Blue Orchid Thai Cuisine — Restaurant in Jacksonville

My Rating: 3.5/5 Venue Type: Thai

Blue Orchid Thai Cuisine in Riverside is one of Jacksonville’s most visually captivating dining spots. With authentic Thai décor, intricate details, and a warm, low-lit ambiance, it effortlessly transports you across the globe. The outside patio area is equally inviting—lush, comfortable, and perfect for early evening dining. Its central location in the historic Riverside neighborhood makes it a go-to for those looking for both atmosphere and culinary flair.

Our reservation for two was set for 6:30 PM on a Saturday evening. We were pleasantly seated ahead of schedule, and the interior felt intimate and relaxed, with a modest crowd and soft background music setting the tone.

We began with drinks: a smoked Old Fashioned made with Woodford Reserve and a glass of house Cabernet. Thank goodness we asked in advance whether the smoked Old Fashioned could be made tableside—especially since the bar is a considerable walk from the dining area. Unfortunately, we were told that this wasn’t possible, and that all specialty drinks had to be prepared at the bar. In my opinion, this is a shortsighted decision. A smoked Old Fashioned is as much about the showmanship as the taste. Relegating it to the bar removes the very experience that makes this cocktail special. It felt like anything beyond the basic was going to fall short. We ended up declining the smoked version and opted for a standard Old Fashioned instead, but the missed opportunity was disappointing.

For starters, we ordered the Drunken Shrimp, which was beautifully plated and aromatic. However, the shrimp were slightly undercooked—visibly glassy in the center. We mentioned this when asked about the dish, and our feedback was acknowledged. On a brighter note, the Tom Kha soup was an absolute standout. Fragrant, creamy, and well-balanced, it was one of the best versions I’ve had in years. I requested additional spice, which was promptly brought to the table—a small touch that made a big difference.

For our entrées, we ordered the Crispy Duck and Green Curry. The curry was once again excellent—vibrant, rich in flavor, and skillfully prepared. The crispy duck, however, was a challenge. Served whole in a deep bowl with sauce, it was difficult to cut and eat. The dish would’ve been far more enjoyable had it been pre-sliced in the kitchen. The presence of gristle and bone made it tough to navigate, especially in such a tightly plated dish. Presentation and usability go hand in hand—and in this case, a simpler approach would’ve worked better.

The total bill came to $139. Even after politely sharing our feedback, there was no acknowledgment or gesture from the staff—no comped item, no apology, not even a mention of relaying the issue to the chef. Our intent wasn’t to criticize but to encourage a bit of refinement in what is otherwise a very promising restaurant.

Despite a few missteps, we would definitely return. The quality of most of the menu items—particularly the Tom Kha and green curry—was truly inspiring and showcased the kitchen’s strength. Blue Orchid has the bones of something truly special. We simply hope that with time, small refinements—like handling of premium cocktails and plating logistics—can elevate the experience. A few thoughtful tweaks would easily turn a very good restaurant into an exceptional one.

Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars Recommended for: Ambience lovers, Thai cuisine fans, date nights, and casual...

Edited 9-12-2022 since the manager reads and comments on every post I'm editing my post to be more thorough. As I'm pedantic.

If the beautiful decor could talk it would be screaming do not eat the food.

The location is beautiful. The atmosphere is wonderful. The fact they have a full bar is nice if one drinks. The "Thai Food" is awful. There is literally no redemptive qualities to the food. The food was so bad it is embarrassing for me to review because I feel like I am being overly critical. In fact, in my original review I didn't review the food because it was so bad. Well I edited my review because the managers response just made me angry.

