SURA Restaurant — Restaurant in Washington

Made a reservation for 6 pm. At 5:46 pm received a text saying my table was ready. Upon arrival at precisely 6 pm, my reservation time, the host asked if I wanted the bar or a table. As a solo diner on frequent business trips I get this question a lot. I answered that I wanted a table - he then grimaced and said "can you give the table back by 7:15 pm?" I said ok as I clearly had no choice...But their website very clearly says 90 minutes on tables when you make a reservation via Tock. The clear unspoken message was - I hereby give you 75 minutes only because you dare not sit at the very cramped bar in the entryway! I asked if he understood that I had a reservation and he said yes. To say the least, this really soured my mood for the whole experience - particularly when I left at 7:13 pm and there were 9 empty two-tops and 2 empty four-tops left in the restaurant.

Maybe all of this would have been redeemable if the food had been as "wow" as hyped, but it just simply was not.

Food rundown:

Quail egg wontons - much hyped but definitely would not order again. The hard boiled texture quail egg was dry inside - the scant sauce did nothing to offset this fairly bland dish.

Pork satay (Old Skool Satay) - one of my street food mainstays in Thailand so I was extremely excited and unfortunately very disappointed. The peanut sauce was bland. The pickled veg on the side didn't add much. The pork was chewy and with less char caramelization than I would have expected.

Duck laap - the duck came chopped in very large chewy chunks that frankly had little flavor in and of themselves. The rest of the salad components were good but the duck just felt a bit off. Note: this dish was marked as spicy but it was not at all to me.

I then attempted to order that day's secret menu item - Massaman curry. As of 6:36 pm they had already run out! They created a new secret menu item with noodles but it didn't sound particularly appetizing so I didn't order it. (For the record, there's not really a secret menu - the secret menu is one item that is that day's s

Beef Horapa - the beef was very tender and tasty. I would order this again. The beef itself wasn't spicy but the sauce resting at the bottom of the dish was.

For the record I had planned to order more (was planning on lots of leftovers for takeaway from the get go in an attempt to try lots of the dishes) but I ran out of time given my 7:15 pm curfew.

The very polite and nice waitress asked if I wanted desert at 7:06 pm but I informed her that the host wanted me out by 7:15 pm. He was standing there and overheard this. Neither of them said "oh don't worry, you have time for desert."

Drinks - I ordered the two that had mezcal as an ingredient, a Spicy Paloma and a Yaowarat. The first was very refreshing, the latter was basically a Manhattan with mezcal.

Pro tip - the table next to me made the mistake of ordering all their dishes at once. They all came out within 15 minutes of ordering and they had to send half full dishes away just to make space. I'm not sure how you master the pacing of orders versus time limited tables. I could've done it with a full 90 minutes...but whatever.

I'm afraid to say there are better Thai restaurants in town. This place gets three stars because the food was good but not mind-blowing-crave-worthy good. The prices for DC are abundantly fair. But to Sura DC's chef/owner - get yourself a new host. The foul taste he left in my mouth means I will never return nor recommend this...

An incredibly diverse assortment of Thai street food dishes bursting with spicy flavor, swift and friendly service, and unusual and hip decor make this a must try in DC.

We started with the quail egg wontons (crispy fried quail egg wontons shallots, chili & garlic sauce) which benefited from an ask of an extra sweet chili and garlic sauce. Crisp and flavorful beginning to our meal.

Next it was the special chili noodles (egg noodle wok w/Thai Tom Yum herbs, bacon roasted chili jam, mushrooms, tomato & parmesan). This was so rich and delicious, it was hard to stop eating. We requested some of the spicy fish sauce which added even more kick and depth to the already impactful dish.

We moved into the chicken himapan (chinatown shophouse style cashew chicken gingko nuts, onion, chinese chili, sweet pepper) which were crisp and tender pieces of chicken seasoned to perfection. It paired well with the chili noodles but could have been enjoyed very well on its own.

Last but not least, we also tried the spicy pork belly rice (garlic & fresh herbs, fried egg). It had generous amounts of pork belly on a bed of seasoned rice. Not as epic as the other dishes but still quite good and definitely worth trying.

Desserts were incredible. The lychee creme brulee was a little masterpiece, a tropical twist on the French creation. We also made room somehow to try the coconut ice cream which came with a touch of luscious whipped cream.

Cocktails were pretty good. The passion daiquiri (Lime Don Q Coconut Rum, Neisson PF Rhum, Chinola, Amaretto, Lime) was wonderfully well balanced, not too sweet at all and complemented the spicy and savory dishes. The lychee Collins (Vodka Giffard Lichii, Raspberry Elder, Citrus Soda) was a little underwhelming but still decent.

Service was solid, fast and attentive. Team approach to service so you're never left stranded.

The small subterranean dining room was modern and dark, and the stairs reaching it decorated with odd and interesting items, including wall paper consisting entirely of...

If you're looking for a unique dining experience that blends the lively atmosphere of a nightclub with the comfort of a cozy restaurant, this spot is a must-visit. From the moment you step inside, you're greeted with a warm, inviting ambiance, accompanied by a nice selection of music that enhances the overall vibe without overwhelming the conversation. We started our meal with the cucumber and corn salad, which was a perfect blend of refreshing crunch and a subtle kick of heat—a great way to awaken the palate. The fried tofu was a standout, with each piece perfectly crispy on the outside while remaining tender on the inside, and the portion size was generous enough to share. The chicken dish served is with rice. The chicken was delightfully crispy, and the addition of cashews provided a satisfying crunch, adding another layer of texture. The sauce leaned on the sweeter side, but it was well-balanced, allowing the other flavors to shine through without being overpowering. The service was also good. The staff was friendly and making sure we had everything we needed throughout our meal. For the quality of the food and the experience, the pricing was very reasonable. Overall, this restaurant offers a fantastic blend of authentic Thai flavors and a vibrant, yet relaxed, atmosphere. It's the perfect place to enjoy a great meal with a bit of a nightlife feel, all in one. Highly...