Gent’s Eat: Uptown Vibes at Pai

When you think of having Thai food, hip hop and urban swagger don’t typically come to mind. You think tradition mixed in with good food. But you get all of that at Pai Uptown and it just seems to fit.

See also: Gent’s Eat: French Dining at BOUFFE by ADJEY

Ambiance

Firstly, the infamous owners of well-known Pai (the downtown version) converted what was a club into their second location. At first you think that at any moment, the tables will be parted to make room for a dance off or some sort of performance. Side note, the manager explained that they do indeed have live music a few nights a week.

But again, what doesn’t seem like a traditional Thai restaurant, is not bad but rather refreshing. The staff are focused, kind and give off an urban vibe with each one wearing a fit that matches their own energy.

When asked why an uptown location, Chef Nuit and Jeff noted, “one of the biggest motivations behind opening the new Uptown location was wanting to spread Chef Nuit’s amazing food and the PAI experience to more people. We found a great spot in the bustling Yonge & Eglinton (Toronto) neighbourhood, and it allowed us to not only service our existing loyal customers who don’t have to travel all the way downtown or wait in line for a table, but also introduce new customers to Chef Nuit’s food and our Northern Thai experience.”

Menu

The food was the most traditional thing about Pai Uptown and it was fantastic. Starting firstly with the Tom Yom soup. You get a whiff of the aroma whenever a server walked past the table holding a bowl. So naturally, had to order one. The main appetizer, and I call it a main because it’s big enough to be one, was the Northern Platter. This massive dish consisted of squash fritters, pork skewers, sticky rice, salad and more.

The actual main dishes were both under Chef Nuit’s favourites list. The Khao Soi, which consists of Fresh egg noodles in a golden coconut milk curry topped with crispy noodles, coriander, green onions, and beef. The second was of course the Pad Thai which was red-flame stir-fried rice noodles in a house-made tamarind sauce and the protein was chicken and shrimp. Salivating yet?

Dessert was a coconut sorbet and as someone who isn’t the biggest coconut fan, I found room for it and then some.

Verdict

If you’re looking for good food with good vibes and don’t want the hassle of downtown, Pai Uptown is your spot. The food was terrific, the service was great, the crowd lively. What more could you ask for?

Gent’s Approved.

Feature image by Michael Graydon & Nikole Herriott