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Jasmine A Must For Thai Dining

Tribune photo by CHRIS URSO

Chicken Satay is on the menu at Jasmine Thai, a mainstay of the Carrollwood dining scene.

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By MARY PATRICK

The Tampa Tribune

Published: September 11, 2008

TAMPA - It's difficult to find major complaints with Jasmine Thai. For almost three decades, it has consistently served quality Thai food, with some dishes - including the spring roll and the to-die-for coconut soup - offering reason enough to return.

If there is a drawback, it might be the restaurant's small size. It's fairly tight quarters when the place is full, which is often. Still, that's a minor complaint, one countered by the restaurant's charming interior and plate presentations, such as the rice formed into a heart shape and the fresh orchids adorning each entree.

On a recent visit, we found the service to be efficient and friendly. The interior is remarkable for the amount of red and gold used for decoration, including Asian paintings and "objets d'art" scattered throughout.

We started with an order of sake, served warm and recommended if you have a designated driver. Turning to the appetizer menu, we ordered the Beef Sa-the. The meat came delightfully presented on skewers and with a flaming mini-grill for heating. Marinated in curry and coconut milk, the beef was tender and tasty.

The fried spring roll came wrapped in rice paper and stuffed with pork, mushrooms, carrots, onions and scallions. It's served with a sweet-and-sour dipping sauce. The Crab Rangoon, featuring crab and cheese-stuffed fried wontons, sports a tangy curry flavor.

Next was the aforementioned coconut soup, called Tom Kha. It's a simple recipe - straw mushrooms with galanga, lemon and kaffir leaf in cream of coconut soup - but the various tastes come together in a sublime mixture. It's available with meat, but I recommend the vegetable version because it comes loaded with a variety of fresh, crisp vegetables.

The menu is varied and interesting. One standout is Amazing, an aptly named dish in which the meat of your choice (we usually choose chicken) is mixed with broccoli and served in the restaurant's special peanut sauce.

Another wonderful dish is Two Friends Panang, in which shrimp, chicken, asparagus and mixed vegetables are all served in a mouth-watering sauce of coconut milk and panang curry paste.

The Pad Thai, rice noodles with your choice of meat stir-fried with eggs, bean sprouts and crushed peanuts, is another good, if not spectacular, choice. Our 6-year-old has developed a taste for the Spicy Noodles, rice noodles sauteed with egg, snow peas and bell peppers in a spicy sauce. Just make sure you have a full water glass handy. (There is no children's menu, but the restaurant has always been accommodating, particularly if you arrive early in the evening.)

For salads, the Pla Goong, which is shrimp served on a bed of lettuce with onions, lemon grass, chili paste and lime juice, is an excellent choice. So is Yum Beef, with thin slices of grilled tenderloin served with cucumbers, tomatoes, bell peppers and onion. Vegetables in both dishes are crunchy and taste fresh.

For dessert, we have tried the Thai Sticks, which are fried dough drizzled with a cream sauce and sprinkled with peanuts. That's good, but even better is Jasmine Banana, homemade coconut ice cream topped with fried banana coins.

Jasmine Thai is one of Carrollwood's best restaurants, and a must for those who enjoy Thai food.

DINING REVIEW

Jasmine Thai

BOTTOM LINE: A small restaurant in a Carrollwood strip mall offers some of the best Thai in Tampa.

WHERE: 13248 N. Dale Mabry Highway, Tampa

HOURS: 11:30 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. Monday through Friday; 4 to 11 p.m. Saturday; 4 to 10 p.m. Sunday

CREDIT CARDS: All major

RESERVATIONS: Yes

CHILDREN'S MENU: No

ALCOHOL: Wine and beer

WHEELCHAIR ACCESS: Yes

PRICE RANGE: $10 to $25

CALL: (813) 968-1501

Tribune reviewers eat anonymously. Mary Patrick can be reached at marypatrick @fridayextra.com.

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