Good food. Good decor for eat in. Portions kinda small compared to Pho Thai for the $$$. Probably 2 bucks more per dish for less of a serving. Food good but I will take Pho Thai for same quality, more food and less $$$.
(3)
Claire W.
Belmont really is pretty sad when it comes to dining that isn't Pizza. Patou is quite gorgeous, but the "patio" is next to the parking lot in the back, I'm not sure how that other reviewer managed to be so transported by it! On the other hand there is parking. The owner Dan Tanabat is a gem. He helped choose and then executed the choice (beef satay for a party of 65 people) perfectly, teaching us how to reheat the satay when the time came. I've been going here since it opened and I have never liked much other than the satay and the Siam (think spring) rolls (Beef and chicken satay are six skewers each plus peanut sauce and cucumber sweet sauce, both recipes printed in the Globe) and cost 6.75 each. Emerging from the hospital recently all I could think of was get me some beef satay from Dan, NOW!
(4)
Bridget B.
This place is consistently fantastic. I was worried when I moved a little further out of the city I'd end up being stuck with mediocre pizza parlors and steak bomb huts...but I've been proven wrong again and again. Their menu seems more diverse or unique than many other Thai restaurants I've been to, though don't worry, they offer all sorts of delicious different colored curries. Their appetizers are great, I'm a big fan of the curry roles which are little triangular pockets of curried meat. For entrees I love the honey pork and the chicken jungle curry. They have a few dedicated vegetarian options and are more than happy to substitute tofu in most of their other main courses. I am also a huge sucker for their brown rice, which is some of the best I've ever had. Their iced teas and coffees are good too, but I think it's hard to go wrong with sweet condensed milk and caffeine. I've been impressed with the service as well. Once they messed up an order of ours, and comped items on our next order, which was much appreciated. The prices are good, and the food handles exceptionally well as take-away, though the ambiance in the restaurant is worth experiencing as well.
(5)
Theis C.
This restaurant is getting the Chicago Bears 3-star review. A couple of years ago, the Bears had an awesome defense, and they were spectacular on special teams. By doing all the OTHER things right, they managed to be an A-ok team despite the fact that they weren't very good at the most important thing in football, Scoring touchdowns. Patou is sorta like that. We took some French people there last night, and Patou did a solid job on defense and special teams..... the service was excellent, the table they sat us at was very neat, with a glass top and a bunch of very intricate hardwood carvings underneath. We didn't have to wait, the wine was good. The only trouble was that the actual food we were served was just ok. Mediocre. I had the Siam BBQ chicken, and it tasted like I was at a wedding or something. My wife had the Masaman Curry, and she said the same thing I did. Meh. None of the French finished their meals.
(3)
Acqualady A.
Found this place through yelp. The ambiance was very inviting. The lighting was calm and sexy. Great place for a date. I was surprised how big the place was. The tables were ornate very cool. I tried the pineapple fried rice. I am not sure I like the chicken grilled had a bit of a strange taste to me. I liked the flavor of the rice. I also had the spring rolls they were just the right amount of spice! I did take out for this time next time I go I think we should eat in. I was happy with the place. I will give them 4 stars. I also thought the owner was very personable.......
(4)
T T.
When you ask if something can be made gluten free, and request gluten free, it better damn be gluten free. No respect for the health and welfare of their customers. Two bites of a $23.01 order and it was a wrap. Never again.
(1)
Scott D.
Patou is by far my favorite restaurant in Belmont. The food is always excellent and the restaurant is very clean, and quiet. My wife and I have gotten to know Dan, one of the owners, and Nam, one of the servers. They are such great people and they work very hard. Dan spends time to get to know his customers, something unheard of these days, and Nam is the sweetest. My wife and I always enjoy a good meal and chat at Patou. I have enjoyed everything that I have ordered at Patou, but I highly recommend the short ribs!
(5)
Teri L.
Love this place! I've been going there since it opened in Belmont Center. The owner, Dan, is incredibly friendly and the staff is great! It's very clean, there is lots of parking, and, most importantly, the food is excellent! I work very close by and had my company order at Patou for their annual winter holiday party. Now they won't order anywhere else.
(5)
Anna P.
Really, really good value. All the dishes I've tried have been fresh and full of flavor. Good, non-greasy fried appetizers, veggies-a-plenty in all the dishes. . . you pretty much can't go wrong. I doubt that this is "authentic" Thai food, but you'll end your meal full and happy. This is also an excellent spot for groups. The service for our group of 10+ was impeccable. And when we've had huge to-go orders, we've never had a mix-up. The prices are definitely a bit lower than the elegant decor would indicate. I'd recommend it for business lunches or dates out. They lose a star for having supremely annoying parking (and expensive, too) during the day. Park on a legal side street in Belmont, don't pay stupid parking lot prices.
(4)
Karen D.
Trying to spend my dollars supporting local businesses, I was hoping my fellow Yelpers were right about this place. I'm sad to report I was very disappointed. The restaurant itself is nice with tasteful decor, but that's about where it ended for me. After we were seated the server took a bit to come over. I thought it was a bit odd given that for most of our meal there were only 2-4 other diners in the whole restaurant. I ordered the chicken basil and asked for it to be very hot. It wasn't. The flavor was good, but not great. My BF got the yellow curry. I had a taste and that was pretty good. I skipped the beer because I wasn't that impressed with the selection, but I admit, that's just me being picky. A couple of minutes after we ordered, I asked the server if I could get the hot and sour soup thinking that would come out pretty quickly. About 5-10 minutes later the entree came. I figured the server forgot about the soup and I was just going to take a pass at that point. However, she showed up with it as I was almost done with my dinner. I said that I didn't expect it to show up at the end of the meal and she said by the time I put in the soup order, the entree was ready. Apparently I was stuck with it, so I figured I'd try it. A cup of soup for $4.25 that took 20 minutes to prepare must be pretty darn tasty, right? Wrong again. It wasn't hot, it wasn't sour, and it was awful. My BF tried it and he agreed. We sat for a bit when we were finished and when the server finally came over, I was surprised she didn't say anything about the soup that was clearly not eaten. She gave us the bill, didn't say anything like the typical "thank you" or "no rush." When we were leaving, I noticed the Indian restaurant a few doors down was very busy. Next time I am looking for some spicy local flavor, that's where I'm headed. And if I am really looking for Thai, I won't be going back to Patou.
(2)
Chu C.
Maybe judging a place by its takeout is not really the best way to gauge a restaurant, but the take out from Patou Thai was very so-so. We ordered 5 plates in total, including the pad thai (fair to good), wide rice noodles (fair), fried rice (good) and a strange spicy pork dish (not ordering that again). I like some of the other Cambridge/Arlington Thai places a bit better. In its defense, despite its central location, Patou has a large seating area and convenient parking lot behind it. The decor is sparse but clean, and there are privacy barriers which jut out from wall corners to make it a little more intimate feeling. They even have some outdoor tables in the back as well. The prices are very reasonable.. The service was friendly but plodding, and some of the workers don't speak much English.
(3)
Meghan M.
Very good suburban Thai food restaurant. Excellent red curry and mussels appetizer. They also have great noodle dishes. Their seafood and vegetables are super fresh and I really like their ambiance (especially the outdoor patio for nicer weather).
(4)
Bernice S.
Back away and let me at those damn good short ribs -- they made a believer out of me! Service is always good; and it's the only place in Belmont center that has a "classy date night" atmosphere with the warm glowing lanterns and rich dark wood tables and is still spacious and welcoming enough to families and larger groups wanting to have a nicer dinner out.
(4)
jylcat R.
I went here for a work lunch with about 10 other people, and we had a great time. The service was quite good, the one waitress seemed to always be around. Points for paying attention and always being around (without hovering). The appetizers were amazing (I'm generally a HUGE fan of apps)... we got the curry triangles and the chicken wings. I highly recommend the chicken wings, they were in some amazing ginger sweet n sour sauce and were crispy, not too greasy, very meaty and pretty much the best wings I've had in a long time. They also give you a nice big plate of them for an app. The flavor of the sauce is fantastic. I was a little disappointed in my pad thai. I found it bland, and lacking in zing (vinegar, lime, something was missing). It was good, but it was just missing some flavor element. For the record, everyone else's dishes were amazing. The other person who got pad thai liked theirs, I guess I just like a little more flavor. The short ribs... get them. They were awesome. They're so tender they practically fall off the bone and the sauce is fantastic.
(4)
Rayan S.
Just like the rest of the comments on here, this place is a must visit if you happen to be residing or passing through Belmont center. The price is extremely well for the quality of food you will receive. My favorites include Short Ribs (Very Tender, and a must have), Savory Noodles, Pad Thai, Beef Panang and lots more. Everyone working there are extremely friendly and welcoming, the atmosphere is quiet and relaxing. A lot of people order for take out also, but i would much rather sit in. If you've already read most of these reviews, you owe yourself to at least try once, trust me you'll get hooked. "Dan's the man"
(5)
Beth G.
We have both eaten in and gotten takeout from Patou and I'm a fan...Everything we've ordered has been SO flavorful and well done. The day we closed on our house, we got Patou take out and had a picnic on our brand new kitchen floor. Which has nothing to do with the review or score, I just thought I'd mention it. :op My boyfriend loves the short ribs...which I don't see on their online menu, but are just incredible. They fall apart in your mouth and have this subtle heat to them.. oh yeah..just thinking about them does it for me.. I'm a big fan of the chicken coconut soup. It has this comforting quality that really works. And the pad thai is also really well done. I'd give it a try...I don't think you'll be disappointed. Just make sure to ask them about the short ribs..HIDDEN JEWEL I'm telling you!
(4)
Allison S.
Hidden gem! Looks tiny on the outside, but has a ton of seating inside, and also outdoor seating in summer. Food was excellent. We shared the chicken satay, pad thai, and yellow curry, and coconut ice cream with fried bananas! All very authentic tasting and sauces were amazing. The atmosphere was very simple and refreshing. Soothing blues and interesting light pendants over tables. Well done for once! I will definitely go again, especially in summer.
(4)
M E.
This place lived up to it's 4 star standing...good vibe and not too overpriced. The pad Thai was great and the short ribs were ridiculous!!! Very yummy food, good service and the owner is a nice guy. Did I mention the short ribs?
(4)
KittyCat G.
My new obsession is the Tom Yum Noodle Soup - subtly hot, sour, salty, and sweet, and worth ordering in the middle of summer. Tiny but pleasant patio seating in warm weather.
(5)
Ilene F.
Hard to believe that the town where Mitt Romney lives actually has some flavor. I've eaten here quite a few times, and have found it to be consistently good. Last night was no exception. We got the beef macadamia, which was loaded with beef, veggies, and macadamia nuts. Pleasantly spicy (I tend to like things fiery, but my dining companions were a little less adventurous). We also tried the jungle chicken curry, which had large fillets of chicken rather than bite sized pieces. Loaded with zucchini, peppers, and babycorns, it was zingy and flavorful. We also got an order of pad thai, as a staple to throw on the table. Theirs is quite good, with four nice size shrimp and mellow nutty noodles. My only real criticism is the thai rolls were not the cute small ones, but nearly eggroll sized and a bit greasy and bland. I haven't had their soups, but I'm sure I will soon. The restaurant has a lovely atmosphere, when I walked in to pick up my order, there were canoodling couples as well as a few large parties sharing lots of food. The staff is courteous and professional, and happy to accommodate any high maintenance needs you might have. They serve beer and wine, which in Belmont, is a luxury.
