Authentic Thai Always Available at Siam Lotus in Philadelphia, PA

Growing up in Amish country, my exposure to Asian foods was minimal at best. Exposure to legitimate Thai food? Nonexistent. The closest I got was a chorus member in my high school's production of "The King and I." Siam is the old name for modern Thailand, a country in Southeast Asia that offers plenty of fun for international travelers. Like Thailand, Siam Lotus is a bit of an outland destination, but offers plenty to keep visitors amused and happy.

Located on Spring Garden between No Libs and the Art Museum, Siam Lotus is a cozy first floor eatery. A long bar lies in the front, featuring signature cocktails like White Siamese, Bangkok Orgasm and Lotus Blossom. For the more casual drinker, Siam is proud distributor of Singha beer, a light lager. If you're strictly a local beer bruiser, Siam has enough selections to get you tipsy.

The atmosphere is simple and homey, with a casual atmosphere. The menus are cute, designed to look like newspapers. We perused ours and found 3 appeThai-zers to try.

We started with Koong Todd (6.75), a plate of thick shrimp wrapped in a crisp wonton sheath. Pla Mugh Todd Grob (4.95) was a delicious bowl of spicy soup. A good mix of tangy flavor (thank you, lemongrass!), spicy shrimp and tasty mushrooms. Tom Yum Koong (5.25) was a heaping plate of large, crisp calamari, deliciously tender and wonderful appealing.

While we waited for the main courses, we chatted with Siam Lotus owner Hiran Yii about the genesis of his business. "In a time where there are lots of fusion Asian restaurants and "watered down" Thai food, my chef, sous chefs and servers are all from Thailand. We take pride in serving authentic Thai dishes as they would be served in Bangkok." Because of there commitment to authenticity, Siam Lotus received the honor of "Thai Select" from the Royal Thai Embassy. This distinction is given by the Thai government for truly authentic Thai food, based on preparation and ingredients. "We don't have chopsticks on our tables. Chopsticks are Chinese and although we have them for customers who request them, it's not how we set the tables up. In Thailand you would sit down to a spoon and fork."

After our cultural lesson with handsome Hiran (hey, just saying), we dug into our main dishes. First up, a large serving of Kan Karee (11.95). Served with a mountain of sweet white rice, the bowl was a spicy delight of curry, potatoes, onions, and tender chicken. Siam Lotus is aware that not all of their patrons maybe down for the spice, so menu items are rated. Our second choice was a large plate of Lad Nah Hed Hom (9.95) which can be a vegetarian option, all though we took the server's suggestion and added sirloin to the delicious mix of Chinese broccoli, mushrooms, and eggplant. Siam Lotus has several veggie-friendly options for the granola gang, so you can feel comfortable taking any type of blind date there.

While we passed on dessert, so we could have a few more cocktails, Siam Lotus stays true to culture with several wonderful dessert options. Our curiosity was piqued with the homemade ice cream, in coconut, jackfruit and green tea.

Siam Lotus is open for lunch and dinner. As we said, the bar is stocked, and many weekend nights they throw some chill functions, fashion shows, or fundraisers. Yii and his staff are committed to supporting the neighborhood and community, as well as treating you to the best Thai food on this side of the Prime Meridian.

Siam Lotus, 931 Spring Garden St, 215-769-2031, siamlotuscuisine.com Lunch and Dinner served: Tues-Thur 11:30am-2:30pm, 5:30pm-10:30pm, Fri 11:30am-2:30pm, 5:30pm-11pm, Sat 5:30pm-11pm, Sun 5:30pm-10:30pm. Bar open till 2am Thurs-Sat.