City February 28, 2013 11:21 AM

Welcome to Elmwood, Taste of Siam

Welcome to Elmwood, Taste of Siam
queenseyes
queenseyes 29
After a fairly short run at The Neighborhood Collective (across from The Lexington Co-op), Solé closed its doors a couple of months back. Fortunately the two-floor restaurant space is not going to sit empty for long (unlike another Elmwood location - Moda). 

In recent years we have seen Elmwood businesses gravitate toward Hertel, and likewise Hertel businesses opening on Elmwood. It appears as if the two heavy-hitting commercial districts are going back and forth, pulling and tugging, and sometimes sharing. The latter is the case with Taste of Siam, which is being brought to Elmwood by the owners of Taste of Thai on Hertel. Looking back to 2004, it's so nice to see that the quality Thai restaurant has become such a mainstay for North Buffalo.  From a BRO article on Taste of Thai:

The food is delicious. Their menu boasts upward of 70 items ranging from a crisp Koong Gra Bok (marinated shrimp in a spring roll shell) appetizer to entrees like fillets of orange roughy in Chu Chee sauce, an exceptional curry made with lime leaves and lemongrass. Though forks are provided we ate our Kai Yuang (grilled Cornish hen marinated in spices) the Thai way, by pressing balls of sticky rice against the meat and popping it into our mouths. Complementing this was a refreshing salad made of shredded papaya, tomato, and carrots in a lime dressing. The pud thai is also excellent and don't pass on the Thai iced tea. - Anthony Cuellar, Jr.

I remember when I was young 810 Elmwood Avenue was a Chinese Restaurant called May Jen (which moved to Kenmore Avenue and is still open today). I recall that the restaurant was always busy and appeared to be doing well for years. It would be nice to see that same sort of charm return to the building. Seeing that Taste of Thai is so successful on Hertel, I'm hoping that Taste of Siam can work the same magic on Elmwood. 

Taste of Siam - Scheduled to open in April 2013
The Neighborhood Collective
810 Elmwood Avenue 
Buffalo NY 14222
View image

Categories:

Comments

29 Comments Leave a comment
M-Rodgers
February 28, 2013 11:31 AM
M-Rodgers

YAY!

[ Reply ]
Score: 3 ( 5 votes ) Vote up Vote down Report this comment
hilaritee
February 28, 2013 10:34 PM
hilaritee

That sums it up nicely!

[ Reply ]
replied to M-Rodgers
Score: 0 ( 0 votes ) Vote up Vote down Report this comment
Daniel Sack
February 28, 2013 11:39 AM
Daniel Sack

May Jen was always on Kenmore Avenue. Elmwood was a second location.

Looking forward to Taste of Siam.

[ Reply ]
Score: 3 ( 5 votes ) Vote up Vote down Report this comment
norwood
February 28, 2013 11:46 AM
norwood

Taste of Thai is easily the best Asian restaurant in the city. The only issue they have is the lack of interior charm which will be remedied with this new location. This is going to be here for years and years.

[ Reply ]
Score: 10 ( 10 votes ) Vote up Vote down Report this comment
CH
February 28, 2013 1:15 PM
CH

I couldn't agree more. I do wish that they would spruce up the interior a bit. But the food and service is top notch! Can't wait for this new location.

[ Reply ]
replied to norwood
Score: 3 ( 3 votes ) Vote up Vote down Report this comment
ShiftySixx
February 28, 2013 12:12 PM
ShiftySixx

I agree Norwood, best Thai joint in the city. I'm so freakin excited that I will be able to walk and get my Pad Thai fix. I can't wait!!

[ Reply ]
Score: 5 ( 5 votes ) Vote up Vote down Report this comment
elmdog
February 28, 2013 12:34 PM
elmdog

You know what Taste of Siam should have that would not be at any of the other asian restaurants close ...
Please have a fully functional bar offering sake, asian beers like Singha Beer...perfect

http://www.singhabeer.com/

This location needs better stairs and front, windows that open in the summer but great addition.......

Also the storefront that used to house Chow Chocolate looks leased? Any idea?

[ Reply ]
Score: 4 ( 6 votes ) Vote up Vote down Report this comment
Slu
February 28, 2013 5:17 PM
Slu

I agree, but Singha sucks. As does Tiger beer. There are some good SE Asian beers though.

[ Reply ]
replied to elmdog
Score: 0 ( 2 votes ) Vote up Vote down Report this comment
Kelso
February 28, 2013 12:41 PM
Kelso

Taste of Thai is probably the best restaurant on Hertel in terms of affordability, price, and service. Now if they can only get their liquor license!! Speaking of restaurants on Hertel - Is there any word on what might be moving in to the space where La Dolce Vita occupied or Uncorked (adjacent to Taste of Thai)??

[ Reply ]
Score: 0 ( 2 votes ) Vote up Vote down Report this comment
buffalot
February 28, 2013 2:34 PM
buffalot

Sample is moving from Allen to the former La Dolce Vita location.
So pumped to hear that Taste of Thai is coming to Elmwood!

[ Reply ]
replied to Kelso
Score: 3 ( 7 votes ) Vote up Vote down Report this comment
millertime486
February 28, 2013 12:48 PM
millertime486

On the topic of Elmwood but off the topic of this restaurant....is Ambrosia still open? Tried to go a few Saturday's ago for dinner and it was closed

[ Reply ]
Score: 1 ( 3 votes ) Vote up Vote down Report this comment
buffaloTrek
February 28, 2013 12:50 PM
buffaloTrek

I personally like the BYOB aspect of Taste of Thai

[ Reply ]
Score: 0 ( 2 votes ) Vote up Vote down Report this comment
Kelso
February 28, 2013 12:58 PM
Kelso

They ended the BYOB about 3 months ago, very sad :(.