(4)
Betty P.
My benchmark for Thai food is usually either pad thai or pineapple fried rice. The pad Thai at Patou is pretty good. It's been a long time since I have had great Pad Thai so I am really excited Patou is not too far from home. Their pineapple fried rice is good too, but it didn't have raisins and was instead topped with dried shredded pork. I didn't really like the addition of the shredded pork as I don't typically like that stuff, but you might. Looks like a bunch of hair or ear wax to me hehe. But everything else I have had here is pretty good. My work uses this place a lot for functions and recently, we had another dinner there. The owner of the restaurant called my boss from Thailand (!!!) just to make sure that everything was all set for the event. My boss was thoroughly impressed by this customer service and so am I. I am so glad I discovered Patou through work and I will definitely be back for more. Try sitting on the back patio for a nice romantic, quiet dinner. There is also free 2 hour parking in the rear lot which is a bonus!
(4)
Robyn L.
After driving, running and walking by many times, I finally called up Patou to ask if they had take-out -- and the chicken yellow curry I was craving. Good news on both. The woman who answered was helpful and happy to explain the options. I walked over and found the place very tranquil and warmly lit; even the diners were quiet. They have a patio,which I'm guessing won't be intriguing much longer this year, but they were quick with my order and remembered that I didn't have a take-out menu, so it was added to the bag at the last minute. I thoroughly enjoyed the chicken yellow curry with brown rice. I could have used more pineapple, but I can never get enough pineapple... It was still plenty of food to have leftovers for lunch the next day.
(4)
Alyssa l.
Patou is my favorite restaurant in Belmont Center, and one of my favorite Thai restaurants in the Boston area. Dan, the owner, is very friendly and the food is INCREDIBLE!! Some of my favorites are the jumbo shrimp cho chee curry, vegetable pad thai, and massaman curry. The pad thai is not too sweet and has almost no oil--delicious! They are also very accommodating of special diet requests. A must try!
(5)
Rebekah C.
Just okay!
(2)
I. P.
I think the best thing about Patou Thai is the look of the dining room. It's nicely decorated and really added to my dining experience. I thought the food was very solid. It wasn't spectacular, though it wasn't bad at all. I personally prefer the taste, portion sizes and prices and Thai Moon in Arlington Center. The wait staff at Patou Thai was extremely pleasant. Service was quick and came with a smile. I can't speak for all parents, but I personally did feel comfortable having my young son along for the meal. It was my first visit, so I didn't know what to expect. The wait stuff was extremely accommodating, so the discomfort is my own. The tables had nice white linens, I believe there was soft music playing, and our fellow diners were having quiet conversations. I think other moms an dads should know that the feel of the place is more upscale than child-friendly.
(3)
Kendra D.
Decided to pop in here based on reviews from fellow Yelpers. The space was really adorable. From the street it looks like a tiny place with limited seating but as you approach the hostess table inside, the dining area really opens up. There is even a courtyard in the back for dining outdoors in the summer. Also looks like there is a nice big parking lot behind the building- if you don't feel like circling around the front for a spot. We started with the beef and chicken satay which was tender and flavored well. For my entree I had the yellow curry with shrimp. Not too spicy but enough kick to get the taste buds fired up. The shrimp were really fresh and good sized as well. My friend had some trio dish with beef, pork and chicken and loved it. Our waitress was above average and my friend was happy with his $5 house Cabernet. Great success!! I am excited to go back and try more of the menu!
(4)
Vanilla P.
I am constantly amazed at how different cuisines are when demonstrated on two sides of the United States. The food here was good, but it seemed to be missing some of that Thai pizazz the West coast so easily represents. We sat in the back, on the tranquil patio before all the other diners arrived, and the views of the sunlight trees swaying over the parking lot was picturesque and soothing. It reminded me of Napa Valley's onset of commercialism. The little plug-in radio was tuned to static, but after adjusting it to a nice classical jazz station, hubby and I felt like we had aged 40 years and were rich and retired, enjoying our own dinner on our private balcony overlooking mere mortals. THe food was fine, just not spicy enough. All of the serving dishes are in these irregular shapes, and kept me entertained while I guzzled my German wine. I left full, which was nice, and left the loser vegetables in my curry bowl. No eggplant for me, thank you!
(3)
Jay S.
Very friendly staff... excellent food. Top quality Thai food and easy to get to. For a good non-alcoholic drink try the ginger beer. Good space for large groups, a huge restaurant.
(5)
D D.
I've only gotten takeout there, but the restaurant itself is lovely and quite large. It has an open minimalist Zen feeling and the waitstaff are friendly. I'd be very pleased to take anyone there to eat. The food is very good and I love their pad thai. I go there as a treat to myself and I've always enjoyed my food there.
(4)
Mary S.
I went with BFF yesterday for lunch and wasn't impressed at all. The siam rolls were EXTREMELY greasy and overpriced. The Tom Yum's broth wasn't as rich as I'm used to. Also, there were no sauces, condiments on any of the tables, which I thought a bit odd for a Thai place. My companion's food was super salty (beef and broccoli). Service was slow. Go down the road to Pho and Thai for a tastier experience.
(2)
Ken M.
I went here with about 15 people this afternoon. It's very good. Minus a star for all the food coming out one at a time.
(4)
Laura H.
My boyfriend loves their pad thai; although, I prefer the pad woon sen. Both are good, as is everything. And since I love combination appetizers, we always get the rolls combo and usually a golden harvest. It's a little pricy - that is probably because the restaurant has a really nice atmosphere, very trendy. We usually get takeout, so aren't really that excited by the decor.. But very good.
(4)
Brian N.
I discovered this place when my parents told me how amazing it was. My mom had come with her church group to celebrate someone's birthday, and she couldn't stop commenting on how good the food is! Needless to say, I was a bit skeptical at first. How could there be a good thai place in Belmont Center? However, I did end up going, and found it to be amazing. The service was attentive without being overbearing, and the food was really good! The pad thai is one of the best I have had, and as a native New Yorker, I was pleasantly surprised. The tiger tear salad is also really good too. All the food was freshly prepared, and it all came for a reasonable price too. However, I did try the shrimp salad once, and I found it to be too bland. Also, there was one occasion when the pad thai was just 'off' - it was too dry and there wasn't enough flavoring. Overall, however, this place is a wonderful establishment, and this restaurant has become my go-to place for good food at a reasonable price. It also helps that there is a huge parking lot behind the building too!
(4)
sam p.
Walked in to Patou on a Friday for lunch. The place wasn't busy and there were 2-3 people attending to customers. I waited there to be seated and no one acknowledge that they will attend to me soon. Continued waiting thinking someone might come to me. But no one showed up. I don't care how good the food is, but bad customer service is something that I will not tolerate. I decided to take my business elsewhere...
(1)
Luke R.
Love this place. If I'm looking for Thai food, this is the first place I go to. Great for dining in or take-out.
(5)
Sarah T.
Awesome place with consistently great food and attentive service... have gone there for takeout and a meal in the restaurant and both are consistently good. I think that it is fantastic that even for takeout food they do their very best to take the attention to detail to heights but making nicely decoratively cut carrots and herbs to make them look attractive while the food is fresh and delicious making you want to return again to the restaurant for all the best of reasons. What is nice is that it also has a nice relaxing ambiance that can be romantic too depending on your company.
(5)
Brandon C.
Awesome Thai food, decor is nice but food is even better. Try the Siamese fried rice and the short ribs. A little pricey but it is in a nice setting and upscale area so it is not out of range. Definitely recommended!
(5)
Jonathan R.
One of the best Thia Restaurants I've been to on a consistent basis, menu is solid up and down and the Country Ground Chicken is excellent, tell 'em to kick it up a notch in spice and you won't be disappointed. This place is the Dustin Pedroi of Thai.
(4)
Sheri O.
We've been looking for a Thai restaurant to call home after our favorite, Sala Thai in Arlington Heights, closed this past fall. We've tried several in Arlington and Lexington, and all have been just ok--nothing special. When we walked into Patou this evening, we were very impressed with the decor, as many of the other reviewers have commented upon. A leggy, 12-year-old-looking girl greeted us after we waited around the lobby area for roughly 5 mins and took us to a table. We sat down, made our menu selections, and proceeded to wait for a waitress to come by to greet us, bring us (tap) water, and perhaps even take our order. We waited, and waited, and waited. I tried to catch the waitress' eye and even wave down the 12-year-old (who was too busy prancing about the restaurant looking pretty) to let people know we were there (sitting at the window, no less), but to no avail. After 15 minutes, my husband and I got fed up, as we didn't want to sit around and wait perhaps even longer for the food to arrive. At this rate, we might not have made it out in under 3 hrs--too long for a weeknight meal! Unfortunately, we didn't wait around long enough to place our order or taste the food. So, they get a one-star for abysmal service and not making it worth our wait. Lucky for us, we discovered Stone Hearth Pizza, just a couple of doors down, which is our new favorite pizza place!
(1)
Linda N.
Even though Patou Thai has been around for a few years I hadn't been in until recently. Maybe because it looked very dark and quiet from the street. But we were craving Thai, so we tried it and were pleasantly surprised. Once you get inside the dark blue walls are offset by enough white so it isn't gloomy inside at alll, and the staff is friendly and welcoming. There's good variety on the menu, with a really excellent Pad Thai and dishes for the more adventurous, like Dancing Squid (squid with hot peppers and string beans) or Duck Choo Chee (duck with curry and vegetables). (I didn't actually try those dishes so I can't report on them!) There is a good selection of salads, curries and different fried rice dishes as well as a few vegetarian offerings in addition to an extensive number of "Mains". The four stars are because even though the appetizers were tasty, I thought the curry and shrimp rolls were more squishy and oily than crispy and crunchy.
(4)
Jack N.
Wow for a Thai place in Belmont. Pad Thai and red curry dishes are both top notch, and the atmosphere is great.
(4)
Henry P.
After a busy morning of actually working, we hit up this place for lunch. Easily found a parking spot, and just as easily found the establishment. The place is purdy swanky in a modern way, tasteful gas fireplace(s?) add a nice touch. Nice sturdy menu, constructed of some sort of bound hardcover. Glancing over the 'specials,' the room suddenly went into slow motion as an eye caught the words *Short Ribs* and my mouth instantly became a cesspool of drool. The description said "thai curry" which sounded just amazing. I waited patiently. Unbeknown to myself, most likely due to being temporarily paralyzed with what I call Licious Fatty Fever, this dish comes with shocked green beans and brown rice. Awesome! Counterbalance for-the-mofat-win! You only get 1 rib, so don't be misled by the plural menu title. Priced at under $9, the dish was just perfect. In the haze, I can hardly recall what the others ordered. They looked happy though! ^.^ The final surprise was that I was back in the office in exactly an hour, like a good worker bee.
(5)
Jo B.
