A cute little restaurant with ok food. We go here every now and then because (1) we love Thai, (2) it is BYOB, and (3) the restaurant itself is cozy. I've never loved a meal here, but it's been consistently fine. The "create your own noodle soup" option is nice, but always ask for extra extra cilantro for more flavor. They do deliver, but I haven't figured it out yet - I think they just deliver on nights when they feel like it. It's worth calling and asking if you want delivery.
(3)
Charlotte S.
Not bad, not bad. I agree with a lot of Yelpers that the portions are a bit small for the price but, honestly, I don't mind paying a little extra on things I know I definitely cannot duplicate at home. I would've liked for my food to be a bit spicier but it hit the spot as far as a Thai food craving went. I ordered the Pad See Ew and tried a bit of a spicy seafood plate which, in my opinion, is well worth the price. It was loaded with assorted treasures of the sea, INCLUDING SCALLOPS WHICH IS TOTALLY MY FAVORITE. I hate when you order a seafood dish, pay a little extra, and it arrives to you with, like, four little shrimps. This one didn't disappoint. Also, I love that their plates are little animals. Except I felt weird about basically inhaling my noodles only to discover a pig underneath. What are you tryin' to say! Anyway, this is one of the first Thai places I've tried in Providence, so I'm not going to say it's "the best" but it was more than decent, the service was fast and, while abrupt, the waitstaff was always kind. I like that it's small and cozy, it's perfect for a casual, intimate dinner.
(4)
Eva K.
I normally go to South Side/Elmwood neighborhood for Southeast Asian cuisine, and being that I am SEA and have been eating that cuisine since birth, and cooking since I can remember, this place is not authentic and caters to its neighborhood, which for me, takes away from diners knowing, tasting and ultimately understanding what SEA cuisine is. It's always a let down when I give any restaurant a try and it's not good- happens to all of us, but when it's a cuisine near and dear to my heart, it's pretty discouraging. FYI: The Thai noodle soup w Chkn broth comes from a noodle packet (similar packaging to Ramen noodles) that you can buy at a local Asian market for $0.50, so don't bother with theirs.
(1)
Connie W.
I'm not sure why this place doesn't have better ratings!! Ok maybe I have a guess...the portions are a little small. But come on people, aren't we about quality and not quantity anyway? Maybe people aren't using Sawaddee for what it's intended to be - a cute homey place to have a nice dinner with friends, family style. It might be a good idea to each pick a plate or two and sample everything - Thai food is all about robust flavors and having a diverse smattering is how to do it. Here's my humble take on a few of their dishes: pad thai - Very flavorful, don't expect a huge portion; served on an adorable plate (everything is) pad see ew - Got the beef one, very tender beef and nice chewy noodles! The broccoli was crisp tender and sopped up all the lovely sauce and was my favorite part of this dish mango curry - Never thought of cooking with mango, but it's a nice sweet balance in this somewhat spicy curry. Delicious with the crispy fried tofu, especially on sticky rice! steamed banana leaf wrapped salmon - The waitress warned me that this would be a small portion, but it sure was flavorful! The salmon was fork tender and enveloped in coconut curry, tucked into an adorable banana leaf and steamed. Incredibly flavorful and perfect with jasmine rice. green papaya salad - Very flavorful, with crispy roasted peanuts and sweet crunchy green beans. The squeeze of lime at the table is key. A wonderful appetizer, especially in the summer. fried bananas with vanilla ice cream - This was a "welcome back to school" treat on the house! The folks at Sawaddee are so sweet and definitely do their part to ensure everyone has a great meal. Service was prompt and attentive as well. I will be back!
(4)
Daniel B.
To be fair to the review, I haven't been here in a long time because I didn't get a sense of value. Nothing has changed for me. I went in for a togo order, and spend five minutes looking at the lunch menu (after expressly saying I was doing togo), and then I was informed they don't do togo for lunch. Fine. I order the same thing for the dinner menu and only one item was a different price for lunch. I leave to run an errand, and come back to find that they didn't make it togo. Fine, I'll wait. Unless you have a big screen playing Dr. Who, I'm going home. So then the server/host comes out and tells me they made the lunch portions of the items and they would discount the difference. Now I understand why she wanted me to eat in. The biggest problem I had out of all of this is the portion. My TWO orders of soup barely filled a quart container. While it was $8 total, I still feel it doesn't have the value.
