11/07/09

Awesome Experience!!

by lanni343

I went with my family last night and Aaron waited on us. We had a large group and it was a birthday celebration. The food was spot on and we really enjoyed all of our drinks. We had the Farmer's Market with mixed seafood, Pulled Pork Springrolls, and someone ordered some spicy noodles (I can't pronounce the name). All were very wonderful.

I don't know what the earlier reviewer is talking about in regards to the Koi fish, cause I really love it! People will nit pick and complain about anything when they get on line. Hey, getting online is usually anonymous, right? I suppose it gives everyone the needed courage to be nasty online, when one could just ask their server to fix a dish if it came out wrong. Instead of being petty online, just try and enjoy yourself and be good to one and another. It makes a better planet.

• Pros: I really loved the Massaman Curry with Chicken
• Cons: Had a great time!

10/08/09

Delicious food in a unique setting

by cupcakesandkale

We just had a great dinner at Siam Society. My only complaints are that we were seated by the open door on a chilly rainy evening instead of in the other half of the restaurant which remained empty. Seemed like they were really trying to keep everyone on the bar side.

The cocktails are always creative and well executed. Some of the flavors on this menu are nontraditional, with even some Brazilian influence, which sounds odd but mostly hits the mark. There are a few plates I'm not too fond of, including the hazelnut spring rolls, but some people may love them, and most of what we've had in our 4 or 5 visits has been really delicious. Our kettle of Thom Kha soup was rich and velvety with complex flavors. The Kao Soi chicken is a standout, but all of the curries I've had there have been delicious, including the halibut in green curry with mango. The space is beautiful - it's a fun place to bring people from out of town. Bring a sweater on a chilly day though, as such lofty ceilings must make it hard to heat.

• Pros: rich, unique flavors
• Cons: chilly on a cold day

03/12/09

What Happened?

by MLS26

I have been to Siam Society several times with my boyfriend, and it's one of our favorite places to go. Tuesday he and I decided to swing on by for happy hour, to find these giant, hideous koi hanging from the ceiling. I really enjoy the relaxed atmosphere, and tall ceilings give an open feel to the restaurant. The new decor gives a claustrophobic, "sushi-to-go" vibe. The food was still spot on but unfortunately, the atmosphere has changed. I really hope next time my boyfriend and I go in, things will be back to normal.

• Pros: Example: best croissants in town
• Cons: What are the drawbacks?

01/07/09

Not nearly as good as all the hype would suggest

by PDXDiner73

It seems that many people I know have said, "You just have to try Siam Society for great Thai food!". So a few months ago, my wife and I did just that. And the verdict? What a disappointment!

For starters, the mixed drinks were decent, but pricey. The food was mediocre tasting at best, only luke-warm, and WAY overpriced in comparison to the many other Thai restaurants in the PDX area. The service was a little spotty and pretentious. In sum, if Siam Society was the only Thai restaurant in town, it might be ok. But in a town with a Thai restaurant seemingly on every corner, Siam Society doesn't get it done. You can get much better meals for half the price at any of a number of other Thai places in PDX. Thai Basil, Beau Thai, Typhoon, and any of a number of other Thai joints in town will leave you feeling as though you got a much better deal for your money.

• Pros: Decent drinks, nice atmosphere, hip neighborhood
• Cons: Grossly overpriced food, much better value at other Thai restaurants

12/17/08

Excellent food.. Great hospitality. Very helpful wait staff

by aarthiasdad

Siam Society was one of the first restaurants I visited on my arrival to the US. I loved the ambience and the food. I always do. They have so many virgin drink choices and that is a huge plus for non-alcoholics like me. We booked a table and ate a nice romantic dinner there. Very nice old world-ish ambience. There were some mushrooms in my dish that kind of did not 'look' mushroomish. The person who waited on us, brought me an uncooked mushroom of that variety to put my fears to rest. I found it really nice on his part to have done that. There is plenty of parking around the restaurant in the street and this is a huge plus!

There was a kid celebrating her birthday and they seem to have a nice time. So, the restaurant is kid friendly too!

• Pros: Food, Ambience, Wait Staff
• Cons: None

12/07/08

Good Atmosphere, Good Food, Can be a little inconsistent, much more good than bad though

by hott_nickles3400

This place is really good. Its a higher end Thai Fusion place with a really cool buildout. I have always had good food there but people I have gone with every once in a while say its so-so even though 75% of the time its nothing but good things. This is a great date place with a cool albeit small bar on the second floor.

10/25/08

Most Romantic on Alberta

by bberscheid

I visited Siam Society on last Wednesday night. My girlfriend and I had scheduled "date night" and I wanted to take her to a romantic dinner that didn't cost a fortune. I also wanted to avoid the "high society" types in the NW, or SW. I decided on NE, and couldn't have found a better choice! The atmosphere was romantic, with low lighting, ambient house music in the background, and a friendly, attractive staff. I appreciated the staff's ability to ask the right questions, allowing our date to remain private and the flow uninterrupted. The service was leisurely, but so was the tone of the evening. The food was delicious. I actually planned to propose to my girlfriend that night, and had the ring with me. I mentioned this to the server and the host, and they excitedly took my requests and assured me that I would be taken care of. After dinner, they brought out desert, and had placed the ring inside the outer shell of the dish. It was very well thought out. They told me that it was their first time having a patron propose inside their place. They made it seem so smooth, and it went off so well, that I would love to recommend this place for such an event. The staff would make it go wonderfully.