I've been spoiled a little when it comes to Thai food. If I were to count the number of different Thai restaurants I've eaten at in the past, the number would be well over 50. That being said, Patou was pretty average to me. Not amazing, but not horrible by any means. I got to sample three different dishes there - the pork with ginger (pork was a little tough, sauce was not gingery enough, kind of bland), the chicken with red curry sauce (good amount of fresh vegetables, this was actually quite good) and the pad thai (very disappointed in the pad thai because it didn't have very much stuff in it other than noodles and a lot of oil). There were a lot of good reviews for this place so maybe I just went on an off night. Will give it another shot at some time because the atmosphere is quite nice.
(3)
X X.
Open at 11:30 (as all good lunch restaurants should be), Patou Thai is a lovely newish Thai place in Belmont, which is always wont for good restaurants. Very handsomely appointed, a bit more formal than an average neighborhood Thai place. I had the Pad Thai with tofu (no shrimp) and it was one of the better versions I've had in the Boston area. My dining partners had the Lemon Thai Chicken and a pineapple chicken dish, both which looked very appealing and with which they were happy. All the ingredients used were fresh, and the food was neither bland nor overly spiced in all directions (like a number of other local places I can think of). Prices for lunch were very reasonable for the quality. Not "The Best Thai in the World" but a solid addition to Belmont Center.
(5)
Mischa I.
These guys are great! The service is consistently great, the food is excellent served in healthy portions, and the ambiance quite nice. The owner is always there floating around, opening the door for his guest, or chatting away. Good people, good food, good price, great experience :)
(5)
michael w.
great food, wonderful atmosphere, superb service. owners are always happy and cheerful. reasonable prices to boot.
(5)
Beverly S.
I will have to give a thumbs down for Patou Thai restaurant after having lunch there today. This was my first visit and I was very disappointed. I ordered their chicken with ginger and pine nuts dish which comes with assorted cooked vegetables and rice. My dish was not only bland, but tasteless, and the ingredients did not taste fresh. The rice came cold. I couldn't find either any ginger or pine nuts in the dish. When I called this to the attention of the waitress, who was pleasant enough, she said "she" forgot to put them in! She then brought me two small bowls, one containing ginger, the other with pine nuts. I also had ordered hot Thai tea. The waitress returned and told me they didn't have Thai tea. I thought this unusual for a Thai restaurant. I usually give most restaurants a second try, but this meal was so disappointing, I won't return.
(1)
Esther J.
The ambiance is great, but there's no one to greet you. After a few minutes, I asked if I should just seat myself. The greeter mumbled something and picked up the phone and seemed to have a casual conversation for 5 minutes. As I turned around to leave, she quickly got off the phone and seated me. The only time a waitress came around was to serve my food. I had to walk up to ask for the check, give my payment, ask for hot spices twice, which they only had minimally/basic kind, but the pad thai was great. Worst service ever experienced. Non-existent. Hate writing bad reviews.
(1)
Izzy G.
This is right down the street so it's easy. Great drunken noodles and the pad Thai is solid! Ambiance is strange but the food is really worth it. Cheap Thai beer and very fast! I've also tried the beef basil which was spicy and yummy!
(4)
Carolyn G.
I've been many times and finally am writing a review. I love this restaurant for so many reasons. The food is fabulous, from the appetizers: sumai, spring rolls, satay, etc.. to main dishes - I could list them all! My husbands favorite is the beef short ribs. It's a consistently nice dining experience with care also taken to the dishes presentation. The staff are all friendly and efficient. There is seating for two, four or more and a private back room with a large window (albeit looking over the parking lot) for a party. They also have out door dining in the back in the summer. Also parking is never an issue. They also have some beautiful wood carved screens and tables that are a must see.
(5)
Alan W.
Great house fried rice and iced tea. Nice and low key. Great location in the center. Eat in or takeout is thr same great quality.
(5)
Sam O.
The food can range from average to very tasty. Therein lies one of the problems: the consistency seems to be pretty low. Depending on who makes it on a given day, it can taste completely different than on other days. The menu offers a wide range of choices and it is not easy to pick amongst them. The place is very clean and spacious and has a good lunch ambience. The worst part here is probably the slow service. Between the wait to order, the time it takes to actually get the food and the time it takes them to bring the check, one actually spends as much time as at an upscale dinner place on a weekend day. I am usually here to have a relatively quick, casual lunch, so this is a real problem.
(3)
Bryan H.
Had the beef basil for lunch, was great.
(4)
Stephen S.
My wife and I go there once a month and enjoy the $45 dinner special I enjoy the Pad Thai
(4)
Melissa D.
Love the decor, the plentiful parking - and mostly, the amazing Thai food.
(5)
Ally R.
TWILIGHT ZONE ALERT!!! My man and I thought it'd be nice to go out to eat about a week before Christmas. The beautiful Christmas tree in the back part of Patou Thai lured us in - and we were hoping to enjoy our meal by its ambient glow... Well, let's just say our hopes of eating went to mere hopes of simply being acknowledged by ANYONE...(sending out an SOS to ANYONE!!!) But no...we stood at the hostess area for a few minutes without any sort of greeting, let alone eye contact from any of the employees. Thinking maybe they didn't see us, we inched our way forward to the bar...where staff moved in and out of the kitchen. Again, we waited for about 5 minutes and STILL nothing! Finally we said "Hello? Can we please get a table?" They then looked at us if that was the most asinine question they'd ever heard and mumbled something about clearing off a table. At that point, we felt we'd be seething over our meal if we stayed, so we just turned and left. And no, no one seemed to care about that either.* Too bad Patou, we were hoping to really like you. There was a good amount of people in the restaurant, but surely it wasn't that busy to not properly acknowledge and greet what most likely would have been repeat patrons. *We remedied the situation by going to Kashish, the Indian restaurant a few doors down, where we were greeted promptly and served yummy food quickly.
(1)
Mia R.
Just had the prix fixe lunch. Service was excellent and fast. Food was excellent. We loved the shumi, vegetable rolls, and curry roll appetizers, the curry vegetables and pad Thai. Awesome!
(5)
edward o.
Have been here a few times before and have enjoyed the food. Very clean establishment. When I arrived tonight they had just cleaned the restrooms and it was spotless. Walked by the kitchen and same with the kitchen. Food was Fresh and delicious. Had the Thai soup, chicken satay, pad Thai and crispy rolls. All fresh and flavorful. Definitely recommend.
(5)
Kelin C.
The chicken pad Thai was fantastic! The best of any I've had in the Greater Boston area. The service was prompt and the waiters were contagiously happy. The atmosphere is fairly good, although slow jams on the saxophone is never bad music to have at a restaurant, I was hoping for something more authentic. The location is great, there are plenty of nearby shops and parking wasn't too bad. Surprisingly there weren't many other patrons, but I was dining on a Saturday for lunch, and a filling lunch it was at a fair price ($9 for pad Thai).
(5)
Caitlin C.
If you enjoy awkward service and average Thai, I'd recommend Patou in a heartbeat. We were sat in the back of the restaurant, which was empty and freezing. It took almost 10 minutes for anyone to realize we were there, and when they finally took our order we were surprised to find out that rice doesn't come with any of the dishes - it's a dollar more. Not that it breaks the bank or anything, but I've never heard of a Thai restaurant charging for white rice on main dishes. Maybe they do things differently in New England. Dishes arrived hot but after a minute or so they quickly cooled down in the freezing room. Not that it mattered much - our food was extremely spicy. We love spice, so it didn't bother us too much, but I feel the best Thai dishes incorporate more flavor vs heat. Overall we were dying to get out of there. The service was really slow for a place that only has three tables full in the middle of peak dining hours, and it kind of bums me out that we spent $40 for two sub-par entrees. Lesson learned!
(2)
Hiroko L.
I have been a customer of this restaurant for a decade. My favorite dish has been "Tom Yum Noodle (not soup)!" It's so flavorful! You must try it!
(4)
Alejandra C.
This place is amazing! The food is so delicious and it's obvious that the chef puts in passion in his or her work. I would eat there every day, and it's also very nutritious. The people working there are also very nice and put a name to the face! AMAZING!!
(5)
Tamarleigh G.
I have eaten there a couple of times, and I am very impressed. The last time I was there, I ordered some special that still makes my mouth water just to think about it. The decor is beautiful, especially some of the tables. The food is absolutely delicious. And the service is very good, as well! A win all around.
(5)
Jennifer G.
STUNNING decor! This place blew me away with it's ink coloured walls, gorgeous lighting and great service! came with a group and def will be back!
(4)
Adam P.
Went here on a whim after stopping by Craft Beer Cellar next door for my regular beer run. I have very mixed feelings about this place... the ambiance is nice, the service was okay, and the food was mostly good. Had the hot and sour shrimp soup (solid flavor but slightly watery) and chicken coconut soup (pretty tasty and on par with other places) to start. Entrees were the shrimp pad thai (absolutely fantastic) and wild boar basil (spicy enough for me, but just not exciting in any way, shape, or form). The standout star of the meal was undoubtedly the pad thai, but most everything else was not worth the slightly high price tag. And speaking of price tag, I was ready to give Patou four stars because of the delicious pad thai, but then came the check. A $2 extra charge for the rice that came with (or apparently didn't) my pork dish. I absolutely cannot stand asian restaurants that charge extra for rice (which costs them basically NOTHING to buy and prepare) with dishes that have no noodles or anything like that. Furthermore, I was not told it would be extra, I was simply asked if I'd like brown or white rice. So all in all, my average pork with veggies entree came out to over $15, while I could get it (with rice) for no more than $10-$11 at many other asian joints (and not just the dirt cheap Americanized ones). Honestly the rice thing upset me enough to dock even more stars, but Patou's pad thai was too good for me to rate them any lower. Proceed with caution!
(3)
Matt C.
Patou, being walking distance to my office is one of my usual lunch time haunts and lemme tell you, this place is AMAZING. I love Thai food and can't really find decent, fresh food outside of Boston. Patou is the solution for those Thai lovers out there which can't stand the hassle of finding city parking. My favorite dishes here are the Pad Thai (light but very flavor full - you usually get 3-4 large fresh shrimp mixed in) and the Noodles & Tender Beef which has fresh cut beef mixed with veggies and thick cut noodles. Both dishes are truly worth driving for and the majority of lunch entrees are under $10. The staff are friendly and the owner Dan personally checks in on our every table. Totally weird but Patou has the coldest water I've ever drank.
(5)
Anya H.
When we walked in I immediately felt like we were in a refrigerator. It was freezing! After we ordered, we watched TWO tables which had both been seated after us receive their food first. It was a long wait. Not only that but the appetizer arrived with the main course. Isn't it supposed to come before? Our waitress never checked on us. I never saw her until we were paying. I was hoping to get an extra plate to serve my sister some of my pad Thai on. Also I ran out of water. I felt the food itself was fine but it was a long cold wait for average food.
(2)
Melissa M.
Exquisite Thai restaurant in the heart of Belmont Center. Tofu pad thai with veggies will be my next item to order. I treated myself to a Saturday lunch at Patou on a chilly afternoon. I got a glass of their house Chardonnay and it was delicious with my tofu pad thai. For some reason I was thinking it came with veggies, but it does not. Next time I'll specify. The server was very prompt, polite, and sweet. The prices are so low, I couldn't believe it -- I was kind of nervous the quality would not be there, but it was. I'd guess this was the best pad thai I've had. They offer lunch deals and you will get a ton of food. I hear they have a great dinner deal too. The restaurant was spotless and large and very nicely decorated. I will definitely come back.