(2)
bo h.
In my opinion, this is the best pad thai I have ever had. However, this is not the place you go to enjoy a great dining experience...it IS a hole in the wall so take it for what it's worth and get takeout. It's not known for it's ambiance and I believe anyone that has been there would tell you that....but if you can get past the lack of ambiance, they have great food! Bottom line: Get takeout and then go to the wine shop close by and grab your favorite bottle (or 2) and enjoy in the comfort of your own home....sigh....now doesn't that sound nice?
(4)
Gina C.
This place is absolutely terrible for take out. My husband and I just moved to Providence from Boston, and we ordered take out for our first dinner in our new house. We haven't moved dishes or flatware into our house yet, so I requested 4 times that the restaurant include paper plates, napkins, and utensils. The order arrives (food is cold mind you), and there are absolutely no plates, napkins, or utensils. Awesome. It was freezing outside, late at night, we had already cold food sitting on the counter, and in order to even consume the damn stuff we had to schlep ourselves around town to find plastic utensils and plates (better be worth it I'm thinking). Yeah, it wasn't. Firstly, we ordered an appetizer of crab rang-goon. Who doesn't love that sh*t, right? Guess how many were in the order....three! Laughable. Three little crab rang-goons for two full-sized adults that are ravenous after a 14 hour day. Imagine if I had a couple of people over? How embarrassed would I be after opening their flimsy little paper bag of crab rang-goons to discover that there are only three. Lol. Great segue for my next complaint. The portion sizes are TINY. The sides of sauces are also....you guessed it....TINY. You think when spending $50 on food for two people you're getting a lot of food, right? Wrong. Even the main entrees were small. Lastly, the vegetables we ordered were tired and had seen better days. They did not seem fresh at all. Part of me feels bad for writing this review, I confess. But this food wasn't even mediocre. Therefore, it is my duty to warn my new fellow "rhodies" :) Perhaps this place is great for dining in, but avoid take out at all costs!
(1)
Heather V.
Big disappointment I love Pad Thai and figured if anyone would do it right in the Providence area it would be a Thai food place. I was wrong. The noodles were very bland, it didn't taste like pad thai, I had ordered it with shrimp and they were over cooked and I had 3 tiny shrimp in the whole dish. My co-worked had a different noodle dish that at least had some flavor to it.
(2)
Rapas C.
This is a great spot of you are looking for a more authentic thai food. I am Thai and so are my friends. There are many dishes I like here but there are still misses. Also, this place is reallyyy small, like really. I would have to say they make one of the best pad thais in Rhode Island. The curries here are also great, I have tried the green curry, panaeng, and the mango curry. Grilled chicken would have to be the most recommended dish here as an overall from me and my Thai friends. Even though the drunken noodle and the pad see ew are not my first choices, I still enjoy them enough and my friends love them. Definitely end the day with their dessert. We loveeee the sticky rice with custard (its called sang-ka-ya). Always order, always gone in seconds. Don't order the som tum (papaya salad) here, it is really not what you are looking for.
(4)
Joyce N.
Best Thai food in Providence hands down!!! Cons: -Portion sizes are small -The owner can be a bit rude/snippy But seriously, this place deserves way more stars. Get the pad thai, drunken noodles, any of their curries, or their pla rad prik. If you're looking to try a new Thai dish, their pla rad prik is whole trout fried to a crisp with chili sauce that is great accompanied with their stick rice.
(5)
Gypsy V.
Ahhhh, Sawadee. I was a regular here while a student at Brown - so much so, when I called to order take-out, they recognized my voice and remembered my order! What can I say - I like what I like and I know when I've found a good thing! My usual was the crab fried rice - I love love LOVE this dish. The crab is super fresh and plentiful. I order it as spicy as it comes (4/4 "stars," which is how they rate their spiciness). Yummmmmm. The rice is fluffy, the onions cooked to perfection. It's so good, so rich and flavorful, I would order it on my death bed. I found the service to be excellent, but then again, I was a regular. As the other reviews have mentioned, it's a tiny restaurant - maybe 8 tables. BYOB, which can't be beat. They have one bathroom that you have to walk into the kitchen for, but hey, I did say the place was small! I've also tried their curries and found them delicious. But like I said - you really can't go wrong with their crab fried rice, 4 star spicy. I'm salivating just thinking about it!
