Thai Cafe

this place is now closed
sadly, because i really liked the pad thai…

IF you’re getting take out, this place is excellent! My partner and I order out from here a lot. I recommend the Drunken Noodles and Pad Thai. Both are delicious and we have only been disappointed once out of the numerous times we have been. Like some of the other people have mentioned, eating in is a total mixed bag. The service is usually slow (anywhere from 20 – 40 min from the time you sit down to when the food arrives) which is surprising because carry out is always 10 – 15 minutes… Also I’ve never noticed a difference in terms of how the food tastes with carry out vs. ordering in. Overall Thai Café has a friendly staff, good food, and, in my mind, it is a staple of Ludlow.

Well, considering I’ve been a regular at a Thai restaurant in my home town before, I’m a pretty picky Thai food eater. I have yet to come across a restaurant in Cincinnati that has fully satisfied my craving for it.
The reviews for «The Thai Café» made me a little apprehensive about putting a Friday night take-​out order in… but I went ahead and did so. To my surprise I was not disappointed! The bag was nicely packed with a juicy chicken pad thai, 2 very yummy chicken egg rolls (accompanied with a lovely sweet dipping sauce that left me wanting more), and an egg drop soup that my husband enjoyed!
The food gets the 4 stars! As for the ambiance of the restaurant, it was really quiet for a Friday– and the hostess seemed a bit shy.
I will definitely order from here again in hopes of receiving the same type of meal and a more enthusiastic greet!

DO NOT GO HERE!!!
Service: rude Food: mehhh very dry
Overall terrible experience both times I went!

FIND SOMEWHERE ELSE TO EAT!
I’m disappointed to say that I will never be going to this establishment ever again. This used to be on the top of my list when I was hankering for some thai food. Their Pad Thai used to be my favorite in the city, however that has NOT been true for quite sometime now. I don’t really know why I continued back to this place when it started going downhill, but after my last experience there is no way I will be back. The servers are disgustingly rude and unorganized. Last time I went they brought my pad thai out with absolutely no sauce on it. When I brought it back and told my server they rolled their eyes picked up the plate and took it back to the kitchen. No apology, not a word. This place deserves to suffer. I don’t know who they are hiring or what kind or service they are taught to provide, but it’s incredibly poor.

I really don’t even know what to think of this place. It always seems empty and the whole atmosphere of the place is just very very off. There’s just something not right about it, not to mention the place is WAY too big for having so few tables filled.
I’m a curry addict. Panang curry to be exact. And I’ve had my share of «panang» curries that are nothing more than a slightly different red curry. This was easily the worst panang I’ve ever had. Not at all spicy. Not flavorful. And as someone else mentioned, it seems to be a ton of random veggies, not enough sauce. It seems like they dump whatever veggies they have in rather than pairing them with the right curries.
My family enjoyed their meals more than I did.
The fact is that, for half the price, you can get some really solid Thai at Thai Express. It’s still not the best panang ever but it’s a solid choice with a much better spice level. And that little hole in the wall still has better atmosphere than this place.

Meh. Very average Thai. Thai Express is better and half the money.

Your typical Thai place with a touch of that smug, patchouli, and b.o. blend that Ludlow always seems to offer to the greater Cincinnati area.
Kidding aside, this is a decent Thai option in the uptown area. The tofu has a nice crisp consistency. Chicken Pad Thai is good, but not the best I’ve ever had. On my most recent visit I tried 5 on the 1 – 10 spice level. Maybe it’s just me, but I think I’ve found where spice outweighs taste and am vowing to reduce spiciness for future visits.
I wished chopsticks had been provided. I couldn’t find the waitress when I wanted them and it just didn’t seem right eating Thai with fork and knife.
I also thought my bill ended up a bit on the high side, but its tough to tell with all the rapid inflation.

Love this place.
The seafood pasta basil, and crab rangoons are my favorites! I usually get take out, although I have dined-​in a few times and the service was pretty good. All in all a great Thai restaurant.

I have been to Thai Café many, many, many times. It was the first Thai restaurant I ever went to and originally it was my very favorite. Over the years, I have tried other places in the city and found others I like better.
Thai Café feels pretty generic to me. The food is average. The décor is average. The prices are average. The service is average. There is nothing that stands out to me as unusually wonderful.
Their pad thai is decent. I always order a glass of plum wine, which is good enough and a reasonable price. Even when I order my food spicy, it never is spicy enough.
If I was in the area and seriously jonesing for Thai food, I would go here, but I wouldn’t drive out of my way for it.

Sushi — Excellent
Pad Thai — Best in the City
Pad Seew — Stellar
Great restaurant, atmosphere, and food. The service is always good. And you can’t be the prices for the quality of food.