Thanks Siam Society:)

Brad

09/06/08

So original, so innovative & the friendly helpful staff were refreshing.

by dthutch

Friday I sat down at the computer & looked up the website to get a number to make a reservation. They had several modern features on their website including an online menu & the ability to make your reservations online. The online reservation was easy to use.

My wife & I arrived that evening & we were greeted by friendly people who showed us to a table. The Power Sub Station concrete building has been reconfigured with a functional open feeling. Steel beams, arched tall windows & modern art fill the walls. It feels almost like a modern gallery.

To our surprise the Executive Chef Adrienne Inskeep came to our table & greeted us. She had heard from her staff we had arrived & wanted to make sure we were taken care of. In a very short time Chef Adrienne appeared with our appetizers. We had ordered the Tranquil Salad Rolls & the Pulled Pork Spring Rolls. Both are great, but the Pulled Pork Spring Rolls are my new favorite appetizers. The blending of flavors of vanilla & marinated pork with the hazelnuts in a crunchy wrapper . I have never tasted this combination of flavors before & really enjoyed it.

Main Entrees Chinese broccoli, chicken & peanut sauce &The Farmers Market Stir Fry with Seafood medley

The Chinese broccoli, chicken & peanut sauce was spiced with a hint of heat. The chicken was cooked to perfection. The Farmers Market Stir Fry with Seafood medley was an explosion of flavor. The vegetables & seafood made each bite like trying a new dish. You could tell everything was fresh!

For desert, we asked for the Chefs favorite, & we were not disappointed!

Sweet rice & fresh mango with grapes. Together this combination of fruit & sweet rice completed the meal.

My wife & I would like to say , " Thank you for the best tasting food we have had in a long long time. So original, so innovative & the friendly helpful staff were refreshing."

We have already made reservations for next week.

• Pros: Food , Service, Ambience
• Cons: Parking,

08/23/08

Excellent food (and drinks) matched by service!

by MinuteGoat

My wife and I had made an online reservation and were seated immediately outside. We enjoyed conversing with the hostess, who made us feel welcome. We perused the wine list, but were more tempted by the unique cocktails. My wife ordered a Thai Me Up (vanilla Stoli in a Thai tea) and I opted for the Soi Cowboy because it sounded manly and contained Tamarind pulp. After a short wait for our drinks from the bar, we ordered. While we waited for our entrees, an "extra" papaya salad was brought to our table at no charge. A pleasant surprise to say the least. The waitress was able to snag the last barbecued chicken for my wife (who had a backup planned since they told us they were low), and my S3XY Beef lived up to it's name. It being my wife's birthday, we ordered the Flourless Chocolate Cake with cardamom ice cream, which we enjoyed very much. We were then treated once again to a birthday presentation of Coconut Milk ice cream by the exuberant staff. We had an amazing time, experienced spectacular service, filled up on great food and managed to keep it under an hour and a half from when we walked in the door. I will be bringing family here, it is that good.

(PS had to say S3XY to get past citysearch autocensor)

• Pros: Friendly staff, attractive presentation, interesting beverages.
• Cons: Kinda noisy.

06/24/08

One of the worst dining experiances, almost broke me and my girlfriend up.

by MalePSUStudent

My girlfriend ate last Saturday. We were seated without a wine list with my chair facing my lovely girlfriend and behind her, a plain concrete wall with some black and white photographs of pointless images. Our veggie spring roll rap was good, the sauce bland. There were small pieces of something in my girlfriends glass of wine. We ordered two of the stakes but only got one order and plates to split. They offered to cook us another one but I declined. The Asparagus was not prepped (the bottom end broken off) the "demi gloss" was watery, stringy, and barely evident with little to no flavor. The fried sweet potatoes were hardly touched by either of us, you can check it out for 21 dollars. Nothing had salt or pepper, there was no salt and pepper at the table giving the food a bland and plain lacking basic structure of bouquet or flavor.

The waiter and the bus lady, at different times, interrupted our entree apologizing. The bus lady talked to us like 4 year olds asking, " How bout I bring out some free ice cream?"

to which I replied I would be ok seeing a desert menu after we eat our entree. After eating the meat, we were starving, I put my card on the table in clear site and was really ready to go. After waiting a good 5 minutes after the table was cleared, the waiter brought us out a flan which we didn't order and we didn't get our desert menus, which I was more than willing to pay for given a choice. Finally we were allowed to leave after a 50 dollar tab, two frowns and two empty stomachs. My girlfriend and I got into a fight because she felt I was being overly critical and sensitive. You can go spend your money and be the judge, I will never step into that place again. I will buy my 3 dollar sprite, not kidding, somewhere else.

• Pros: Lots of booze
• Cons: too many to mention