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True Thai
WHERE: 2627 E. Franklin Ave. rue Thai, judging by the name of this Seward hotspot, must be good, or else their boasting is purely frivolous. The truth is they aren’t lying, and the critics are lining up with accolades for this new West Bank restaurant.

The entrance to the restaurant, located on the corner of 26th and Franklin avenues east, is lined with plants and ornately carved chairs of oriental design. Any place like this warrants another look, even if you’ve already heard about it.

You may question the point of a review of a place that everyone already seems to know is excellent. But it’s possible that you don’t know just how excellent it is.

For college students on a tight budget, this is a perfect date spot. Start off with a shared plate of fried calamari and split any one of their great curries. Try the sweet green, which comes with large chunks of veggies, including eggplant. (Eggplant – I mean, when was the last time you had that? Exactly! What? You don’t like eggplant? You will after you’ve tried this dish.)

The sweet green curry is so good that I found myself addicted and went back three times in one week, ordering it to-go in order to save tip money.

Finish everything off with a Thai Iced Coffee and expect a bill of less than $25, plus tax and tip.

For a date at home, order curry to-go and cook some rice. Dress up the dining room and tell your date you made it yourself. To make it look legit, leave a Thai cookbook on the kitchen counter.

Skip the fast food and you won’t regret it, because True Thai’s lunch special from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. is, debatably, the best West Bank buffet. They offer a large selection of main courses that vary daily, as well as traditional Thai salads and freshly cut fruit. Be sure to load up on some of the basil jasmine fried rice and cover it with the chicken Masaman curry.

If you’re vegetarian or vegan, you’ll be hard-pressed to find a menu with more options that fit your lifestyle. Properly cooked tofu is tender yet firm on the outside, and can be added to almost any dish. It can even appeal to meat-eaters, like myself.

True Thai has every reason to be on top. Their dishes are savory delights at modest prices. It’s not going to be a $5 lunch, but what can you get for $5, anymore? Not much.

If you can’t get to Thailand, go to True Thai.