[ Reply ]
replied to buffaloTrek
Score: 2 ( 2 votes ) Vote up Vote down Report this comment
buffaloTrek
February 28, 2013 1:05 PM
buffaloTrek

that sucks, i can't imagine why, especially if they still don't have their liquor license.

[ Reply ]
replied to Kelso
Score: 1 ( 1 votes ) Vote up Vote down Report this comment
CH
February 28, 2013 1:16 PM
CH

My understanding is you need a separate license to be BYOB and they didn't have it/didn't want it ... someone correct me if I'm wrong, I heard this second-hand.

[ Reply ]
replied to buffaloTrek
Score: 1 ( 1 votes ) Vote up Vote down Report this comment
The Boss
February 28, 2013 2:10 PM
The Boss

It is illegal to have byob without a liq license...a little known law

[ Reply ]
replied to buffaloTrek
Score: 3 ( 3 votes ) Vote up Vote down Report this comment
Kelso
February 28, 2013 3:35 PM
Kelso

I was in one evening at Taste of Thai and one of the servers told me that the owners of Uncorked ratted them out to the authorities.

[ Reply ]
replied to buffaloTrek
Score: 2 ( 2 votes ) Vote up Vote down Report this comment
paulsobo
February 28, 2013 1:06 PM
paulsobo

This is a perfect example of a house, probably a very nice house, that was brutalized into retail when it shouldnt have been.

I think it detracts from the quality of Elmwood as retail and should be a properly restored residence.

There are plenty of sights on Elmwood, Allen, Hertel, Grant, Niagara, Delaware, Main, etc.

My opinion is that Elmwood needs to stop desperately trying to be everything and anything....and .... start to really think about the quality of the street, the visible appeal of the street, the residential quality of the street, the retail quality of the street, the over all character.

[ Reply ]
Score: -16 ( 24 votes ) Vote up Vote down Report this comment
davvid
February 28, 2013 1:32 PM
davvid

The problem isn't that this was a house converted to retail, the problem is with how it was converted. There are many many examples of houses converted to retail. Look at the Elmwood block north of Breckenridge where Everything Elmwood and Urban Threads is or the Elmwood Lounge building at W Utica. Look at an aerial map, its very common.

[ Reply ]
replied to paulsobo
Score: 3 ( 5 votes ) Vote up Vote down Report this comment
65oceandrive
February 28, 2013 1:10 PM
65oceandrive

Great news, but the larger question is WHY this location cannot sustain a restaurant for longer than a few years???

[ Reply ]
Score: 7 ( 9 votes ) Vote up Vote down Report this comment
Kelso
February 28, 2013 2:08 PM
Kelso

The parking is horrible!!! People drive around for 10 minutes, lose their patience and go somehwere else.

[ Reply ]
replied to 65oceandrive
Score: -10 ( 24 votes ) Vote up Vote down Report this comment
CGirl
February 28, 2013 3:14 PM
CGirl

I think this is a myth. I live in the neighborhood and there is plenty of street parking nearby. I also think the parking situation at this location is comparable to the parking near Taste of Thai on Hertel and it certainly isn't a detraction there. I agree that it is the quality of the restaurants, or lack thereof, that are the problem. If this place is as good as Taste of Thai, it will do just fine in this location.

[ Reply ]
replied to Kelso
Score: 10 ( 10 votes ) Vote up Vote down Report this comment
JSmith
February 28, 2013 2:21 PM
JSmith

Maybe the restaurants just haven't been very good. I had poor service the first times I went to Juniper and Solé, and didn't go back to either.

Taste of Thai is a known excellent quantity, so I am much more confident for their longevity here.

[ Reply ]
replied to 65oceandrive
Score: 9 ( 9 votes ) Vote up Vote down Report this comment
paulsobo
February 28, 2013 2:39 PM
paulsobo

Im guessing because its not handicap accessible

Its got a big brutalist brick wall with a stair case behind it that is FAR from inviting

Because the retail frontage is UGLY and uninviting to the pedestrian

It may have great food and great service but the building says...dont bother...walk past

You dont need a taj mahal for retail or restaurant but you cant have a butt ugly building either.

the best thing that can happen is get rid of that retail addition and make it a house again...let the entire elmwood strip benefit from something beautiful rather than something that keeps failing because its butt ugly

[ Reply ]
replied to 65oceandrive
Score: -7 ( 13 votes ) Vote up Vote down Report this comment
elmdog
February 28, 2013 4:52 PM
elmdog

I dont understand the brick wall frontal...doesnt make sense

[ Reply ]
replied to paulsobo
Score: 4 ( 4 votes ) Vote up Vote down Report this comment
The Boss
February 28, 2013 3:47 PM
The Boss

while I will admit the building does not have the best curb appeal, it most definetly a case of bad operators not the buidlings fault. May Jen was there for quite a run

[ Reply ]
replied to 65oceandrive
Score: 0 ( 0 votes ) Vote up Vote down Report this comment
Sheldon S. Kornpett, D.D.S.
February 28, 2013 1:15 PM
Sheldon S. Kornpett, D.D.S.

Going back even further, anyone remember when this space was "The 810" restaurant? This was back in the 80s. When we were in high school, we'd go there for their loaded fries and pitchers of Stroh's Dark.

[ Reply ]
Score: 3 ( 5 votes ) Vote up Vote down Report this comment
ivan putski jr
February 28, 2013 11:46 PM
ivan putski jr

Yes....and then on to Mr Tony's and the Colemore Lounge

[ Reply ]
replied to Sheldon S. Kornpett, D.D.S.
Score: 1 ( 1 votes ) Vote up Vote down Report this comment

Leave a comment

Recent Comments