new thai, pure thai

hat tip to the tasting table for inspiring a ride on the n train for a pure thai lunch, with allison last week. billed as a shophouse — imagine, though, a thai roadside stand on a dwr budget– pure thai is a wonderful stop for a light, inexpensive lunch, especially on a sunny, temperate afternoon when sunshine and a cool breeze allow you to pretend you’re somewhere else ( not thailand exactly, but also not quite new york). from a pure value perspective, with the prices at roughly half-off the dinner menu , it might just be the best lunch deal around, even with the metrocard fare…

for a little flavor, here are the photos:

allison and i loved that they specified “perdue” chicken. not a lot of cache behind that  name, but at least they are honest.

i have a hard time resisting hibiscus –especially in tea or margaritas. i was warned that this drink was neither a tea nor a juice but it still wasn’t what i expected. it was exceedingly sugary– a hibiscus fruit drink. others might enjoy the almost syrupy sweetness, but i would have preferred this mixed with seltzer, or watered down with a lot of ice. OR as a topping for shaved ice.

crispy shrimp sesame crepe is a nice savory starter–it offers the opportunity to experience the flavor of lime in a new way. it’s bolder and more aromatic here. a must-have for lime lovers.

wok cashew nuts with shrimp: cashew nut, scallion sugar snap peas, chili tamarind sauce

allison and i ordered dishes that were variations on the same theme–sauteed shrimp served with white rice. i love tamarind, and while i wished the sour notes of the tamarind were more prominent, this was also nicely sweet.

we ogled the noodle soups pretty hard on the way out–that’s what we’ll get the next time.
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pure thai is 766 ninth ave. (between 51st and 52nd sts.); phone is 212-581-0999.

there is a communal table in the back that could reasonably seat 6-8, and a slim counter that runs along the side–you’d have your back to the prep counter/kitchen– and a couple of seats that are front and center to that same counter/kitchen, and a table for 4 in the front…basically, it’s a cozy, 35-seater. once word gets out, you may have to wait for dinner…