(5)
Silvia V.
After two+ years of living in Belmont, we ventured on to the "other" Thai restaurant (we live close to Pho & Thai and are used to ordering from them) and were very pleasantly surprised. We only got takeout: Country Style Chicken Basil (as per a fellow Yelper's review), rice and Pad Thai with shrimp. The food was fresh and very delicious. The chicken dish was pretty spicy, but very tasty nonetheless. It did not come with rice, so it had to be ordered separately. As I walked into the restaurant, I was so pleasantly surprised by the decor. It was not kitschy as some Thai restaurants can be. I was told that weather permitting, they have outdoor patio seating as well. Patou Thai is Zagat rated (2011-2012). We will definitely be back.
(4)
Jennifer L.
Very impressed with the food at Patou. We ordered the garden roll and chicken wings as appetizers- the garden roll was fresh and very tasty and the chicken wings were cooked to my wife's liking! Very crispy as we requested! For an the main course, we ordered the yellow curry dish with chicken. Again full of flavor and perfect portion size for 2. I would recommend this restaurant for some good Thai food in Belmont.
Yellow curry dishes are mouthwatering. The restaurant is clean and quick when you want some quick take out for yourself or guests.
(4)
Georgiana S.
Tried this place last night for the first time, Everything was delicious, and they can make it spicier if you request it. The coconut soup was likely the best I have ever had, very rich. The pad thai was perfectly cooked, not greasy at all. We will be heading back there again soon.
(5)
Michael G.
I went on a Saturday night. Large place but nicely decorated and felt cozy. I had the Spring rolls, and red curry. Great food, nice service.
(4)
M S.
Average Thai food. Lots of spice. No taste. The vegetable spring rolls are too big and greasy. The Chicken Red Curry had no bamboo shoots in it which is a must have for that dish.
(2)
Hogger K.
Food 3 Service 2 Decor 5 This is a wierd restaurant, and I think that's why there is such a wide variety of scores by reviewers. When you walk in the place looks tiny, and then you walk by the kitchen (yes, the kitchen is in the middle of a restaurant whose floorplan can only be described as an hourglass shape) and into a large back room with very tasteful and simple decor. It's the sort of decor that Gordon Ramsay would appreciate. Another reassuring sign is that the people working in the kitchen are all Thai. I say this because there is a French restaurant in Boston that used to be great. You could walk by that kitchen and everyone was speaking in French. But then a year later a lot of people started commenting that the food had become worse and the language of the kitchen had become Spanish. The same thing would have happened if most of the workers were Japanese, Korean, or Nigerian. The point is that when you go to an ethnic restaurant, it's reassuring that the people in the kitchen are actually from that country. Patou is that way. That being said, the food is mediocre. After seeing the positive reviews for the pad thai, I tried it. It was too sweet. If your someone who thinks that authentic pad thai is sweet, then you don't know what authentic pad thai is. It's only in America that we make it sweet. So, I didn't like the pad thai. The appetizers were also average. I tried a couple of other dishes, and the problem is that the food is "de-spiced". If you want to taste authentic Thai food, then compare dishes between Patou and S&I Restaurant in Allston. Americans will probably like Patou better, but that doesn't mean that the food is authentic. It just means that the food is made to fit the average American palate. The food at Patou isn't bad, but there is a part of me that wonders what the Thai chefs in the kitchen could do if they knew that the restaurant was going to be full of Thai people. My guess is that they could probably whip up some great Thai food. But when I went there, the customer base is predominantly Caucasian and that affects the way the food is prepared. The problem that many other reviewers have mentioned is the service. I'm not sure why this is often a problem at restaurants. And the strange thing I've noticed is that it doesn't matter if a restaurant is full or empty, bad service is bad service. When I went to Patou, there were plenty of waitresses. But there were only about 4 tables in the back area with customers. Yet my group had to wait 25 minutes for the bill to arrive. That should never happen, especially in an empty restaurant. When I see lousy service like that, I'm much less likely to go back to that restaurant, and it becomes a vicious cycle for the waitstaff. They piss off customers, customers don't return, the waitstaff's tips decrease because there are less customers, the waitstaff has less incentive to work hard, this pisses off new customers who go to the restaurant, and it becomes a death spiral. Here's a free hint for any restaurant owners out there. Your waitstaff has to keep an eye out for when everyone at the table has finished eating. The closer a table is to finishing, the more frequent the waitstaff should walk by. The moment the waitstaff detects that the last person at the table has finished, they should ask if people are interested in dessert or coffee, and if the answer is no, then the check should be sent to the table immediately. It's a pretty simple formula that this restaurant and several others I've visited can't seem to understand. The rest of the waitstaff's performance at this restaurant was fine.
(3)
Michaela M.
A small group of us went to Patou Thai for lunch. When we walked in the aroma of spices made my stomach grumble! We ordered one appetizer and two entrees which was plenty for the three of us for lunch. The beef and chicken satay was tender, flavorful and fabulous. The two entrees were: the pad thai and a shrimp and eggplant dish with white rice that was a special for that day. The pad thai was among the best that i have ever had. as opposed to a heavy brown sauce this dish was light with very thin noodles. The other dish, the eggplant and shrimp was my least favorite of the items we ordered. However it was still pretty good. The waitstaff was extremely attentive. I would definitely come here again!
(4)
Caleb L.
I love Thai food but have high standards. This place is great, but somewhat quirky, though the important items remain: They have awesome Pad Thai, their Tom Yum is great (although it's called something like "Hot and Sour Shrimp Soup" and has an asinine description on their to-go menu) and their decorum is top notch. Great service, wonderful location and reasonable prices make this my favorite Thai place in the Belmont area. Oh and yes, the beef ribs are incredible. Spicy and finger-licking. Better than any I've ever had!
(5)
Xtina R.
I've been here a few times and have enjoyed both the food and atmosphere. It gets a little busy towards the weekends so sometimes the service is just OK but the food is worth it. If you order Thai ice tea, they bring you the stuff to make it which is fun and you an control how sweet you want it etc. The food is GREAT! My bf is also a huge fan of this place....the restaurant itself has a great ambiance and is decorated nicely...definitely recommend!
(5)
Joanna C.
Great place for so many reasons... 1. Staff is awesome, especially the owner. Super chatty, friendly, attentive, joyful, and all of the above. 2. Super clean with open kitchen. 3. Very cool ambience in the restaurant, cool lighting, neat tables and decoration, and outdoor patio seating in the summer. 4. Delicious food- my favorite Pad Thai by far. All the rolls (fresh spring, siam, and curry) are amazingly delicious, I always order at least one of the above. All the entrees are superb and fresh, and I would highly recommend the Country Style Chicken &Basil, Pik King Shrimp, Panang Beef, Chonburi Wings, and Pine Nut Chicken. It's just high quality, fresh, delicious Thai cuisine that doesn't make your stomach or wallet feel guilty after. One of my personal faves, and writing this review is making me drool. Might need to call for some take out.
(5)
Adam S.
We decided to try Patou after looking at the Zagat ratings and all the positive reviews on Yelp. We are vegetarians and hence ordered from the Vegetarian corner. The food was horribly bad and the quantity was extremely less. The red curry had only the sauce in it and very few vegetables. The noodles dish looked like it was an appetizer and not an entree. Another vegetable dish that we ordered had no flavor it - looked like it was diluted soy sauce mixed with vegetables. Never would recommend and never would go there again.
(1)
Amanda L.
We love the food here, plus there's always room-- it's quite spacious in the back. They are very friendly to children and give them pencils and paper to color on while we wait. My son has several food allergies which make it hard to eat out for Asian food, but we've found dishes here that he loves and we're confident they handle his food carefully to prevent cross-contamination. A nice place for dinner-- just the right balance of casual and formal.
(5)
Robo T.
The chicken hot basil was delicious. It was flavorful and the heat of the spice was great. It left a lingering sting. The interior is contemporary and flows well. They did a great job with layout dealing with a front and rear entrance (unlike another restaurant in the same block). The staff is very friendly and welcoming. The downside is the price. I had this for lunch at $9 and change and it really wasn't much chicken. If there was more chicken or the price was lower I would consider going more frequently. At this point I'll only go if its convenient.
(3)
Gavin R.
-- Ok not bad, not great, I'd have to say that I was a bit disappointed with the food, but not with the service. It is definitely kid friendly.
(3)
Matt K.
Extremely high priced for quality of food. I was disappointed that basics were not up to par for the price. Pad Thai was too sweet Siam/Thai fried Rice was dried out Portions were meager Much better options exist in neighboring towns for high quality Thai food
(2)
Amber A.
My fiance and I eat here all the time, and it does not get any better than this for Thai food. Other favorites of ours used to be Khao Sarn in Brookline and Bamboo in Brighton, but Patou is better than both. I would even go as far as to say that this is the best restaurant in Belmont, period. Patou is by far the best value for your money. The food: First of all, my fiance is very particular about his diet, and the waitstaff is always willing to accommodate his every request, including using olive oil instead of canola oil when cooking the dish. They do this every time without an annoyed look or eye roll in sight. The chicken: this can be touch and go at any asian eating establishment. Here, they serve fresh, thickly sliced pieces with very little fat, if at any at all. The vegetables are also super fresh, and the sauces are delicious. They staff will take your comments about levels of hotness seriously as well. The staff: all the servers here are very nice and friendly. This is the result of the owner himself being a very nice person, who regularly makes a point to come over and talk to his guests. He goes out of his way to bring that personal touch to the service, and it makes going there that much more enjoyable. The service speed here is just right. Fast, so you're not waiting for appetizers or your meal, but not so fast that you're don't have time to talk. The restaurant: the ambiance of this place is one of a kind and very modern and contemporary. Deep blue walls and funky conic light fixtures create a great mood for dining. The whole feeling is very soothing, and has just enough thai influence to make it authentic, without being over the top and cheesy. The crowd: we see everyone in here, from older couples to young couples, to families with kids. It's great and affordable for groups of any size. Since it's in Belmont, mostly a family town, the busiest time is in the early evening - 6-7:30 ish. By the time we arrive, typically between 8 and 9, we are able to enjoy the restaurant being a little less full. However, even if you were there and it was full, it wouldn't be an issue because they don't cram tables right next to each other. Things are nicely spaced out, with a front, back, lower and outside dining area all available for seating. Parking: couldn't be easier. On street in Belmont is usually available, but if not, there is a huge lot behind the restaurant. Nothing but good things to say about this restaurant. If you like Thai or are just looking for a great restaurant in the Belmont/Cambridge/Watertown area, this is the place for you.
Takes Reservations : Yes Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Lunch, Dinner Parking : Street Bike Parking : Yes Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : Yes Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Classy Noise Level : Average Alcohol : Full Bar Outdoor Seating : Yes Wi-Fi : No Has TV : No Waiter Service : Yes
AM S.
Good food. Good decor for eat in. Portions kinda small compared to Pho Thai for the $$$. Probably 2 bucks more per dish for less of a serving. Food good but I will take Pho Thai for same quality, more food and less $$$.
