Slather creamy coconut curry or rich peanut sauce on anything, and I go crazy for it. So I couldn’t wait to grab a seat at Thai Pizza Co., the sister restaurant to a handful of Thai eateries in The Loop. This casual restaurant screams comfort food, uniting some of the best flavors from the east and west. And with creative, Thai-inspired pizzas and a handful of noodle, rice and curry dishes, it’s easy dining for us meatless (or temporarily meatless) folk.
Many pizzas on the menu transform classic Thai flavors into tempting fusion dishes, like the Pad Thai, Drunken and Thom Yum Goong. The canvas of the Red Curry Pizza was baked on the oven’s rack, creating a crispy thin crust that was just thick enough to stand up to a mound of toppings. Good thing, because it was piled high with crunchy bell peppers, sweet pineapple, Thai basil, bamboo shoots, grilled onions and fried golden tofu – still crisp to the bite even under all of those veggies. The glue that held it all together was a mozzarella, cheddar and jack cheese combo, while a sweet, spicy red curry acted as the sauce. Strange? Sure. But this hodgepodge of flavors proved brilliant – satisfying two popular culinary cravings: spicy Thai food and cheesy pizza.
The sizeable portions and mighty fine prices will easily transport you back to your favorite college hangout, but don’t go dreaming up ramen noodles and cereal for dinner just yet. This is quality fare – whether mom and dad are still supporting you, or you’re a mom or dad yourself. And for all of those who, like myself, are members of that in-between generation, go ahead and relish in the fact that you still look young enough to get carded when ordering a Singha beer with your pizza.
This article appears in August 2012.