(5)
Leela S.
If you're looking for top-notch, polite, attentive service, don't come here--I've been barked at by the servers a couple of times (for simply asking questions like "can I get this with chicken instead of tofu?"). The interior is pretty simply done up, and there isn't a ton of space; you might have to wait on busy nights. The food is quite decent, especially the pad thai. I once had one of their curry chicken specials and it was pretty flavourful and spicy as well. Portions aren't particularly large, and you're unlikely to have leftovers. Come here for the food, but don't expect a fantastic experience away from the plate.
(3)
S. P.
I would NEVER in a million years ever go back to this place. Our office ordered everyone lunch and they forgot my entire order, in addition to other items!! Upon calling back their response was "The chef says he specifically remembers making every single order 100% accurately and wanted me to call back to see if you are really missing stuff" Seriously??!! Like are we going to lie about it?? And who is going to remember over 20 orders? So this will be the last time we ever order from there and on top of it the food sucked. Tasteless and most people's orders were very skimpy.
(1)
Britt C.
Well, I just ordered here for the last time. I've only been here several times and each time left much to be desired. The first time I came here, my boyfriend and I were sat at a table and weren't even acknowledged for at least ten minutes. Then someone came over and pretty much just dropped placemats and silverware in front of us, no napkins. After another good ten minutes or so, a woman came over and just looked at us, holding a pen and pad. I took this as our warm welcome and cue to order. We did and our food came out in a reasonable amount of time. We shared the satay (got 5 skewers), Tom kha soup, and som-tum salad. We had only really come here for a small meal. The food was okay, just okay. We finished eating, no one ever came to check on us, or give us the napkins we kept trying to wave them down for. We both just wanted to leave at this point so we didn't get up to ask for any. We got our check and left. The next time I came here was for takeout. I have a strange addiction to tom kha soup, thanks to Taste of Thai Express in Ithaca, NY. I ordered two: one with chicken, and the other shrimp. I got two shrimps in my soup. Not to mention they didn't even give me a bowl's worth of soup! Both containers weren't even full and they are pint sized. Soup was ok. It sated my craving. This time was the worst. I'm sick with pneumonia, I'm well enough to get out of bed and make the 10 minute drive there. When I called to place the order, the girl seemed like she had no clue what I was talking about when I was ordering chicken tom kha and satay. When I explained it to her she just said, that's fine. That's fine? It's on your menu. I wasn't ordering anything modified. I also asked if they could do iced thai tea to go, she said maybe but she could put it in a to go bowl. Haha no, but A for effort. So, I make the drive there and the girl and an older woman look up as I enter, then turn their backs to me. Then the girl says hello, from across the room with her back turned. That's just rude. There's no one in the restaurant, just like the other times I've been here. She charges me $17.89 for two $4 soups and a $6 appetizer. $14 turns into $17.89 how? I hand her a $20 bill and she goes into the back and comes back with my order. I'm still a little out of it so I didn't even notice she didn't give me my change until I was on my way home. When I get home, as expected but not appreciated, the to go containers of soup weren't even full. But the satay was also skimped on. I got 4 skewers. Last time (not even a month ago) I got 5. How about some product consistency? So I just spent $20 on a bowl of soup and a skimped appetizer. Great. Clearly, these people don't care about their business.
(1)
Robert S.
Went there with my friend Diego and we enjoyed our meals. We shared the Nime Chow appetizer and it was fresh and light. The peanut sauce was very tasty with lots of peanut pieces floating on top. Diego had the Chicken Pad Thai and he said it was very good. The bean sprouts come on the side, as well as the peanut pieces. The dish was on the small size. Yes, the portions at this place are not ample, but kind of small.....:-( I had the PAD WOONSEN - a dish consisting of crystal noodles stir-fried in light brown sauce with shrimp, mushrooms, baby corn,onions, scallions and eggs. It was light and delightful. Overall a good meal. Again, I wished it would had been a bit larger.... The place is small...only about 10 tables. But the service is attentive and prompt. The restaurant is BYOB. They do not take AMEX nor Discover. VISA and MC...yes.