The four in my group spent a little over $300 on dinner with one third of the ticket being alcohol. Four appetizers and 4 entrees. I had Pad ga prow moo sop (basil pork) with a ki Jow (omelette). This is basically the national dish of Thailand. The dish should have ground pork, peppers, onion and basil sometimes if the chef is veggie happy snow peas and carrots. This all comes with a fried egg on top. First, my dish was served to the table next to mine. Eg it was given to someone who didn't order it. Then they tried to serve it to me. Gross. Second, it was soupy. Third, there was no fried egg even though it is on the menu and I made the waitress aware of my wanting the egg. I also asked for pelck nem pa (fish sauce)on the side. It never came. I also even asked if they could do a ki jow (omelette) instead of a ki dow (runny fried egg) which I never recieved . Fourth, it was 20 bucks. I understand that like many dishes this dish can be made many ways. I absolutely love Thai cuisine. I just did not love this Thai Cuisine. Fifth, I shouldn't have to send the "national dish of Thailand" back. It should be amazing 100% of the time, for it is the national dish of Thailand.

Okay so this one is a real critique Sean. Your lettuce wraps need to come off the menu. End stop. They are really bad. We recieved half raw balls of ground chicken in soy with some kind of canned peanuts. It was gross. You really need to think about removing this item. It is hazardous to say the least.

Our chicken satay was good. The server just served it to another table like she'd do again with my Basil pork.

The pork spring were nothing to write home about.

Seafood curry served in a coconut shell. Too much squid and the coconut milk in the curry was cut with too much water causing the curry to separate.

My wife order the house special fish dish with mixed vegetables. It was a large filet of white fish deep fried over carrots and cabbage and it came with a gravy boat full of chili sauce to put over the entree I guess. I have no clue what the thai name is for this, but it would have been better served with vinegar and wrapped in a Times Union. I chose the Times-Union because it is lackluster like the fish.

The fourth guest had panang chicken. She was the only one happy with her food at the table.

I feel like a 3 out of 5 is overly generous.

I will avoid this place in the future or until there is new management. This place has potential but the elements needed are things like effort and critical thought.

Prehaps someone who knows Thai...

This was our first time at this location and unfortunately it was a horrible experience. We specifically reserved the outdoor patio option and when we arrived the hostess tried to tell me I reserved indoor seating which I had not. The purpose in our reservation there was to be outside since that was what interested me in this location when booking. I'm big on atmosphere. As we were waiting my husband saw I was upset and went to talk to the host to see if there was anything she could do. The patio at that time was full and there was no way find a table out there. She was rude in her demeanor at this point and insisted I booked indoor seating. My husband can be persistent but he was not rude especially to warrant the attitude she gave him. When she took us to our table it was a booth set for 4 instead of 5 which normally wouldn't have been large enough but we had a child with us. My husband asked her "Is this our reserved table? It is set for 4". She just walked away with an attitude and slammed the last table setting down in front us. It was at that point my husband got upset and told her she was an "awful hostess". Throughout our entire dinner she stared him down everytime she walked by. It was so uncomfortable and everything that happened with her made our entire experience terrible. As we were leaving she continued staring my husband down and gave him the finger with a smirk as we walked out the door. It was just so immature, rude and unprofessional. We have always loved the food but have never had to go through anything like that before. I do have to say our waiter was attentive and wonderful which we tipped well.

Last week we called to make a reservation and when I gave my name, we were told we were not welcome. We thought since that had been almost a year ago we'd give it another try. It was last minute and there weren't any reservations left for 5 but almost completely open for 4 so I called to see if we could just do what we did last time with our son and take a reservation for 4. The girl I was speaking to said yes. As we got to the end of the process to reserve she paused and asked me to confirm my name and then put me on hold. I was on hold for a long time and then another lady came on and said "I'm sorry but we're fully booked". That was when I knew something seemed off. So I asked if there was a problem because I was in the process of making the reservation over the phone. She then put me on hold again. When she came back she said it was because the last time we were there my husband was rude to the host. She said it was her and she remembered that night very well and that we were no longer welcome there anymore. We have never been treated so rudely. And to have her put us on a refusal list that night for something that was not our fault to begin with is wrong. We have no desire...