Amarin Thai
Amarin is named for the dreamy, verdant Amarin Lagoon in Phitsanulok, a small town a little south of Chiang Mai. The restaurant’s sophisticated owner, Suree, opened a wine bar next to the restaurant, but that has now closed (wine bar competition is getting monstrous!), and the space has been turned into an additional dining room. This is a good thing, since customers were pouring in the entire time we were there. Better yet, the oenological savvy is still evident in the wine list. If you’re feeling flush, it might be worth it to order the braised rack of lamb Massaman curry to have an excuse to choose one of the relatively bargain-priced red Bordeaux on the list (Château de Pez, Château Gloria, Château Grand-Puy-Lacoste, et al.), which aren’t cheap but cost less than at chic, high-end restaurants.
Hours: Lunch and dinner daily except Thanksgiving; Monday–Thursday 11 a.m.–3 p.m., 5–10 p.m.; Fridays until 11 p.m.; Saturday noon–11 p.m.; Sunday noon–10 p.m.
Prices: Starters, soups, salads $3.59–$13; entrées $8–$23; desserts $5–$6. Weekday lunch specials $5–$9.
Cuisine & Beverages: Inventive, elegant Thai cuisine; a wonderful wine list (lots of French bottlings) at merciful prices.
Pick Hits: Thai Princess appetizer; mixed seafood Potak soup; Mad Fish. Good bets: Little Mermaid appetizer; Gangped Ped Yang (duck with red curry and fruits); any dish with fried sole; rack of lamb Massaman curry; desserts.
Need to know: Reserve for prime time. For the most interesting entrées, look to Oceanaire and Specialties rather than the Traditional Thai curries or the noodles and rice. Loads of vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free options. Peanuts used. Dishes described on menu as spicy actually are.
Additional Info
Hours
| Sunday | noon to 10 p.m. |
| Monday | 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. |
| Monday | 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. |
| Tuesday | 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. |
| Tuesday | 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. |
| Wednesday | 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. |
| Wednesday | 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. |
| Thursday | 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. |
| Thursday | 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. |
| Friday | 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. |
| Friday | 5 p.m. to 11 p.m. |
| Saturday | noon to 11 p.m. |
Restaurants details
| Cuisine | Thai Vegetarian Wine |
| Price range of entrées | $7 - $23 |
| Delivery | No |
| Outdoor seating | No |
| Party room | No |
| Reservations accepted | Yes |
| Kids menu | No |
| Occasional live music | No |
| Vegetarian friendly | Yes |
| Payment options | Accepts credit cards |