I haven't dined at Brookside Thai in some time, though friends keep telling me to go there. Last time was way back before their renovation which has made the restaurant much more appealing.
Located on what I call the Broad Street Restaurant Row in Bloomfield, Brookside Thai is worth a trip. Had dinner there a couple of weeks ago and got take-out the other night. We were very happy with both.
The first night we had appetizers of Tod Munn Pla, which is minced king fish and string beans blended with red chili paste, deep fried, served with cucumber sauce and ground peanut and a special Shrimp Roll which was shrimp marinated in fresh cilantro sauce that is wrapped in thin rice sheet, golden fried and served with plum sauce.
I thought the Tod Munn Pla, a favorite of mine, was good, tasty, but a little too firm in texture. The Shrimp Roll was fantastic we really liked that, almost ordered another.
The appetizers and entrees are reasonably priced, we all appreciate that these days.
For our entrees we had Kao Pad Kra-Prow Seafood fried rice with fresh basil, chili, garlic, with shrimp. You can get it with shrimp, calamari or mixed. This was so good.
And we had the Massaman Curry with avocado, that dish was delicious also. It was always favorite of mine at the old Deja Vu in Montclair which made the dish with avocado, since then I have found that most Thai places serve it with out avocado, much my disappointment.
Apparently I am not alone in this see the Chowhound thread Massaman Curry with Avocado evidently avocado is not a traditional Thai ingredient.
With dinner we drank a St Urbans Hof Riesling Qba it is a delicious and very reasonable winr that landed #56 on Wine Spectator's Top 100 Wines of 2008.
It benefits from some air to reveal its floral, apricot and slate aromas and flavors. This is a really great wine for asian food and it can be found in many NJ wine shops.
On our take out night, we had the Kanom Jeeb appetizer,Thai steamed dumplings: marinated shrimp, pork and mushroom served with a special sauce.
Pad Cee-Ew,stir-fried flat rice noodles in black bean sauce with garlic, egg, Chinese broccoli, we chose the beef but it can be had with chicken, beef, or pork.
Pad Puk Boong Fai Dang, stir fried Thai watercress in black bean sauce and fresh garlic.
Pad King chicken sauteed with ginger, black mushrooms, sweet peppers and scallions.
All were very good except the Pad King which I thought was just OK.
Brookside Thai
Authentic Thai - family friendly cooking
380 Broad Street at Pitt Street, Bloomfield, NJ 07003
973-566-0057
Open Every day
Monday to Thursday
11 am to 10 pm
Friday and Saturday
11 am to 11 pm
Sunday
11 am to 10 pm
(Monday - Friday:Closed 3 pm - 5 pm)
