Thai Star Restaurant — Restaurant in Norcross

I'm constantly on the lookout for good Thai food in all the places I travel to for work, and Thai Nakorn in Alexandria, Virginia sets the standard for Pad Thai, Pad See Ew, and Sticky Rice and Custard (if not for atmosphere). Well, last week I was in Norcross and finally found a restaurant that equals Thai Nakorn in the sticky rice and custard department.

Thai Star in Norcross offers a very nice dining atmosphere. The restaurant itself is an upscale stand-alone edifice, which I have found to be quite unusual for Thai restaurants. Most I've found are either in strip malls or else in somewhat tired-looking buildings. Anyway, the building makes use of good interior design elements that provide a nice welcome as you walk into the dining area. Most of the decorations are of Thai origin (liked the various wood carvings), but the country style decoration hanging on the wall above our booth was oddly out of place. The booth we sat at was not really comfortable, as the table sat way too far away from me. I had to sit on the edge of the seat just to reach the table. Not sure if all the booths were aligned like this, or if we just got lucky (ha!), but not being able to sit comfortably while I ate was probably the worst part of the dining experience. (I just pulled up their website and noticed that this booth appears in the image that accompanies the menu page. It's the last booth along the wall, the one right next to the door.)

I don't recall much about the service. I've had a very busy few days and have eaten at many restaurants in three different states since then, and honestly, nothing is standing out in the service department of this restaurant. I guess I'll say it was average (no good memories, but no bad ones either).

I ordered Beef Pad See Ew and Thai Iced Tea. The tea was good, but the Pad See Ew was right about average. If I was to ever go back there for a meal, I would try something different. But when our server brought the sticky rice and custard, I was in heaven! I was dining with a colleague of mine. Norm had never tried sticky rice and custard, but he was adventurous and ordered one for himself. He thoroughly enjoyed it and even the next day was telling people at work about it and thanking me for introducing him to the dish. I must say that not only does Thai Star serve its sticky rice and custard in the exact same style as Thai Nakorn in Alexandria, but the quality is also just about matched. The only thing I would do to this dessert is serve the rice a little warmer and the custard a little colder.

Would I go back? You betcha I would, but it would probably just be...

Ate here for a farewell dinner with friends. When I tried to order via mobile, it overcharged me and the waitress initially told me it was correct. I insisted that $23 + $1.38 tax does not add up to $28 which is what I was charged. I asked if there was a credit card or mobile order fee and she insisted that the total price was correct, but I gave up explaining the math and opted to just order verbally at the restaurant. My drunken noodles were not authentic, bland, and did not have a hint of spice even though I ordered for "extra hot." My friend had ordered the combination platter, and asked for salmon and meat, which he thought tasted OK.

The biggest problem for us was when we were paying for our meals, my friend was charged for 2 separate entrees which was double the price. The woman at the front kept repeating that he needed to pay for 2 meals because he ordered 2 separate meals. This hostess was confused when we explained that the order was a combination platter with 2 protein options, and she finally asked our waitress to clarify. The waitress came over and claimed that he asked for 2 separate plates, even though I, along with all of our friends, clearly heard him ask for the combination.

Both of these women who work at the restaurant told us it was our fault for not sending the food back if it was the incorrect order, however none of us had ever been to this restaurant so I do not understand how we should have known what the combination platter was supposed to look like. At the end of our encounter, the hostess did multiple calculations on her calculator and offer $0.50 off which was a joke.

Ambience was subpar. Food and meat quality were pretty bad, I could tell things were not fresh, and they were pretty expensive for Thai food. Ultimately, the service was awful, they did not know simple arithmetic, and I am disgusted at their communication. This establishment lost a lot of customers, and I hope someday they can make their food/service better for those brave enough...

Ever since I relocated to Atlanta in 2002, Thai Star has been my go-to restaurant, and my loyalty has remained unwavering. It served as a cherished lunch spot during my time with colleagues, and even after I left the company, we continued to gather at this establishment for company reunions. Today, I had the pleasure of sharing a long-awaited dinner with my grown-up son, whom I hadn't seen in a year. We indulged in our all-time favorite dishes: Pad Thai with Tofu, Penang Curry with Chicken, and Basil Fried Rice, accompanied by the original Thai beer, Singha.

To my delight, the restaurant has retained the same owner, Wendy, and the service provided by our familiar waitress remained consistently fantastic. The taste of the food was as exceptional as ever, and we thoroughly relished every bite. It was a truly enjoyable experience, enhanced by the attentive service we received.

Having the opportunity to have both lunch and dinner at the restaurants, which holds a treasure trove of fond memories with my colleagues and family, made the day all the more special. Thai Star has continued to be a place of comfort and delightful dining experiences throughout the years, and I am grateful for the lasting memories it has provided me with. Strongly recommend Thai Star if you...