iThai -- San Francisco, CA

Located on 720 Post Street, iThai's decor--a mixture of chic white decor and subtle lighting--clashed with my usual expectations of what a Thai place should look like. It looked off, as if they were in the process of renovating from a cocktail bar or a cafe. The food seemed to be the usual derivatives of a Thai restaurant with some hometown innovations tossed in, like their Kao Moo Dang, a rice dish served with three kinds of pork and gravy, or their curry puffs, soft pastries packed with curried chicken and sweet potatoes. 

The price, while not cheap, wasn't bad; it ran from six to eight dollars for appetizers, while the main courses ran a little above that. I recommend their chicken satays to open up the meal--they were nice and crispy, with the peanut sauce and the sweet cucumber relish providing a nice contrast to their savoriness. The barbecued pork on the Kao Moo Dang was succulent, and the sauce had a nice zest to it, which seems to be quite usual for Thai cuisine. That contrast of flavors made the meal a pleasant one. It was served with a side of hard-boiled egg and some sliced cucumbers. We wrapped up the evening with an order of mango ice cream, which was a nice change of pace after the meaty appetizers and dinner. 

Opening from 11 AM to 1 AM, iThai is the place to go when that midnight craving hits for some Pad Thai or Tom Yum Goong. While my initial expectation of the restaurant were skewed due to their inconsistent furnishings, the food more than made up for it. The good, prompt service and the speed with which we were served just rounded out the satisfaction with which we dined there. We recommended the restaurant to all our friends, and will visit again ourselves.