If you love the smell of Pad Thai and chillin’ with the business class, Wild Thaiger is your place. At least that is what my first thought was when clamoring through the front door. Plus, any place that adorns its walls with tiger faces must be amazing.
Nestled up on Central Avenue just south of Thomas, this place is supposedly one of the premier Thai food destinations in the Valley. From the smells that had my nose tingling, I would agree. Honestly, I had not ever tasted Thai food until I moved out here. I suppose it is too racy for the South. Who knows.
Anyway, I decided to wet my whistle with a signature drink. Considering that Wild Thaiger seems to think highly enough of a drink to christen itself the same name, my palate felt certain to be riveted.
I felt that shocking my system with a little Tom Ka Gai was the perfect kick-start. Chicken soup in a light coconut broth sounds a little odd, but it absolutely rocked my gullet. Certainly the bar was set high for my imminent drink.
Garnished with a Three Musketeers fruit salad (an orange and a cherry speared with a blue sword), this drink was definitely not the manliest drink ever. A creation of spiced rum, orange and pineapple juices, Wild Thaiger had the makings of something quite tasty. I don’t feel like it delivered on the high hopes that I had set in mind. Not that it wasn’t good, but shouldn’t something that you prize enough to name your restaurant after be absolutely breathtaking? Honestly, if I’m going to brave the insults that can be lofted at me for ordering a girly drink like this, my taste buds had better vacation in the land of splendor. I expected to hear an angel chorus erupt and a tear to cling to my eye. Did any of this happen? Nope. To be honest, I struggled a little to finish it off.
From what I witnessed, you should definitely come here to have the food conquer your appetite, but maybe you should wait on their signature drink.
The Wild Thaiger couldn’t drag me away… all right, I apologize but it had to be done.
Wild Thaiger is located at 2631 N. Central Ave. in Midtown — light rail station at Central/Thomas. 602.241.8995
