The Patio Thai Restaurant — Restaurant in Richmond

I recently dined here at "The Patio Thai," and I must say that my experience was a bit of a mixed bag. See below for the break down of my overall experience.

The highlight of the night was undoubtedly the Lychee Martini. It's not an exaggeration to say that it was easily the best Lychee Martini I have ever had. The balance of flavors was exceptional, and the presentation was on point. The Patio Thai certainly knows how to craft a memorable cocktail.

The restaurant's atmosphere is perfect for a cozy and intimate dining experience. The ambiance on the patio created a relaxed and enjoyable environment. It's an ideal spot for a fun night out with close friends or a romantic evening.

However, I do need to mention that "The Patio Thai" might not be the best option if you're planning a gathering with a large party. I had reserved a table for 16 people, and we did encounter some challenges. We arrived early for our 7 pm reservation and took advantage of the Happy Hour at the bar. The drinks, including the Lychee Martini, were absolutely delightful. The pomerita (not sure if that is spelled correctly) was also a crowd favorite, with some of my companions ordering multiple rounds.

One of the main issues arose when our table wasn't ready until 7:30 pm, which wasn't a major problem since our group was slowly gathering after a day of tennis. However, the real issues started when we placed our food orders. The kitchen appeared to be overwhelmed by the size of our party. While we understood that such a large order could take time, the extent of the delay was just unexpected.

The service hiccup was most apparent when appetizers began arriving after a two-hour wait. Some in our group even received their entrees before others got their appetizers, which was a bit of a bewildering experience. It seemed like the kitchen was struggling to manage the demand, resulting in a lack of synchronization in serving our meals. The time gap between when the first and last entrees arrived was quite substantial. Some of us were almost done with our meals by the time others received theirs. One person in my party ordered a duck dish and waited almost an hour and thirty mins for it only to be told that they had run out of the ingredients used to make it and that he would have to order something else on the menu.

However, I did have the pleasure of trying the Green Papaya Salad at "The Patio Thai" for the very first time, and it was an absolute revelation. I must say, it was to die for. The flavors were incredibly vibrant, and the combination of textures was simply scrumptious. The balance of sweet, spicy, and tangy notes was expertly executed, making it a standout dish on the menu. I would wholeheartedly recommend the Green Papaya Salad to anyone looking to explore new flavors and experience a burst of culinary delight. It's a testament to the restaurant's ability to deliver exceptional taste experiences.

Despite its ups and downs, "The Patio Thai" offers a lot to appreciate. The delectable food and standout cocktails, particularly the Lychee Martini, position it as a great choice for a small group seeking a relaxed evening. However, if you're considering a larger gathering, be prepared for potential delays and service inconsistencies due to the kitchen's limitations. The restaurant's intimate ambiance and flavorful offerings have the potential to create an enjoyable dining experience, provided you're mindful of the scale of your party. While I had hoped for more from the Thai tea, it's important to note that "The Patio Thai" boasts a diverse range of drink options that may better suit varying...

I heard from my friends this place is good. So I decided to try and called them to order. I asked them for chicken panang on the phone and the guy talking to me on the phone said we don’t have any banana dish with chicken. Then I said ohhh it’s not banana and it starts with p for penny and said p for penny and a for apple. He interrupted me in the middle with frustration and yelled at me first learn what you wanna order and we don’t have anything with banana. Again patiently I said it’s not banana it starts with o for penny. He got more angry and said call back with dish you want. I checked spelling again and called them and directly told him it starts with p for penny and a for apple etc and he finally took order for chicken panang. It was pouring rain and I went to pick the food. After couple of times I finally could find where to get food. The people in front disk are downstairs are no help In first time. Finally I gave him my card and he said we don’t take discover card. We only take master or visa etc. i said ohhhh ok and I didn’t know that. I was coming back and on the entrance door it’s clearly mentioned with all the card s they accept Amex, master, DISCOVER, visa. I was surprised and went to front desk people to make sure no confusion or I didn’t hear it good. I asked them do you guys take discover card or not? They said we don’t accept discover card. Then I said ohhh but I noticed on the front door at entrance it was clealry mentioned dicover card is accepted here. Then they said ohhhh we don’t accept discover anymore, the I said you might wanna scar that on the door. They said we will. I hope they do that amd inform the customers when they order on phone.

What if somebody comes inside and have lunch or dinner with discover card. That sign is total misleading and if they have any limitation on cards they should clearly mention on their website or phone.

It’s not professional behaviour. That’s all I can say and I have no clue how their food taste. I no longer interred In trying their food and recommending to any...

Both in store and ordering experiences have been poor. 2 months ago when we came into the restaurant our food took forever to come and when it did my husband's dish that was ordered as Thai spicy, was so mild I could eat it and I don't eat very hot things. It was so bland, I've never seen a thai dish so bland. When asked about it the server said the cook forgot then brought us out another one, that took just as long as our app and previous entrees took to come out. We waited another long time to even get the check and instead of brining the check were given a complimentary piece of cake, I'm gluten free which they were informed of, my son enjoyed it, though he didn't enjoy the almost 2 hour ordeal of dinner.

Today marked us not coming back. When my order of Pad Thai, gluten free, got sent back, that's it. The server we talked to claimed the cook could not make it gluten free without compromising the flavor.... -_- my husband is a cook and has made gluten free pad thai with tamari sauce and it tastes better than any I've ever eaten besides what his head chef makes. That means my request for gluten free the last time was probably ignored and I wasn't informed about it, I guess everyone should be thankful it's not a full blown antipalactic shock allergy.

There is no reason pad thai cannot be made gluten free and still taste like pad thai. I can't believe that any chef/cook worth their salt can't make gluten free pad thai. Especially when pad thai already comes with rice noodles! There is so few things to change.

Very disappointed in both in person and ordering online experiences, especially after all the good things we've heard about...