(3)Claire W.
Belmont really is pretty sad when it comes to dining that isn't Pizza. Patou is quite gorgeous, but the "patio" is next to the parking lot in the back, I'm not sure how that other reviewer managed to be so transported by it! On the other hand there is parking. The owner Dan Tanabat is a gem. He helped choose and then executed the choice (beef satay for a party of 65 people) perfectly, teaching us how to reheat the satay when the time came. I've been going here since it opened and I have never liked much other than the satay and the Siam (think spring) rolls (Beef and chicken satay are six skewers each plus peanut sauce and cucumber sweet sauce, both recipes printed in the Globe) and cost 6.75 each. Emerging from the hospital recently all I could think of was get me some beef satay from Dan, NOW!
(4)Bridget B.
This place is consistently fantastic. I was worried when I moved a little further out of the city I'd end up being stuck with mediocre pizza parlors and steak bomb huts...but I've been proven wrong again and again. Their menu seems more diverse or unique than many other Thai restaurants I've been to, though don't worry, they offer all sorts of delicious different colored curries. Their appetizers are great, I'm a big fan of the curry roles which are little triangular pockets of curried meat. For entrees I love the honey pork and the chicken jungle curry. They have a few dedicated vegetarian options and are more than happy to substitute tofu in most of their other main courses. I am also a huge sucker for their brown rice, which is some of the best I've ever had. Their iced teas and coffees are good too, but I think it's hard to go wrong with sweet condensed milk and caffeine. I've been impressed with the service as well. Once they messed up an order of ours, and comped items on our next order, which was much appreciated. The prices are good, and the food handles exceptionally well as take-away, though the ambiance in the restaurant is worth experiencing as well.
(5)Theis C.
This restaurant is getting the Chicago Bears 3-star review. A couple of years ago, the Bears had an awesome defense, and they were spectacular on special teams. By doing all the OTHER things right, they managed to be an A-ok team despite the fact that they weren't very good at the most important thing in football, Scoring touchdowns. Patou is sorta like that. We took some French people there last night, and Patou did a solid job on defense and special teams..... the service was excellent, the table they sat us at was very neat, with a glass top and a bunch of very intricate hardwood carvings underneath. We didn't have to wait, the wine was good. The only trouble was that the actual food we were served was just ok. Mediocre. I had the Siam BBQ chicken, and it tasted like I was at a wedding or something. My wife had the Masaman Curry, and she said the same thing I did. Meh. None of the French finished their meals.
(3)Acqualady A.
Found this place through yelp. The ambiance was very inviting. The lighting was calm and sexy. Great place for a date. I was surprised how big the place was. The tables were ornate very cool. I tried the pineapple fried rice. I am not sure I like the chicken grilled had a bit of a strange taste to me. I liked the flavor of the rice. I also had the spring rolls they were just the right amount of spice! I did take out for this time next time I go I think we should eat in. I was happy with the place. I will give them 4 stars. I also thought the owner was very personable.......
(4)T T.
When you ask if something can be made gluten free, and request gluten free, it better damn be gluten free. No respect for the health and welfare of their customers. Two bites of a $23.01 order and it was a wrap. Never again.
(1)Scott D.
Patou is by far my favorite restaurant in Belmont. The food is always excellent and the restaurant is very clean, and quiet. My wife and I have gotten to know Dan, one of the owners, and Nam, one of the servers. They are such great people and they work very hard. Dan spends time to get to know his customers, something unheard of these days, and Nam is the sweetest. My wife and I always enjoy a good meal and chat at Patou. I have enjoyed everything that I have ordered at Patou, but I highly recommend the short ribs!
(5)Teri L.
Love this place! I've been going there since it opened in Belmont Center. The owner, Dan, is incredibly friendly and the staff is great! It's very clean, there is lots of parking, and, most importantly, the food is excellent! I work very close by and had my company order at Patou for their annual winter holiday party. Now they won't order anywhere else.
(5)Anna P.
Really, really good value. All the dishes I've tried have been fresh and full of flavor. Good, non-greasy fried appetizers, veggies-a-plenty in all the dishes. . . you pretty much can't go wrong. I doubt that this is "authentic" Thai food, but you'll end your meal full and happy. This is also an excellent spot for groups. The service for our group of 10+ was impeccable. And when we've had huge to-go orders, we've never had a mix-up. The prices are definitely a bit lower than the elegant decor would indicate. I'd recommend it for business lunches or dates out. They lose a star for having supremely annoying parking (and expensive, too) during the day. Park on a legal side street in Belmont, don't pay stupid parking lot prices.
(4)Karen D.
Trying to spend my dollars supporting local businesses, I was hoping my fellow Yelpers were right about this place. I'm sad to report I was very disappointed. The restaurant itself is nice with tasteful decor, but that's about where it ended for me. After we were seated the server took a bit to come over. I thought it was a bit odd given that for most of our meal there were only 2-4 other diners in the whole restaurant. I ordered the chicken basil and asked for it to be very hot. It wasn't. The flavor was good, but not great. My BF got the yellow curry. I had a taste and that was pretty good. I skipped the beer because I wasn't that impressed with the selection, but I admit, that's just me being picky. A couple of minutes after we ordered, I asked the server if I could get the hot and sour soup thinking that would come out pretty quickly. About 5-10 minutes later the entree came. I figured the server forgot about the soup and I was just going to take a pass at that point. However, she showed up with it as I was almost done with my dinner. I said that I didn't expect it to show up at the end of the meal and she said by the time I put in the soup order, the entree was ready. Apparently I was stuck with it, so I figured I'd try it. A cup of soup for $4.25 that took 20 minutes to prepare must be pretty darn tasty, right? Wrong again. It wasn't hot, it wasn't sour, and it was awful. My BF tried it and he agreed. We sat for a bit when we were finished and when the server finally came over, I was surprised she didn't say anything about the soup that was clearly not eaten. She gave us the bill, didn't say anything like the typical "thank you" or "no rush." When we were leaving, I noticed the Indian restaurant a few doors down was very busy. Next time I am looking for some spicy local flavor, that's where I'm headed. And if I am really looking for Thai, I won't be going back to Patou.
(2)Chu C.
Maybe judging a place by its takeout is not really the best way to gauge a restaurant, but the take out from Patou Thai was very so-so. We ordered 5 plates in total, including the pad thai (fair to good), wide rice noodles (fair), fried rice (good) and a strange spicy pork dish (not ordering that again). I like some of the other Cambridge/Arlington Thai places a bit better. In its defense, despite its central location, Patou has a large seating area and convenient parking lot behind it. The decor is sparse but clean, and there are privacy barriers which jut out from wall corners to make it a little more intimate feeling. They even have some outdoor tables in the back as well. The prices are very reasonable.. The service was friendly but plodding, and some of the workers don't speak much English.
(3)Meghan M.
Very good suburban Thai food restaurant. Excellent red curry and mussels appetizer. They also have great noodle dishes. Their seafood and vegetables are super fresh and I really like their ambiance (especially the outdoor patio for nicer weather).
(4)Bernice S.
Back away and let me at those damn good short ribs -- they made a believer out of me! Service is always good; and it's the only place in Belmont center that has a "classy date night" atmosphere with the warm glowing lanterns and rich dark wood tables and is still spacious and welcoming enough to families and larger groups wanting to have a nicer dinner out.
(4)jylcat R.
I went here for a work lunch with about 10 other people, and we had a great time. The service was quite good, the one waitress seemed to always be around. Points for paying attention and always being around (without hovering). The appetizers were amazing (I'm generally a HUGE fan of apps)... we got the curry triangles and the chicken wings. I highly recommend the chicken wings, they were in some amazing ginger sweet n sour sauce and were crispy, not too greasy, very meaty and pretty much the best wings I've had in a long time. They also give you a nice big plate of them for an app. The flavor of the sauce is fantastic. I was a little disappointed in my pad thai. I found it bland, and lacking in zing (vinegar, lime, something was missing). It was good, but it was just missing some flavor element. For the record, everyone else's dishes were amazing. The other person who got pad thai liked theirs, I guess I just like a little more flavor. The short ribs... get them. They were awesome. They're so tender they practically fall off the bone and the sauce is fantastic.
(4)Rayan S.
Just like the rest of the comments on here, this place is a must visit if you happen to be residing or passing through Belmont center. The price is extremely well for the quality of food you will receive. My favorites include Short Ribs (Very Tender, and a must have), Savory Noodles, Pad Thai, Beef Panang and lots more. Everyone working there are extremely friendly and welcoming, the atmosphere is quiet and relaxing. A lot of people order for take out also, but i would much rather sit in. If you've already read most of these reviews, you owe yourself to at least try once, trust me you'll get hooked. "Dan's the man"
(5)Beth G.
We have both eaten in and gotten takeout from Patou and I'm a fan...Everything we've ordered has been SO flavorful and well done. The day we closed on our house, we got Patou take out and had a picnic on our brand new kitchen floor. Which has nothing to do with the review or score, I just thought I'd mention it. :op My boyfriend loves the short ribs...which I don't see on their online menu, but are just incredible. They fall apart in your mouth and have this subtle heat to them.. oh yeah..just thinking about them does it for me.. I'm a big fan of the chicken coconut soup. It has this comforting quality that really works. And the pad thai is also really well done. I'd give it a try...I don't think you'll be disappointed. Just make sure to ask them about the short ribs..HIDDEN JEWEL I'm telling you!
(4)Allison S.
Hidden gem! Looks tiny on the outside, but has a ton of seating inside, and also outdoor seating in summer. Food was excellent. We shared the chicken satay, pad thai, and yellow curry, and coconut ice cream with fried bananas! All very authentic tasting and sauces were amazing. The atmosphere was very simple and refreshing. Soothing blues and interesting light pendants over tables. Well done for once! I will definitely go again, especially in summer.
(4)M E.
This place lived up to it's 4 star standing...good vibe and not too overpriced. The pad Thai was great and the short ribs were ridiculous!!! Very yummy food, good service and the owner is a nice guy. Did I mention the short ribs?
(4)KittyCat G.
My new obsession is the Tom Yum Noodle Soup - subtly hot, sour, salty, and sweet, and worth ordering in the middle of summer. Tiny but pleasant patio seating in warm weather.
(5)Ilene F.
Hard to believe that the town where Mitt Romney lives actually has some flavor. I've eaten here quite a few times, and have found it to be consistently good. Last night was no exception. We got the beef macadamia, which was loaded with beef, veggies, and macadamia nuts. Pleasantly spicy (I tend to like things fiery, but my dining companions were a little less adventurous). We also tried the jungle chicken curry, which had large fillets of chicken rather than bite sized pieces. Loaded with zucchini, peppers, and babycorns, it was zingy and flavorful. We also got an order of pad thai, as a staple to throw on the table. Theirs is quite good, with four nice size shrimp and mellow nutty noodles. My only real criticism is the thai rolls were not the cute small ones, but nearly eggroll sized and a bit greasy and bland. I haven't had their soups, but I'm sure I will soon. The restaurant has a lovely atmosphere, when I walked in to pick up my order, there were canoodling couples as well as a few large parties sharing lots of food. The staff is courteous and professional, and happy to accommodate any high maintenance needs you might have. They serve beer and wine, which in Belmont, is a luxury.
