| Food | * * * |
| Service | * * * |
| Ambience | * * |
| Value | 6.5 |
| Cost | $ $ |
Looking at Thai Cottage from the outside, the eyesore decor almost prevented us from going inside. The paint job is pink and purple, with a neon sign. There is a quaint fountain, but the combination of colors, lettering, and plant life is so tacky, it may prevent one from going inside. However, once inside, the decor is downright classy. From the carpet to the grand piano to the bar to the wall hangings, to be inside is wonderful and comfortable. Our table was set for 8, and there were four different colors of napkins resting daintily in our waterglasses. Even the menus, with their pressed-flower handmade paper are lovely. Through the back window is a picturesque view of a bamboo forest, sending forth a feeling that we have been transported away from Sacramento!
We decided to go family-style and order 4-5 dishes, including a red curry, green curry, and pad thai. The difference between Thai family style and Chinese family style is that you really want to get the full effect of the different seasonings with Thai. With Chinese food, you can get away with mixing different tastes on your plate, whereas with Thai food, you wouldn't want to accidentally mix two of them together and lose some of the nuances of the dish. On the whole, I found their food a little bland. The red curry was beyond delicious and we found ourselves "fighting" over who would get the last morsel! The tofu in the vegetarian pad thai was cooked perfectly, and unlike many previous incarnations, did not taste of gym socks.
Thai Cottage has a quiet dining atmosphere, so we could enjoy the environs whether our group numbered 2 or 8, feel at home, and enjoy a good meal.