EXOTIC TASTE The Currry Pineapple Fried Rice was $8.95, but was still a lot of rice for that price. The dish itself is very filling and delicious, with a slight middle Eastern taste to it. .

Thai Essence exceeds expectations.

Compared to the Rice Cafe, Thai Essence is on an entirely different level.  Everything from the food to the service was impeccable, in fact, the only thing that the two restaurants had in common was their genre of cuisine.

Thai Essence’s ambiance leaned towards the oriental culture that their name implies, that had an oddly soothing effect on it’s clientel.  Coupled with their attentive service, I never had to wait for a drink refill, and their delicious food it was hard to believe that a meal only costs about $10.

My eating companion and I went with Chive Dumplings for an appetizer.  While, the dumplings temporarily stated my appetite, they did not leave me uncomfortably full a common issue when eating out.  While, we had the dumplings fried you also have the option of steaming your appetizer.

As we waited for our entrees to arrive, I was taunted by the whiffs of our meals being prepared in the kitchen.  The smell was not overpowering, but all the same made my mouth water.

Our meals arrived promptly, we had about a fifteen minute wait from when we ordered, and they looked delicious.  I received the Thai Fried Rice with pork and my companion had the Curry Pineapple Fried Rice.   After taking my first bite of the steaming plate of rice I found the food to be better than it looked, which is saying a lot.  No flavor overpowered another, but blended together neatly to make a wholly satisfying meal.

INFO:

Rating: Five stars

Meal Price: ~$10.00

Miles from school: 2.9

Location:1534 Win Hentschel Blvd (by Route 66 diner)