November 26, 2007

Wild Orchid Tacoma

Filed under: tacoma — sparkrobot @ 1:14 am

wild orchid tacomaWild Orchid is one of our favorite Asian Cuisine restaurants in Tacoma. Certainly, I’d admit we’re fortunate. There are a number of good, local Asian restaurants in the area. Wild Orchid sits on the northwest corner of 6th Avenue and Cedar streets, convenient from any address in Tacoma, and serves a variety of entrées with a Southeastern Asian theme.

We’ve visited Wild Orchid many times, and always have a great experience — this time was no exception. We ordered fried wontons to start things off along with a lemon basil martini for myself and a Saporro for my wife. My martini arrived ungarnished without frills. I found quite a bite to this one, a piquant basil tone on the first sip but finishing nicely with a lingering citrus and herb-infused flavor. There is nothing quite like fried cream cheese to augment such a sophisticated flavor. I’ll leave it there.

wild orchid tacomaI ordered a Green Curry Chicken (four star spicy) and my wife, the Three Flavor Beef. Both arrived shortly and our server constructed our plates at the table. The Green Curry Chicken was an enchanting arrangement of red bell peppers, bamboo shoots, fresh green beans, mushrooms, eggplant and basil in a green curried coconut milk and served over steamed jasmine rice. Though the Three Flavor beef was served to my wife, her thoughts were spicy, sour and sweet. Mmm, Delicious.

For just under $50, we had dinner with appetizer, two beers and a fancy pants cocktail. We brought home enough food to serve as lunch today.

This outing also provided occasion for me to put to work my new Nikon D300, which is incredible and shoots in the dark with reckless abandon. I would totally make out with it if it were a person and not a camera. (My wife knows, okay? It’s cool.) Check out the photos. Hover over the image to move forward or back through the series.

Side note

We finished of the night with a first visit to the new Crown Bar where we were served by Dino, a very knowledgeable and friendly bar keep who served me my first made with Bookers Manhattan. There’s a first time for everything.

My first thought on entering the Crown Bar was, if you’re going to serve $10 cocktails, there should be a “we don’t have televisions” rule. I know everyone doesn’t, but I LOATHE the people who feel like they have to yell at televisions when their sports team is winning. It’s stupid to pay good money for a drink and have to hear a group of dicks screaming at the TV. I can go to the RAM for that.

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7 Comments

  1. Word. Wild Orchid’s chocolate springroll is pretty amazing in itself. We did an appetizer, 2 lunches, and a dessert, and after tip walked out for $40. Crazy delicious.

    Comment by beerandhotdogs — November 26, 2007 @ 9:20 am

  2. The food looks absolutely delicious. Will have to try Wild Orchid in the near future.

    Absolutely agree on Crown Bar. It seems to be suffering from a serious identity crisis.

    Comment by ensie — November 26, 2007 @ 3:46 pm

  3. I just read your review of the Crown Bar Ensie. Ouch. My Manhattan was actually really good in their defense.

    You should definitely give Wild Orchid a shot. It does not disappoint.

    Comment by sparkrobot — November 26, 2007 @ 4:07 pm

  4. I would pay $10 for a Boooker’s Manhattan eveyr time. Freakin’ delish. I agree with your comment regarding the Crown Bar. However, without a television, Tacoma is les slikely to turn out for happy hour (read: panamonica’s).

    Comment by Brad Allen — November 27, 2007 @ 12:53 pm

  5. Yeah, it wasn’t so much the cost of my Manhattan or even the presence of the television. I was attempting to describe my disdain for sports rage creeping up in my grill vis-à-vis the perceived barrier of a spendy—albeit delicious—cocktail. A time and a place tale I suppose.

    Comment by sparkrobot — November 27, 2007 @ 1:40 pm

  6. Glad to hear your Manhattan was good. My $8.50 beer was fabulous. I just don’t think I want to pay $8.50 every time I want a great beer (actually it was more like cider come to think of it).

    I feel terrible every time I bag on Crown Bar, because I truly love Primo Grill. Maybe I just need to give it another shot.

    Comment by ensie — November 30, 2007 @ 11:03 pm

  7. No reason to write them off the books yet. My comment was just an observation.

    Comment by sparkrobot — December 1, 2007 @ 5:37 pm

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