Delight Thai Café & Sushi bar

Sumptuous sushi, warming
curry dishes tempt you for Thai

JULIE FITZGERALD | CIN WEEKLY

Sushi

JUST THE FACTS

WHAT: Delight Thai Café & Sushi Bar

WHEN: Open 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Sunday-Thursday, 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Friday-Saturday

WHERE: 11928 Montgomery Road, Apollo Strip Mall Center, Symmes Township

PRICE: Dinner entrees range from $9.95-$14.95

CONTACT: (513) 677-6175 or www.delightthaicafe.com

You'll always love your neighborhood Chinese takeout, but once you try mus-sa-mun curry from new Symmes Township eatery Delight Thai Café, you'll crave it as badly as any lo mein or fried rice. Delight in the dine-in experience in contemporary surroundings, complete with a view of the flat-screen television suspended above the bar at the entrance. It's ideal for a nice, casual date or for a family get-together. If you prefer to eat at home, however, you can get carry-out or have your food delivered.

If you're shopping in the Fields-Ertel area on a weekday, check out the lunch specials, such as green curry beef with eggplant, bamboo shoots, bell peppers and basil leaves ($6.95).

Dress casual or dress to impress and come prepared to enjoy yourself.

SUSHI SURPRISE

While you're dining, wave hello to sushi chef Jon Itthi. Near the back of the restaurant, you'll find him at the sushi bar, shaping wasabi and fresh salmon into artful creations almost too beautiful to eat. If you order sushi, he might even send your table a surprise along with it.

ASIAN FOR EVERYONE

The menu clearly explains entrees and levels of "hotness," ensuring that no one panics in search of water.

Chicken, beef, pork or tofu added to any entree or curry ranges from $9.95-$10.95. Every dish can be prepared vegetarian upon request, offering unlimited choices.

ENGAGING ENTREES

I savor the pleasant surprise of trying something unusual, only to find it tastes incredible, such as Thai Café's mus-sa-mun curry with chicken ($10.95). I ordered it at a level 2 (scale 1-5). Without any intense spicy burn, the warm homemade texture and taste of chicken flavored with Thai spices and cooked in coconut milk with potatoes, peanuts and onions won me over. While the price was a few dollars more than I typically like to spend on an entree, it was worth it.

NOT SURE WHAT TO ORDER?

SUSHI: Fish lovers, try the smoked salmon, crab or California rolls (one for $2).

CARNIVORES: Combine chicken, beef or pork with Pad Thai noodles or Bangkok fried rice ($9.95).

VEGETARIANS: Consider adding tofu to Thai fried rice ($9.95) or peanut sauce curry ($10.95).

BONUS: The sweet sticky Thai rice keeps its fresh taste and consistency when the leftovers are re-heated.

KIDS: No hot dogs on this menu; letting your little ones sample portions of your meal is a great way to introduce them to Asian food.

DESSERT: Try the fried bananas, delectable little desserts that come in their own wrappers. ($3.95).