Just before heading out for a night on Bell Boulevard, have a seat and take your time with some neighborhood Thai cuisine.
In Queens, there is no shortage of restaurants boasting an authentic taste of some far off land – but when a restaurant actually delivers on that promise, it is remembered and revisited by a loyal following of customers.
Erawan in Bayside is just such an establishment. With Thai music enhancing the elegant interior, the décor and atmosphere sets the mood while the knowledgeable staff guides you through the extensive menu.
The journey through Erawan’s five-page menu begins with the appetizers. Two must-have options are the Thai spring rolls and a very hefty crab cake. The spring rolls are prepared with minced chicken, shrimp, glass noodles and mushrooms – they are artfully sliced diagonally and served with plum sauce. This finger food is the perfect introduction to Thai food as it is tame, yet tasty.
Erawan’s crab cake is large, enticing and nearly bursting with crab. It is so loaded with crab that it might be wise for the restaurant to drop the “cake” from the name altogether. In this starter, the crab does the talking.
The entrees at Erawan run the gamut from noodles and rice to full plates of fresh fish and steak – from traditional to exotic. One of the staff recommended favorites, Yum Petd, consists of sliced crispy duck, pineapples, cashew nuts, tomatoes, red onion and chili pepper. The succulent duck has a unique flavor with a gorgeous amount of fat that moistens the meat.
Another standout dish at Erawan was the special, the fried soft shell crab. Two whole soft shell crabs, tempura fried and laid atop a mango sauce riding somewhere between sweet and sour. The crabs are split down the middle, revealing a cross section of the flavorful “crab mustard” within – the taste can only be described as the essence of crab washed over with oceanic flavor.
This dish tackles more than just the sense of taste – as it is best enjoyed eaten hand to mouth, with crunch of the tempura ringing audibly throughout the restaurant.
Other dynamic dinner options include barbecued half chicken, wok-fried sirloin steak and chicken in peanut sauce.
Erawan also offers salads, as well as some vegetarian options. The restaurant’s crunchy salad is remarkably refreshing, with julienne apples, cabbage, carrots and crushed peanuts in ginger vinaigrette.
The full bar and striking cocktail menu pairs perfectly with the exotic fare. The drinks, coupled with the brightness of the food, will set the tone for a spicy night in Bayside.
Erawan Thai Cuisine
42-31 Bell Boulevard
Bayside, NY 11361
Tel: 718-428-2112
Fax: 718-428-2098
Email: erawanthai@aol.com
www.erawan-nyc.com
Hours: Monday through Thursday, Noon – 10:30 p.m.
Friday and Saturday, Noon – 11:30 p.m.
Sunday, 3 – 10 p.m.
Reservations: Yes
Take Out
Full Bar
All Major Credit Cards Accepted
Wheelchair Accessible
