Bangkok Joe's

*Post by Mark.

A favorite of Angela's, Bangkok Joe's down by the Georgetown Waterfront (while it's close, it doesn't actually boast riverside real estate), was yet another Asian empire my stomach hadn't yet conquered. As we walked in for a late Wednesday night dinner, something about this place was screaming Americanized-chain to me, but I was having a hard time pinning down my suspicions. Maybe they began with the restaurant name? Bangkok Joe's just sounds like disguised ethnic food luring us whiteys in with the safe promise of Americanized cuisine. While the name is intended to 'represent a Thai Chef's interpretation of America's melting pot cuisine', Chef/Owner Aulie Bunyarataphan doesn't seem to be churning out any generic products. The food may not be 100% authentic, but it does represent local ingredients and modern techniques. By the time I finished my dumpling course and moved onto the entrees, I was convinced that the chain feel was my own wishful thinking. The sleek interior design and solid, inspired food seems like something I'd like to see spawn replica eateries.  

 

We began our meal with some starters. Bangkok Joe's offers a nice selection from its dumpling bar as well as some buns and spring and summer rolls. It would have been nice if our four starters had been steadily paced out of the kitchen, but we were hungry and happy to put them back nearly as fast as they hit our table. The first was the Peking Duck Spring Roll (below, left) which contained cucumber and leeks and came with a cherry-hoisin dipping sauce. The duck rolls were packed with flavor and a nice flaky crunch. We also had the Steamed Panang Chicken Bun (below, right) which was good, but a little heavy on the bun to filling ratio. I've actually never had a steamed bun that wasn't too heavy on the bun, but Angela insists they're out there.  Still, Angela liked the slight sweetness and tenderness of the piping hot curry chicken filling.

Our third appetizer was the Fresh Vietnamese Summer Rolls, which were packed with shrimp, green beans, rice noodles, basil and sprouts and served with a peanut-chili dip. They were a light, refreshing contrast to some of the other fried, heavier starters. 

Lastly, we got the Hunan Pork Dumplings (below) from the specials list for the evening.  Along with the flavorful pork, they contained cabbage, leeks and green onion.  I appreciated the caterpillar-style presentation, but liked the flavor explosion of sweet, sour, spicy and salty within even more. 

On Angela's recommendation, I ordered one of the rice bowls - the Siamese Pork (below) as my entree. I had been contemplating the Grilled Chicken Panang, but Angela convinced me to go for the pork instead. The marinated pork-loin was served over rice in a ginger-sesame-soy sauce with pickled vegetables. While it was really good (Tender meat?  Check.  Salty and sweet sauce?  Check.  Perfectly cooked, moist rice?  Check.), I quickly realized that Angela's suggestion was intended to throw me off the scent of the Chicken Panang. Clearly, she was greedily attempting to hoard this dish to herself...

The skewered chicken tenders (below) in the Panang were served drowned deep in the most savory curried peanut sauce, along with spinach and bean sprouts. The accompanying rice noodles were a thick, springy, and hearty medium whose only purpose was to absorb that delicious sauce (could you blame them?). Angela's deceptive ruse only kept me busy with my own entree for about thirty seconds before I began to pillage hers. She was nice enough to switch with me, but she kept eyeing the dish from across the table. At one point in the meal, I thought I may have heard her muttering, "my precious...." under her breath.

We were both too full from all the dumplings, rolls and rice noodles to order dessert, but a repeat visit may be in the forecast. The service seemed a touch cold or abrupt at times, but Bangkok Joe's promises a very solid Asian dining experience, some nice Happy Hour deals and a trendy atmosphere that caters to large groups and a fun night out. 

Comments

[Lisa]

I could drink that peanut sauce alone, it looks so delicious!

[Angela]

Lisa,
...I may or may not have spooned up the rest of that sauce by itself after Mark ate everything else. So good!