Have you had better? Probably. Although it smells really yummy inside, I’m never fully satisfied the yummy in the air becomes yummy in my tummy. It just doesn’t happen to the level I want. Oh, I agree the place is pretty cool, really big (never had a problem getting seated), adds to Clifton and I’ll keep going there, but it won’t be because I’m overwhelmed by their food.
I’ll keep trying different things and when I find the one that causes another star, I’ll be back to the writing block…

Not a fan of their Pad Thai or Sushi! My friend really enjoyed his meal and I had no problem finishing mine, but my mouth was not overwhelmed with joy. I believe in the 3 strikes and your out rule. so i will come back 2 more times and give my final say.

My friend and I stopped by here for lunch, always on the look out for a new Thai place. Upon entering, the place was completely empty. No other customers during lunch time. I wonder why? A server eventually appeared and seated us. The back room of the restaurant and bar were kept completely dark. I felt like they were closing down, but here it was the middle of the day.
I ordered the sushi roll combo and my friend had tofu pad thai. Eight tiny rolls arrived; nothing special. They were fresh, but they were missing that special something you expect when getting a variety of rolls. My friend liked his pad thai. It was adequately spicy but the portion was a bit small. I think he was expecting to get a big bowl full of noodles; instead it was just a small plate.
The food ate and the service was just average. I’d give Thai Café another try, but wouldn’t go out of my way to eat here.
Price per person: $ 12.00

Horrible decore and atmosphere is enough reason alone to never eat at this place.
It didn’t come as a surprise when my coke came out all syrupy and flat … is that even possible.
also unsurprised by the mediocre /​kinda bad food.
My pad thai spice leve 8 was like eating sweat pea soup (not spicy)
Save your «cash» and head on over to thai express ;)

I’m just reviewing the sushi, having gone here twice and never ordered anything but that.
Sushi was good, fish seemed pretty fresh. Edamame comes out with the kosher/​large crystal salt on it and you get a lot of it.
Good sushi options… all the standard stuff: California, Spicy Tuna, Rainbow, Dragon, etc.
I’ve dined here once with a friend for a weekend lunch and the service was ok. I’ve also dined here once alone for a weekday lunch and the service was great. The waitress stopped often (but not too often) to refill water, check on how the food was, etc.
I’m starting to find a favorite little sushi place in each neighborhood of downtown… when I’m in Clifton, this is my pick (so far!)

I have to admit I am NEVER impressed by service. definitely not the place to order curry however I am a big fan of the crispy paad thai. it’s different and delicious!
also the location is great not the easiest parking but going to ludlow has always been a fun little adventure!

If you’re a lover of Thai curry like me, I would not go here.
I just moved to Cincinnati a few months ago from NYC, and I’ve been on the search for a good Thai restaurant. I went here for lunch and ordered the Chicken Green Curry. What came instead was a bunch of chicken and vegetables with a couple of tablespoons of curry drizzled over. Everyone knows that coconut milk curry should come in a bowl like a thick, rich soup that you ladle over rice… that’s just basic.
Restaurant had a nice atmosphere, so if you live near there, maybe try them but order something other than curry. Be ready for slow service though.

I give 4 stars for their basic Thai menu. I can’t comment on their sushi because I haven’t had it. I think they have the best pad thai in the city — it isn’t super heavy or saucy the way I’ve experience other dishes. I do think their prices are a bit over what they should be and our service has always been excellent. We’ve had wonderful appetizers as well… but their spring rolls are just so so.
This is a good date place as it’s never very busy and it bodes good ambience for discussion and conversation.

There’s something about the combination of sweet and spice and dishes you can’t get anywhere else that makes me so happy — especially when it’s made well. Especially when it’s made well at Thai Café.
A beautiful, large restaurant on Ludlow that’s well decorated and always smells like delicious things cooking. I could just come in here and sit and enjoy the experience. But then I’d get hungry, and then I’d have to order something.
The menu is extensive and amazing. I don’t think I’ve ever had a bad meal at this place. Actually, I don’t think I know anyone who’s ever had a bad meal here, and I lived in Clifton for years, and tried this Clifton staple again and again with many-​a people.
The only real problem with Thai Café is the service. First of all, the servers aren’t overly friendly — and often times downright rude — whether I come in to eat or pick up. Also, it’s slow. I appreciate well-​cooked food with love, but it takes forever for them to put together a meal. I’ve been the only one in the restraint before and it still took an hour to get my meal. Unacceptable.
Still, this is a spot I enjoy and would go back — even though I just moved downtown and don’t like to go anywhere I can’t walk to anymore. That’s how much I like their food.