(4)Betty P.
My benchmark for Thai food is usually either pad thai or pineapple fried rice. The pad Thai at Patou is pretty good. It's been a long time since I have had great Pad Thai so I am really excited Patou is not too far from home. Their pineapple fried rice is good too, but it didn't have raisins and was instead topped with dried shredded pork. I didn't really like the addition of the shredded pork as I don't typically like that stuff, but you might. Looks like a bunch of hair or ear wax to me hehe. But everything else I have had here is pretty good. My work uses this place a lot for functions and recently, we had another dinner there. The owner of the restaurant called my boss from Thailand (!!!) just to make sure that everything was all set for the event. My boss was thoroughly impressed by this customer service and so am I. I am so glad I discovered Patou through work and I will definitely be back for more. Try sitting on the back patio for a nice romantic, quiet dinner. There is also free 2 hour parking in the rear lot which is a bonus!
(4)Robyn L.
After driving, running and walking by many times, I finally called up Patou to ask if they had take-out -- and the chicken yellow curry I was craving. Good news on both. The woman who answered was helpful and happy to explain the options. I walked over and found the place very tranquil and warmly lit; even the diners were quiet. They have a patio,which I'm guessing won't be intriguing much longer this year, but they were quick with my order and remembered that I didn't have a take-out menu, so it was added to the bag at the last minute. I thoroughly enjoyed the chicken yellow curry with brown rice. I could have used more pineapple, but I can never get enough pineapple... It was still plenty of food to have leftovers for lunch the next day.
(4)Alyssa l.
Patou is my favorite restaurant in Belmont Center, and one of my favorite Thai restaurants in the Boston area. Dan, the owner, is very friendly and the food is INCREDIBLE!! Some of my favorites are the jumbo shrimp cho chee curry, vegetable pad thai, and massaman curry. The pad thai is not too sweet and has almost no oil--delicious! They are also very accommodating of special diet requests. A must try!
(5)Rebekah C.
Just okay!
(2)I. P.
I think the best thing about Patou Thai is the look of the dining room. It's nicely decorated and really added to my dining experience. I thought the food was very solid. It wasn't spectacular, though it wasn't bad at all. I personally prefer the taste, portion sizes and prices and Thai Moon in Arlington Center. The wait staff at Patou Thai was extremely pleasant. Service was quick and came with a smile. I can't speak for all parents, but I personally did feel comfortable having my young son along for the meal. It was my first visit, so I didn't know what to expect. The wait stuff was extremely accommodating, so the discomfort is my own. The tables had nice white linens, I believe there was soft music playing, and our fellow diners were having quiet conversations. I think other moms an dads should know that the feel of the place is more upscale than child-friendly.
(3)Kendra D.
Decided to pop in here based on reviews from fellow Yelpers. The space was really adorable. From the street it looks like a tiny place with limited seating but as you approach the hostess table inside, the dining area really opens up. There is even a courtyard in the back for dining outdoors in the summer. Also looks like there is a nice big parking lot behind the building- if you don't feel like circling around the front for a spot. We started with the beef and chicken satay which was tender and flavored well. For my entree I had the yellow curry with shrimp. Not too spicy but enough kick to get the taste buds fired up. The shrimp were really fresh and good sized as well. My friend had some trio dish with beef, pork and chicken and loved it. Our waitress was above average and my friend was happy with his $5 house Cabernet. Great success!! I am excited to go back and try more of the menu!
(4)Vanilla P.
I am constantly amazed at how different cuisines are when demonstrated on two sides of the United States. The food here was good, but it seemed to be missing some of that Thai pizazz the West coast so easily represents. We sat in the back, on the tranquil patio before all the other diners arrived, and the views of the sunlight trees swaying over the parking lot was picturesque and soothing. It reminded me of Napa Valley's onset of commercialism. The little plug-in radio was tuned to static, but after adjusting it to a nice classical jazz station, hubby and I felt like we had aged 40 years and were rich and retired, enjoying our own dinner on our private balcony overlooking mere mortals. THe food was fine, just not spicy enough. All of the serving dishes are in these irregular shapes, and kept me entertained while I guzzled my German wine. I left full, which was nice, and left the loser vegetables in my curry bowl. No eggplant for me, thank you!
(3)Jay S.
Very friendly staff... excellent food. Top quality Thai food and easy to get to. For a good non-alcoholic drink try the ginger beer. Good space for large groups, a huge restaurant.
(5)D D.
I've only gotten takeout there, but the restaurant itself is lovely and quite large. It has an open minimalist Zen feeling and the waitstaff are friendly. I'd be very pleased to take anyone there to eat. The food is very good and I love their pad thai. I go there as a treat to myself and I've always enjoyed my food there.
(4)Mary S.
I went with BFF yesterday for lunch and wasn't impressed at all. The siam rolls were EXTREMELY greasy and overpriced. The Tom Yum's broth wasn't as rich as I'm used to. Also, there were no sauces, condiments on any of the tables, which I thought a bit odd for a Thai place. My companion's food was super salty (beef and broccoli). Service was slow. Go down the road to Pho and Thai for a tastier experience.
(2)Ken M.
I went here with about 15 people this afternoon. It's very good. Minus a star for all the food coming out one at a time.
(4)Laura H.
My boyfriend loves their pad thai; although, I prefer the pad woon sen. Both are good, as is everything. And since I love combination appetizers, we always get the rolls combo and usually a golden harvest. It's a little pricy - that is probably because the restaurant has a really nice atmosphere, very trendy. We usually get takeout, so aren't really that excited by the decor.. But very good.
(4)Brian N.
I discovered this place when my parents told me how amazing it was. My mom had come with her church group to celebrate someone's birthday, and she couldn't stop commenting on how good the food is! Needless to say, I was a bit skeptical at first. How could there be a good thai place in Belmont Center? However, I did end up going, and found it to be amazing. The service was attentive without being overbearing, and the food was really good! The pad thai is one of the best I have had, and as a native New Yorker, I was pleasantly surprised. The tiger tear salad is also really good too. All the food was freshly prepared, and it all came for a reasonable price too. However, I did try the shrimp salad once, and I found it to be too bland. Also, there was one occasion when the pad thai was just 'off' - it was too dry and there wasn't enough flavoring. Overall, however, this place is a wonderful establishment, and this restaurant has become my go-to place for good food at a reasonable price. It also helps that there is a huge parking lot behind the building too!
(4)sam p.
Walked in to Patou on a Friday for lunch. The place wasn't busy and there were 2-3 people attending to customers. I waited there to be seated and no one acknowledge that they will attend to me soon. Continued waiting thinking someone might come to me. But no one showed up. I don't care how good the food is, but bad customer service is something that I will not tolerate. I decided to take my business elsewhere...
(1)Luke R.
Love this place. If I'm looking for Thai food, this is the first place I go to. Great for dining in or take-out.
(5)Sarah T.
Awesome place with consistently great food and attentive service... have gone there for takeout and a meal in the restaurant and both are consistently good. I think that it is fantastic that even for takeout food they do their very best to take the attention to detail to heights but making nicely decoratively cut carrots and herbs to make them look attractive while the food is fresh and delicious making you want to return again to the restaurant for all the best of reasons. What is nice is that it also has a nice relaxing ambiance that can be romantic too depending on your company.
(5)Brandon C.
Awesome Thai food, decor is nice but food is even better. Try the Siamese fried rice and the short ribs. A little pricey but it is in a nice setting and upscale area so it is not out of range. Definitely recommended!
(5)Jonathan R.
One of the best Thia Restaurants I've been to on a consistent basis, menu is solid up and down and the Country Ground Chicken is excellent, tell 'em to kick it up a notch in spice and you won't be disappointed. This place is the Dustin Pedroi of Thai.
(4)Sheri O.
We've been looking for a Thai restaurant to call home after our favorite, Sala Thai in Arlington Heights, closed this past fall. We've tried several in Arlington and Lexington, and all have been just ok--nothing special. When we walked into Patou this evening, we were very impressed with the decor, as many of the other reviewers have commented upon. A leggy, 12-year-old-looking girl greeted us after we waited around the lobby area for roughly 5 mins and took us to a table. We sat down, made our menu selections, and proceeded to wait for a waitress to come by to greet us, bring us (tap) water, and perhaps even take our order. We waited, and waited, and waited. I tried to catch the waitress' eye and even wave down the 12-year-old (who was too busy prancing about the restaurant looking pretty) to let people know we were there (sitting at the window, no less), but to no avail. After 15 minutes, my husband and I got fed up, as we didn't want to sit around and wait perhaps even longer for the food to arrive. At this rate, we might not have made it out in under 3 hrs--too long for a weeknight meal! Unfortunately, we didn't wait around long enough to place our order or taste the food. So, they get a one-star for abysmal service and not making it worth our wait. Lucky for us, we discovered Stone Hearth Pizza, just a couple of doors down, which is our new favorite pizza place!
(1)Linda N.
Even though Patou Thai has been around for a few years I hadn't been in until recently. Maybe because it looked very dark and quiet from the street. But we were craving Thai, so we tried it and were pleasantly surprised. Once you get inside the dark blue walls are offset by enough white so it isn't gloomy inside at alll, and the staff is friendly and welcoming. There's good variety on the menu, with a really excellent Pad Thai and dishes for the more adventurous, like Dancing Squid (squid with hot peppers and string beans) or Duck Choo Chee (duck with curry and vegetables). (I didn't actually try those dishes so I can't report on them!) There is a good selection of salads, curries and different fried rice dishes as well as a few vegetarian offerings in addition to an extensive number of "Mains". The four stars are because even though the appetizers were tasty, I thought the curry and shrimp rolls were more squishy and oily than crispy and crunchy.
(4)Jack N.
Wow for a Thai place in Belmont. Pad Thai and red curry dishes are both top notch, and the atmosphere is great.
(4)Henry P.
After a busy morning of actually working, we hit up this place for lunch. Easily found a parking spot, and just as easily found the establishment. The place is purdy swanky in a modern way, tasteful gas fireplace(s?) add a nice touch. Nice sturdy menu, constructed of some sort of bound hardcover. Glancing over the 'specials,' the room suddenly went into slow motion as an eye caught the words *Short Ribs* and my mouth instantly became a cesspool of drool. The description said "thai curry" which sounded just amazing. I waited patiently. Unbeknown to myself, most likely due to being temporarily paralyzed with what I call Licious Fatty Fever, this dish comes with shocked green beans and brown rice. Awesome! Counterbalance for-the-mofat-win! You only get 1 rib, so don't be misled by the plural menu title. Priced at under $9, the dish was just perfect. In the haze, I can hardly recall what the others ordered. They looked happy though! ^.^ The final surprise was that I was back in the office in exactly an hour, like a good worker bee.
(5)Jo B.
I've been spoiled a little when it comes to Thai food. If I were to count the number of different Thai restaurants I've eaten at in the past, the number would be well over 50. That being said, Patou was pretty average to me. Not amazing, but not horrible by any means. I got to sample three different dishes there - the pork with ginger (pork was a little tough, sauce was not gingery enough, kind of bland), the chicken with red curry sauce (good amount of fresh vegetables, this was actually quite good) and the pad thai (very disappointed in the pad thai because it didn't have very much stuff in it other than noodles and a lot of oil). There were a lot of good reviews for this place so maybe I just went on an off night. Will give it another shot at some time because the atmosphere is quite nice.
