We recently stopped at Chao Phraya Thai and Sushi Grill in Kilmarnock, VA for dinner. I have never had Thai cuisine before, so the idea of tasting something new excited me.
The hostess greeted us and seated us promptly. We ordered sake and the Golden Calamari and Veggies (broccoli and sweet potatoes). The calamari was delicious with a very delicate breading. We took our time looking over the menu as I was not familiar with any of the dishes. Our server gave us our space until we were ready to order.
I settled on the Gai Pad Khing Sapparot, stir-fried chicken with black mushroom, pineapple, ginger, scallion and chilis in a chef special seasoning sauce. The sauce had a beautiful full flavor. The dish had a very dark, thin strip that I did not recognize. Curious to figure out what it was, I tasted the strip to realize that it was the mushroom. I really enjoyed the sense of discovery that I felt. The ginger added a lovely pop of peppery brightness and the pineapple brought a wonderful touch of sweetness. The dish was perfectly sized, leaving me comfortably full without feeling stuffed.
Chris had the Seafood Paradise, a combination of seafood sauteed in a Panang Curry sauce. The dish of shrimp, scallops, mussels, and squid with vegetables was beautifully served in an exquisite spicy curry. Unfortunately, there were a lot of bell peppers in the dish (not mentioned on the menu).
We had checked online to see that the restaurant is open until 9 pm. Despite the fact that we arrived in what should have been plenty of time for dinner (7:40), we felt rushed. Before our entrees arrived at the table we were asked if we wanted dessert. The server said they were asking so they would know if the kitchen staff could leave or not (it was 8:30).
The busser, Ivan, was a delight.
Cost for two orders of sake, an appetizer and two entrees (with a 20% discount on one as a special promotion) $64.82.
The food sounds lovely but I wouldn’t want to be rushed either.