SURIN OF THAILAND

He says:
If the menu at Surin reminds you of the menu at Harry & Sons, don’t worry … you’re not crazy. The same group owns both restaurants, and even though they are literally 50 feet apart from each other on Highland Ave., every single item on Surin’s menu can be found verbatim at Harry & Sons. Now that’s crazy.

Fortunately for the fans of this oddball duo (and they are legion), both restaurants consistently deliver quick service, fine curries, and a pleasant dining. From my experience, Surin gets the nod for better service. Within five minutes of ordering, the fried egg rolls hit our table. Unfortunately they were bland and generic, with an equally tepid dipping sauce. But this starter was quickly followed by the main entrees, which are stronger in comparison.

The basil duck in red sauce, which I have sampled both here and at Harry & Sons, is a consistently excellent dish. The duck meat, with skin still attached, is fatty, indulgent, and incredibly tender. Swimming in red coconut curry, it is one of the richest Thai dishes you’ll find east of the Mississippi. Hell, it’s probably richer than anything you’ll find west of it too. But I simply adore fatty foods, so that’s A-OK with me.

She says:
The flavors of the basil duck did come together well, although I don’t associate Thai food with fatty meats, and so didn’t love the dish. The Massaman curry, which we ordered with tofu, was very good though. It balanced the flavor of peanuts and coconut milk, and was not overly sweet. I cannot say the same about the Thai iced tea I ordered, however; like Harry & Sons’ version, it’s way too sweet.

The spicy noodles were also well prepared. The noodles themselves were cooked to just the right tenderness, firm and chewy, and had the delicious seared taste that only comes with the very high temperatures of a professional kitchen. And the spice added just the right amount of kick.

We say:
Harry of Thailand, oops, I mean Surin of Thailand, doesn’t compete with the best Thai in America, but it’s one of the better options in Atlanta.



Surin of Thailand
810 N. Highland Avenue, Atlanta, GA 30306
http://www.surinofthailand.com/