(3)X X.
Open at 11:30 (as all good lunch restaurants should be), Patou Thai is a lovely newish Thai place in Belmont, which is always wont for good restaurants. Very handsomely appointed, a bit more formal than an average neighborhood Thai place. I had the Pad Thai with tofu (no shrimp) and it was one of the better versions I've had in the Boston area. My dining partners had the Lemon Thai Chicken and a pineapple chicken dish, both which looked very appealing and with which they were happy. All the ingredients used were fresh, and the food was neither bland nor overly spiced in all directions (like a number of other local places I can think of). Prices for lunch were very reasonable for the quality. Not "The Best Thai in the World" but a solid addition to Belmont Center.
(5)Mischa I.
These guys are great! The service is consistently great, the food is excellent served in healthy portions, and the ambiance quite nice. The owner is always there floating around, opening the door for his guest, or chatting away. Good people, good food, good price, great experience :)
(5)michael w.
great food, wonderful atmosphere, superb service. owners are always happy and cheerful. reasonable prices to boot.
(5)Beverly S.
I will have to give a thumbs down for Patou Thai restaurant after having lunch there today. This was my first visit and I was very disappointed. I ordered their chicken with ginger and pine nuts dish which comes with assorted cooked vegetables and rice. My dish was not only bland, but tasteless, and the ingredients did not taste fresh. The rice came cold. I couldn't find either any ginger or pine nuts in the dish. When I called this to the attention of the waitress, who was pleasant enough, she said "she" forgot to put them in! She then brought me two small bowls, one containing ginger, the other with pine nuts. I also had ordered hot Thai tea. The waitress returned and told me they didn't have Thai tea. I thought this unusual for a Thai restaurant. I usually give most restaurants a second try, but this meal was so disappointing, I won't return.
(1)Esther J.
The ambiance is great, but there's no one to greet you. After a few minutes, I asked if I should just seat myself. The greeter mumbled something and picked up the phone and seemed to have a casual conversation for 5 minutes. As I turned around to leave, she quickly got off the phone and seated me. The only time a waitress came around was to serve my food. I had to walk up to ask for the check, give my payment, ask for hot spices twice, which they only had minimally/basic kind, but the pad thai was great. Worst service ever experienced. Non-existent. Hate writing bad reviews.
(1)Izzy G.
This is right down the street so it's easy. Great drunken noodles and the pad Thai is solid! Ambiance is strange but the food is really worth it. Cheap Thai beer and very fast! I've also tried the beef basil which was spicy and yummy!
(4)Carolyn G.
I've been many times and finally am writing a review. I love this restaurant for so many reasons. The food is fabulous, from the appetizers: sumai, spring rolls, satay, etc.. to main dishes - I could list them all! My husbands favorite is the beef short ribs. It's a consistently nice dining experience with care also taken to the dishes presentation. The staff are all friendly and efficient. There is seating for two, four or more and a private back room with a large window (albeit looking over the parking lot) for a party. They also have out door dining in the back in the summer. Also parking is never an issue. They also have some beautiful wood carved screens and tables that are a must see.
(5)Alan W.
Great house fried rice and iced tea. Nice and low key. Great location in the center. Eat in or takeout is thr same great quality.
(5)Sam O.
The food can range from average to very tasty. Therein lies one of the problems: the consistency seems to be pretty low. Depending on who makes it on a given day, it can taste completely different than on other days. The menu offers a wide range of choices and it is not easy to pick amongst them. The place is very clean and spacious and has a good lunch ambience. The worst part here is probably the slow service. Between the wait to order, the time it takes to actually get the food and the time it takes them to bring the check, one actually spends as much time as at an upscale dinner place on a weekend day. I am usually here to have a relatively quick, casual lunch, so this is a real problem.
(3)Bryan H.
Had the beef basil for lunch, was great.
(4)Stephen S.
My wife and I go there once a month and enjoy the $45 dinner special I enjoy the Pad Thai
(4)Melissa D.
Love the decor, the plentiful parking - and mostly, the amazing Thai food.
(5)Ally R.
TWILIGHT ZONE ALERT!!! My man and I thought it'd be nice to go out to eat about a week before Christmas. The beautiful Christmas tree in the back part of Patou Thai lured us in - and we were hoping to enjoy our meal by its ambient glow... Well, let's just say our hopes of eating went to mere hopes of simply being acknowledged by ANYONE...(sending out an SOS to ANYONE!!!) But no...we stood at the hostess area for a few minutes without any sort of greeting, let alone eye contact from any of the employees. Thinking maybe they didn't see us, we inched our way forward to the bar...where staff moved in and out of the kitchen. Again, we waited for about 5 minutes and STILL nothing! Finally we said "Hello? Can we please get a table?" They then looked at us if that was the most asinine question they'd ever heard and mumbled something about clearing off a table. At that point, we felt we'd be seething over our meal if we stayed, so we just turned and left. And no, no one seemed to care about that either.* Too bad Patou, we were hoping to really like you. There was a good amount of people in the restaurant, but surely it wasn't that busy to not properly acknowledge and greet what most likely would have been repeat patrons. *We remedied the situation by going to Kashish, the Indian restaurant a few doors down, where we were greeted promptly and served yummy food quickly.
(1)Mia R.
Just had the prix fixe lunch. Service was excellent and fast. Food was excellent. We loved the shumi, vegetable rolls, and curry roll appetizers, the curry vegetables and pad Thai. Awesome!
(5)edward o.
Have been here a few times before and have enjoyed the food. Very clean establishment. When I arrived tonight they had just cleaned the restrooms and it was spotless. Walked by the kitchen and same with the kitchen. Food was Fresh and delicious. Had the Thai soup, chicken satay, pad Thai and crispy rolls. All fresh and flavorful. Definitely recommend.
(5)Kelin C.
The chicken pad Thai was fantastic! The best of any I've had in the Greater Boston area. The service was prompt and the waiters were contagiously happy. The atmosphere is fairly good, although slow jams on the saxophone is never bad music to have at a restaurant, I was hoping for something more authentic. The location is great, there are plenty of nearby shops and parking wasn't too bad. Surprisingly there weren't many other patrons, but I was dining on a Saturday for lunch, and a filling lunch it was at a fair price ($9 for pad Thai).
(5)Caitlin C.
If you enjoy awkward service and average Thai, I'd recommend Patou in a heartbeat. We were sat in the back of the restaurant, which was empty and freezing. It took almost 10 minutes for anyone to realize we were there, and when they finally took our order we were surprised to find out that rice doesn't come with any of the dishes - it's a dollar more. Not that it breaks the bank or anything, but I've never heard of a Thai restaurant charging for white rice on main dishes. Maybe they do things differently in New England. Dishes arrived hot but after a minute or so they quickly cooled down in the freezing room. Not that it mattered much - our food was extremely spicy. We love spice, so it didn't bother us too much, but I feel the best Thai dishes incorporate more flavor vs heat. Overall we were dying to get out of there. The service was really slow for a place that only has three tables full in the middle of peak dining hours, and it kind of bums me out that we spent $40 for two sub-par entrees. Lesson learned!
(2)Hiroko L.
I have been a customer of this restaurant for a decade. My favorite dish has been "Tom Yum Noodle (not soup)!" It's so flavorful! You must try it!
(4)Alejandra C.
This place is amazing! The food is so delicious and it's obvious that the chef puts in passion in his or her work. I would eat there every day, and it's also very nutritious. The people working there are also very nice and put a name to the face! AMAZING!!
(5)Tamarleigh G.
I have eaten there a couple of times, and I am very impressed. The last time I was there, I ordered some special that still makes my mouth water just to think about it. The decor is beautiful, especially some of the tables. The food is absolutely delicious. And the service is very good, as well! A win all around.
(5)Jennifer G.
STUNNING decor! This place blew me away with it's ink coloured walls, gorgeous lighting and great service! came with a group and def will be back!
(4)Adam P.
Went here on a whim after stopping by Craft Beer Cellar next door for my regular beer run. I have very mixed feelings about this place... the ambiance is nice, the service was okay, and the food was mostly good. Had the hot and sour shrimp soup (solid flavor but slightly watery) and chicken coconut soup (pretty tasty and on par with other places) to start. Entrees were the shrimp pad thai (absolutely fantastic) and wild boar basil (spicy enough for me, but just not exciting in any way, shape, or form). The standout star of the meal was undoubtedly the pad thai, but most everything else was not worth the slightly high price tag. And speaking of price tag, I was ready to give Patou four stars because of the delicious pad thai, but then came the check. A $2 extra charge for the rice that came with (or apparently didn't) my pork dish. I absolutely cannot stand asian restaurants that charge extra for rice (which costs them basically NOTHING to buy and prepare) with dishes that have no noodles or anything like that. Furthermore, I was not told it would be extra, I was simply asked if I'd like brown or white rice. So all in all, my average pork with veggies entree came out to over $15, while I could get it (with rice) for no more than $10-$11 at many other asian joints (and not just the dirt cheap Americanized ones). Honestly the rice thing upset me enough to dock even more stars, but Patou's pad thai was too good for me to rate them any lower. Proceed with caution!
(3)Matt C.
Patou, being walking distance to my office is one of my usual lunch time haunts and lemme tell you, this place is AMAZING. I love Thai food and can't really find decent, fresh food outside of Boston. Patou is the solution for those Thai lovers out there which can't stand the hassle of finding city parking. My favorite dishes here are the Pad Thai (light but very flavor full - you usually get 3-4 large fresh shrimp mixed in) and the Noodles & Tender Beef which has fresh cut beef mixed with veggies and thick cut noodles. Both dishes are truly worth driving for and the majority of lunch entrees are under $10. The staff are friendly and the owner Dan personally checks in on our every table. Totally weird but Patou has the coldest water I've ever drank.
(5)Anya H.
When we walked in I immediately felt like we were in a refrigerator. It was freezing! After we ordered, we watched TWO tables which had both been seated after us receive their food first. It was a long wait. Not only that but the appetizer arrived with the main course. Isn't it supposed to come before? Our waitress never checked on us. I never saw her until we were paying. I was hoping to get an extra plate to serve my sister some of my pad Thai on. Also I ran out of water. I felt the food itself was fine but it was a long cold wait for average food.
(2)Melissa M.
Exquisite Thai restaurant in the heart of Belmont Center. Tofu pad thai with veggies will be my next item to order. I treated myself to a Saturday lunch at Patou on a chilly afternoon. I got a glass of their house Chardonnay and it was delicious with my tofu pad thai. For some reason I was thinking it came with veggies, but it does not. Next time I'll specify. The server was very prompt, polite, and sweet. The prices are so low, I couldn't believe it -- I was kind of nervous the quality would not be there, but it was. I'd guess this was the best pad thai I've had. They offer lunch deals and you will get a ton of food. I hear they have a great dinner deal too. The restaurant was spotless and large and very nicely decorated. I will definitely come back.
(5)Silvia V.
