The Maine Dish
Thai Bistro in Waterville, ME: 5 Asian cuisines done right under one roof.
I hate it when restaurants try to do a little bit of everything, mostly because whatever it is that they do really well is overshadowed by all of the things they should’ve just left to someone else. You’d think that a rational person wouldn’t order shrimp scampi in a Cuban restaurant, but lo’ and behold, people will…
“If you menu it, they will come.” And when it sucks because the cooks pride themselves on the perfect pork sandwich, well, patrons leave unsatisfied and tell all their friends. And we know what happens next.
Thai Bistro’s Odkol Bi Bim Bap: $11.95-$13.95
There’s this little hole-in-the-wall restaurant in Waterville that claims to specialize in “Authentic Thai, Vietnamese, Japanese, and Korean Cuisine,” according to their website. They left out Chinese, also on the menu. Sounds a little overly ambitious, doesn’t it? Well, behold the exception to my above rule: Thai Bistro does everything well.
Sushi. Lo Mein. Curry. Pho. Fried Rice. Bento Boxes. They slay them all, making this the perfect place to call up or head to when your group can’t agree on what to have for lunch. Thai Bistro’s Bi Bim Bop is the best I’ve had anywhere, including Boston and New York, and it alone is worth a trip.
Owner Jojo Suriyodorn and chef Mister Lee say the Pad Thai is the most popular lunch item and for dinner, patrons gravitate toward their house special Ten King’s Party (asparagus, carrots, cashew nuts, mushrooms, pineapple, snow peas, zucchini, chicken and shrimp in house sauce) and their duck entrees.
147 Main Street
Waterville, ME 04901
YOU’RE SO RAIN
// About the Author
Erin Dow
Erin Dow is a caterer who used to cook for rock stars. Now she finds herself desperately trying to persuade her three kids to just try one bite of what she made for dinner. She's the Expert Chef for Maine-based Guiding Stars® and she consults with the state's public schools on how to serve healthy whole foods that kids will actually eat. And when Erin’s not researching, preparing, serving, photographing, teaching, or writing about food, you’ll probably find her in a restaurant eating a meal cooked by someone else. So she just might be the girl you need to know if you're looking for recommendations, advice, or insight into Maine's food scene. She's also very knowledgeable about firearms, in case you were wondering if she's a real Mainer.