole sweet basil incorporated in the dish. I also appreciated the use of including intact bunches of the herb vs. chopped portions, this demonstrated the freshness of the ingredient and allowed for pickier eaters to eat around the intensity of fresh herbs. The service was attentive and polite while minimizing interruptions and unneccessary intrusions into our dining experience.
Pros: food (taste and presentation) and atmosphere
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