After two+ years of living in Belmont, we ventured on to the "other" Thai restaurant (we live close to Pho & Thai and are used to ordering from them) and were very pleasantly surprised. We only got takeout: Country Style Chicken Basil (as per a fellow Yelper's review), rice and Pad Thai with shrimp. The food was fresh and very delicious. The chicken dish was pretty spicy, but very tasty nonetheless. It did not come with rice, so it had to be ordered separately. As I walked into the restaurant, I was so pleasantly surprised by the decor. It was not kitschy as some Thai restaurants can be. I was told that weather permitting, they have outdoor patio seating as well. Patou Thai is Zagat rated (2011-2012). We will definitely be back.
(4)Jennifer L.
Very impressed with the food at Patou. We ordered the garden roll and chicken wings as appetizers- the garden roll was fresh and very tasty and the chicken wings were cooked to my wife's liking! Very crispy as we requested! For an the main course, we ordered the yellow curry dish with chicken. Again full of flavor and perfect portion size for 2. I would recommend this restaurant for some good Thai food in Belmont.
(4)Doctor D.
This place.....very well done and fresh food!!! Very fresh. Service is excellent and the quality of the presentation on the plate very nice. They've got a great lunch menu too.......entrée, salad and two appetizers for around $11-12. Try this place!!!!
(5)Libby G.
Love Patou! The service is friendly, if not always fast (and if you go there a few times, the owner will recognize you and chat which I think is so nice). The place is beautifully decorated, though I sometimes think they would benefit from it being half the size that it is. They have the best Pad Thai of anywhere I've tried. My fiancé swears by their jungle curry, my mom will cross state lines just for their savory noodles, and my dad can't be in Boston for 24 hours during soft-shell crab season without hitting up Patou. So they are definitely doing something right!
(4)Dianne L.
Yellow curry dishes are mouthwatering. The restaurant is clean and quick when you want some quick take out for yourself or guests.
(4)Georgiana S.
Tried this place last night for the first time, Everything was delicious, and they can make it spicier if you request it. The coconut soup was likely the best I have ever had, very rich. The pad thai was perfectly cooked, not greasy at all. We will be heading back there again soon.
(5)Michael G.
I went on a Saturday night. Large place but nicely decorated and felt cozy. I had the Spring rolls, and red curry. Great food, nice service.
(4)M S.
Average Thai food. Lots of spice. No taste. The vegetable spring rolls are too big and greasy. The Chicken Red Curry had no bamboo shoots in it which is a must have for that dish.
(2)Hogger K.
Food 3 Service 2 Decor 5 This is a wierd restaurant, and I think that's why there is such a wide variety of scores by reviewers. When you walk in the place looks tiny, and then you walk by the kitchen (yes, the kitchen is in the middle of a restaurant whose floorplan can only be described as an hourglass shape) and into a large back room with very tasteful and simple decor. It's the sort of decor that Gordon Ramsay would appreciate. Another reassuring sign is that the people working in the kitchen are all Thai. I say this because there is a French restaurant in Boston that used to be great. You could walk by that kitchen and everyone was speaking in French. But then a year later a lot of people started commenting that the food had become worse and the language of the kitchen had become Spanish. The same thing would have happened if most of the workers were Japanese, Korean, or Nigerian. The point is that when you go to an ethnic restaurant, it's reassuring that the people in the kitchen are actually from that country. Patou is that way. That being said, the food is mediocre. After seeing the positive reviews for the pad thai, I tried it. It was too sweet. If your someone who thinks that authentic pad thai is sweet, then you don't know what authentic pad thai is. It's only in America that we make it sweet. So, I didn't like the pad thai. The appetizers were also average. I tried a couple of other dishes, and the problem is that the food is "de-spiced". If you want to taste authentic Thai food, then compare dishes between Patou and S&I Restaurant in Allston. Americans will probably like Patou better, but that doesn't mean that the food is authentic. It just means that the food is made to fit the average American palate. The food at Patou isn't bad, but there is a part of me that wonders what the Thai chefs in the kitchen could do if they knew that the restaurant was going to be full of Thai people. My guess is that they could probably whip up some great Thai food. But when I went there, the customer base is predominantly Caucasian and that affects the way the food is prepared. The problem that many other reviewers have mentioned is the service. I'm not sure why this is often a problem at restaurants. And the strange thing I've noticed is that it doesn't matter if a restaurant is full or empty, bad service is bad service. When I went to Patou, there were plenty of waitresses. But there were only about 4 tables in the back area with customers. Yet my group had to wait 25 minutes for the bill to arrive. That should never happen, especially in an empty restaurant. When I see lousy service like that, I'm much less likely to go back to that restaurant, and it becomes a vicious cycle for the waitstaff. They piss off customers, customers don't return, the waitstaff's tips decrease because there are less customers, the waitstaff has less incentive to work hard, this pisses off new customers who go to the restaurant, and it becomes a death spiral. Here's a free hint for any restaurant owners out there. Your waitstaff has to keep an eye out for when everyone at the table has finished eating. The closer a table is to finishing, the more frequent the waitstaff should walk by. The moment the waitstaff detects that the last person at the table has finished, they should ask if people are interested in dessert or coffee, and if the answer is no, then the check should be sent to the table immediately. It's a pretty simple formula that this restaurant and several others I've visited can't seem to understand. The rest of the waitstaff's performance at this restaurant was fine.
(3)Michaela M.
A small group of us went to Patou Thai for lunch. When we walked in the aroma of spices made my stomach grumble! We ordered one appetizer and two entrees which was plenty for the three of us for lunch. The beef and chicken satay was tender, flavorful and fabulous. The two entrees were: the pad thai and a shrimp and eggplant dish with white rice that was a special for that day. The pad thai was among the best that i have ever had. as opposed to a heavy brown sauce this dish was light with very thin noodles. The other dish, the eggplant and shrimp was my least favorite of the items we ordered. However it was still pretty good. The waitstaff was extremely attentive. I would definitely come here again!
(4)Caleb L.
I love Thai food but have high standards. This place is great, but somewhat quirky, though the important items remain: They have awesome Pad Thai, their Tom Yum is great (although it's called something like "Hot and Sour Shrimp Soup" and has an asinine description on their to-go menu) and their decorum is top notch. Great service, wonderful location and reasonable prices make this my favorite Thai place in the Belmont area. Oh and yes, the beef ribs are incredible. Spicy and finger-licking. Better than any I've ever had!
(5)Xtina R.
I've been here a few times and have enjoyed both the food and atmosphere. It gets a little busy towards the weekends so sometimes the service is just OK but the food is worth it. If you order Thai ice tea, they bring you the stuff to make it which is fun and you an control how sweet you want it etc. The food is GREAT! My bf is also a huge fan of this place....the restaurant itself has a great ambiance and is decorated nicely...definitely recommend!
(5)Joanna C.
Great place for so many reasons... 1. Staff is awesome, especially the owner. Super chatty, friendly, attentive, joyful, and all of the above. 2. Super clean with open kitchen. 3. Very cool ambience in the restaurant, cool lighting, neat tables and decoration, and outdoor patio seating in the summer. 4. Delicious food- my favorite Pad Thai by far. All the rolls (fresh spring, siam, and curry) are amazingly delicious, I always order at least one of the above. All the entrees are superb and fresh, and I would highly recommend the Country Style Chicken &Basil, Pik King Shrimp, Panang Beef, Chonburi Wings, and Pine Nut Chicken. It's just high quality, fresh, delicious Thai cuisine that doesn't make your stomach or wallet feel guilty after. One of my personal faves, and writing this review is making me drool. Might need to call for some take out.
(5)Adam S.
We decided to try Patou after looking at the Zagat ratings and all the positive reviews on Yelp. We are vegetarians and hence ordered from the Vegetarian corner. The food was horribly bad and the quantity was extremely less. The red curry had only the sauce in it and very few vegetables. The noodles dish looked like it was an appetizer and not an entree. Another vegetable dish that we ordered had no flavor it - looked like it was diluted soy sauce mixed with vegetables. Never would recommend and never would go there again.
(1)Amanda L.
We love the food here, plus there's always room-- it's quite spacious in the back. They are very friendly to children and give them pencils and paper to color on while we wait. My son has several food allergies which make it hard to eat out for Asian food, but we've found dishes here that he loves and we're confident they handle his food carefully to prevent cross-contamination. A nice place for dinner-- just the right balance of casual and formal.
(5)Robo T.
The chicken hot basil was delicious. It was flavorful and the heat of the spice was great. It left a lingering sting. The interior is contemporary and flows well. They did a great job with layout dealing with a front and rear entrance (unlike another restaurant in the same block). The staff is very friendly and welcoming. The downside is the price. I had this for lunch at $9 and change and it really wasn't much chicken. If there was more chicken or the price was lower I would consider going more frequently. At this point I'll only go if its convenient.
(3)Gavin R.
-- Ok not bad, not great, I'd have to say that I was a bit disappointed with the food, but not with the service. It is definitely kid friendly.
(3)Matt K.
Extremely high priced for quality of food. I was disappointed that basics were not up to par for the price. Pad Thai was too sweet Siam/Thai fried Rice was dried out Portions were meager Much better options exist in neighboring towns for high quality Thai food
(2)Amber A.
My fiance and I eat here all the time, and it does not get any better than this for Thai food. Other favorites of ours used to be Khao Sarn in Brookline and Bamboo in Brighton, but Patou is better than both. I would even go as far as to say that this is the best restaurant in Belmont, period. Patou is by far the best value for your money. The food: First of all, my fiance is very particular about his diet, and the waitstaff is always willing to accommodate his every request, including using olive oil instead of canola oil when cooking the dish. They do this every time without an annoyed look or eye roll in sight. The chicken: this can be touch and go at any asian eating establishment. Here, they serve fresh, thickly sliced pieces with very little fat, if at any at all. The vegetables are also super fresh, and the sauces are delicious. They staff will take your comments about levels of hotness seriously as well. The staff: all the servers here are very nice and friendly. This is the result of the owner himself being a very nice person, who regularly makes a point to come over and talk to his guests. He goes out of his way to bring that personal touch to the service, and it makes going there that much more enjoyable. The service speed here is just right. Fast, so you're not waiting for appetizers or your meal, but not so fast that you're don't have time to talk. The restaurant: the ambiance of this place is one of a kind and very modern and contemporary. Deep blue walls and funky conic light fixtures create a great mood for dining. The whole feeling is very soothing, and has just enough thai influence to make it authentic, without being over the top and cheesy. The crowd: we see everyone in here, from older couples to young couples, to families with kids. It's great and affordable for groups of any size. Since it's in Belmont, mostly a family town, the busiest time is in the early evening - 6-7:30 ish. By the time we arrive, typically between 8 and 9, we are able to enjoy the restaurant being a little less full. However, even if you were there and it was full, it wouldn't be an issue because they don't cram tables right next to each other. Things are nicely spaced out, with a front, back, lower and outside dining area all available for seating. Parking: couldn't be easier. On street in Belmont is usually available, but if not, there is a huge lot behind the restaurant. Nothing but good things to say about this restaurant. If you like Thai or are just looking for a great restaurant in the Belmont/Cambridge/Watertown area, this is the place for you.
(5)