Origin French Thai — Restaurant in Bernards Township

We came to Origin Thai to celebrate with family. We made a reservation but had some issues setting the reservation up since there are two locations of the same name very close to each other. We were quickly seated at a half bench half chair table. The material of the bench was ripped and was not comfortable to sit on.

The waitress took our order, consisting of a few apps (curry puffs, crab stick, Vegetarian roll), and I personally had the Peking Duck Salad. The place had several other occupied tables, but I wouldn't describe it as busy for a Saturday evening.

The appetizers were okay. The vegetarian rolls have a bad texture and no flavor, and the accompanying dipping sauce didn't do much to help. The crab sticks were very good, and would probably get these again. The curry puffs were a favorite at the table and didn't last long.

The Peking Duck Salad was the highlight of the night. It arrives in a large wonton shell/dish. It is pre-tossed so eating is easy. It has a sweet flavor from the sauce and pineapple, but a savory flavor from the duck. The duck can have some worrying crunchy parts that are not enjoyable, but these were rare and didn't ruin the experience. I would highly recommend this.

The service overall was okay. The staff made sure our water glasses were full and the waitress checked on us, but there was some communication issues that were frustrating. The ambiance is not good. From the ripped bench seat to the lackluster decor, it leaves much to be desired. They have outdoor seating, so maybe we will try that next time.

Overall, a good (not great) experience. I would recommend this for simple dinners out or dinner...

!!🚨WARNING!! SKIP this place in Basking Ridge If you want to relax, or looking for great food !! I had to wait 15+ minutes to get my check after the waitress said.. "if you scan this and give us a 5 star review on Google you get 10% off" ($2 on a $28 lunch Not worth the $, nor stress, read👇🤦‍♂️).. turned out the waitresses wait and monitor google reviews for another 5* revoew added !??.. I asked again for the check and she said 🛑"SHOW me the review WE NEED TO SEE PROOF OF YOUR 5 STAR REVIEW FOR THE DISCOUNT" !??! I told the manager thats unethical, and came to RELAX, NOT HAVE HIGH PRESSURE waitresses promotimg FAKE reviews .. THAT'S UNACCEPTABLE, NTM #UNETHICAL! The lunch wasnt aweful, average, but wouldn't call it great by any means. Salad was avg, soup as you can see had only ~5 tiny mushrooms, 3 tiny shrimp, and 99% broth, very cheaply made. Pad Thai was OK but had absolutely no flavor. !!** #1 I'd recommend 100% to drive the extra 10-15mins and go to Pru Thai in Clinton, NJ .. hands down THE best Pad Thai food in the area and NO PRESSURE, no reviews, no ulterior motives, just great service and great food ! Definitely NOT this place, though their Somerset loca was good a decade ago. #2 2nd choice would be the Thai Kitchen in the strip mall next to Bridgewater Commons Mall, #3 Four Seasons Thai in Edison, or #4, "The Thai" next to Barnes & Noble at Somerville Circle. Fake reviews, no ethics, this place should be...

This place is a family staple! We discovered it a couple years back and have been going at least once a month since. Definitely go during lunch if you can because the prices are FAR cheaper and you have a bowl of soup or salad included with the entree. I have been to 7-8 different Thai restaurants (5 of which are in Manhattan) and Origin is still my favorite time after time. I generally order the Pad Thai, Red curry, Green curry, or Pad Kee Maow, which are all excellent, and I'd say their Thai food is probably better than their more "French" dishes. They get the dishes to "amazing" 8 out of 10 times, but admittedly every once in a while it'll be "eh." (If you're sensitive to sodium like my parents are, just let the servers know to prepare your food without any added salt and it'll come out just fine.)

The interior design is very classy and nicely done but the lighting is very low, so if you need a place for mood setting this is it, but if you like brighter places, it might bother you. The manager isn't very friendly, but the servers are all very cooperative. Unfortunately their English isn't the best, however, so sometimes it takes a bit of patience to communicate your needs.

I would definitely recommend everyone at least try the place out. Every time I go--lunch or dinner--the place is almost completely filled, & every friend I've brought has instantly...