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FeedTwice the Spice
Newtown Square's Spice Indian Thai Bistro
New to Edgemont, Spice Indian Thai Bistro pairs solid northern and southern Indian cuisine with Thai dishes that’ll have your tongue doing somersaults. The décor is hip, with cool lighting, cushy banquettes, vivid orange, red and white hues, funky flatware, a see-thru geometric divider loaded with votive candles, and plenty of seating.
Regulars applaud the Indian offerings, but we were swayed by the Thai portion of the menu. Indian cooking is more complex, with subtle seasonings and a fragrant final product. Thai draws on some of the world’s most tantalizing spices, its flavors fresh and light. It’s like the difference between a falling-off-the-bone roast and a quickly seared pork tenderloin.
The Thai salad was a cool, crunchy tangle of shredded cabbage and carrots, all glistening under a sweet-and-sour dressing, with creeping heat and just the right amount of tangy fish sauce. The lamb pepper fry, served in a worn copper bowl with a generous mound of basmati rice, offered relief to my stuffy sinuses.
We also ordered onion kulcha (naan bread), creamy mulligatawny soup, tangi eggplant (crispy chips drizzled with sweet-and-sour tamarind chutney—too sweet for our tastes), and traditional lamb vindaloo and chicken tikka—both of which were full of life. Prepared in a clay oven, the latter offered juicy, flavorful chunks of chicken coated in a velvety, balanced yogurt sauce with plenty of turmeric, chili, coriander, garlic, lime juice and ginger. Be sure to try Spice’s lunch deal, a bargain at $10.95.
4843 West Chester Pike, Newtown Square, (610) 356-5262.
Reader Comments:
Dear Owner of Spice Bistro,
I have been at your restaurant several times now..., each and every time I go, along with my fellow co-workers & clients, the food is excellent; thou I wish I could say the same about your waiter's customer service...
I have a series of complaints about today's experience at your restaurant, that I would like to share with you; in the hopes that customer service improves, as it's borderline 'insulting', almost to the point of not knowing wheather we shall laugh or get extremely upset...
"how can we make money if we give away boxes like this" Said by a waiter, while a lady asked if she could have a box that would separate her various food dishes...
"napkins are for dinner only" When I inquired about why we were not offered any kind of Napkins??? And saw a table next to ours with cloth napkins: "oh no, those are for dinner only" But neither the paper ones were offered to us from the start!
"we don't take suggestions" When I inquired about speaking to the owner for making some suggestions about the restaurant's service...
"he took the plate without even asking, are we finished" After I had just asked about a Napkin, the waiter grabbed my fork, which was halfway between the plate & the table and set it inside the dish, along with the knife which was on the table. I then asked him, excuse me, have I said that I'm done? With a full serving of Rice still on the plate and some on the bowl!!
On the prior visit, we were not served & charged according to what is on the lunch menu, as the person mentioned that they had brought us a 'dinner' portion, when in fact, we had asked from a lunch menu, and neither brought what was included, aside from the entree... To avoid anymore discussion we paid as it was on the check..., but, when I mentioned this to the waiter, he said "that is not possible", to which I responded, "are you calling me a liar", when in fact, this incident happened with my two co-workers which were with me...
"We don't allow sharing", this was said as we were three of us, but one was not too hungry, so we ordered two selections from the menu... I don't know..., but the last time I checked we are in the United States of America?? And wheather we decide to order one, two or three dishes, is completely our choice and our right! This was, by the way, very insulting...
Anyhow, I would like to mention, that it's a shame that a restaurant with such good tasting food, has such terrible customer service..., and thou we mostly laughed with amuzing disbelief... of the comments and ignorance & etc... I don't think my patience will allow me to visit again this restaurant.
Regretfully,
Emmanuel
Dear Owner of Spice Bistro,
I have been at your restaurant several times now..., each and every time I go, along with my fellow co-workers & clients, the food is excellent; thou I wish I could say the same about your waiter's customer service...
I have a series of complaints about today's experience at your restaurant, that I would like to share with you; in the hopes that customer service improves, as it's borderline 'insulting', almost to the point of not knowing wheather we shall laugh or get extremely upset...
"how can we make money if we give away boxes like this" Said by a waiter, while a lady asked if she could have a box that would separate her various food dishes...
"napkins are for dinner only" When I inquired about why we were not offered any kind of Napkins??? And saw a table next to ours with cloth napkins: "oh no, those are for dinner only" But neither the paper ones were offered to us from the start!
"we don't take suggestions" When I inquired about speaking to the owner for making some suggestions about the restaurant's service...
"he took the plate without even asking, are we finished" After I had just asked about a Napkin, the waiter grabbed my fork, which was halfway between the plate & the table and set it inside the dish, along with the knife which was on the table. I then asked him, excuse me, have I said that I'm done? With a full serving of Rice still on the plate and some on the bowl!!
On the prior visit, we were not served & charged according to what is on the lunch menu, as the person mentioned that they had brought us a 'dinner' portion, when in fact, we had asked from a lunch menu, and neither brought what was included, aside from the entree... To avoid anymore discussion we paid as it was on the check..., but, when I mentioned this to the waiter, he said "that is not possible", to which I responded, "are you calling me a liar", when in fact, this incident happened with my two co-workers which were with me...
"We don't allow sharing", this was said as we were three of us, but one was not too hungry, so we ordered two selections from the menu... I don't know..., but the last time I checked we are in the United States of America?? And wheather we decide to order one, two or three dishes, is completely our choice and our right! This was, by the way, very insulting...
Anyhow, I would like to mention, that it's a shame that a restaurant with such good tasting food, has such terrible customer service..., and thou we mostly laughed with amuzing disbelief... of the comments and ignorance & etc... I don't think my patience will allow me to visit again this restaurant.
Regretfully,
Emmanuel