(4)
Paul M.
Okay, this place got a lot of hype but I was super disappointed. The food was decent, but everything was cold (except for the water!) and the portions were pretty small. Went with 3 friends and ordered two appetizers and 3 entrees and weren't quite full when we left. Also, this place is TINY. It feels something like sitting in a stranger's lap to eat at Sawaddee. I don't think I'd go back-- the other local Thai places are much better. We got edamame, chicken satay, eggplant pad, chicken drunken noodles, and a red curry with tofu. The curry was rather delicious, but everything else was a bit on the bland side. Recap: tiny place, tiny portions, okay food but nothing was warm
(2)
Molly H.
My boyfriend and I got pad thai, Masaman curry, and the sticky rice with coconut milk custard. The pad thai was quite good but we weren't super impressed by the curry. There was a little mix-up and we weren't given any rice despite definitely having ordered some. The portions were a bit small; there definitely weren't leftovers. Overall, it was good, not great.
(3)
Neha S.
Solid thai food! Definitely the best Thai place that I've been to in Providence (admittedly not a very high number, oops). The Pad See Ew in particular is divine. I used to get it with tofu and vegetables, but I found the tofu a little dry and now just go for vegetables. The green curry here is also delicious. The thai iced tea is I think it could have done with a little more milk to round out the sweetness. As a heads up, this place is very small and not good for large groups. I wouldn't come here with more than 2-4 people on a weekend or you'll never get seated without a reservation. VEGETARIAN ALERT: a lot of the vegetable soups use chicken stock and a lot of the noodle dishes are made with fish sauce, so avoid the soups and ask them to make your noodles with soy sauce instead!
(4)
Joie S.
I finally tried this place after hearing so much about it. I loved it! I had the angel shrimp and the Sam-Rod. Both were really good. It's also BYOB which is a bonus. Parking is super easy and the prices are comparable to other places. I've been wanting to go back since I left! The place is tiny so I bet there can be a wait during really busy times. We went around 8:30 and didn't have to wait at all. If you like Thai food, check this place out.
(5)
Queenie L.
We were craving for asian food so went to this neighborhood Thai food place. Cute cozy restaurant, nice waitress but I wish I can score this place with more stars. Everything taste like home made, did not meet the restaurants standards. ;(
(3)
Lou G.
Very good spot. Food is great and very fresh. The place is small, good service, and is pretty quiet. I go here often.
(4)
Rob F.
Sawadee means Hello in Thai. Sounds inviting! When the college kids are in town, you can't get near the place. It's small, and there may be a line out the door. There are maybe ten tables. I ate my way through their small menu and wound up ordering tom kah soup as my go to dish. A big bowl with chicken and coconut soup, and rice noodles. Little cups of chili, salt, limes, basil.. Back when I brought my Mom to the place, she would get the chicken noodle soup and I would get that. I would not order it to go however. I ordered two orders to go once, and they put both orders in a quart container, and it was half full and there were no noodles. I refused to take it. I spent 5 minutes arguing with a little Thai woman, but I'm not paying $20 for $5 worth of soup! I tried the green and the mango curries everyone talks about. I thought they were small and watery. Hot, but watery. I had the whole fried fish a couple times. I'm not a fan of farm raised rainbow trout. It would probably blow my doors off if it was a scup or flatfish. It is crispy with fried garlic and chilies on top. The place is out of menu options for me. I've moved on to places like Pattaya and Pho Horns, Bee's and even Apsara, which I like better.
(2)
Tyler W.
My husband and I along with two of our friends had dinner here last week during Providence Restaurant Week. Food and service were excellent! I give 3 stars for the venue itself. While I can appreciate it being a small family-owned business in a college area, it had an overall dirty feeling. In order to use the [filthy] restroom, you have to walk through the kitchen, right by a tower of day-old dirty dishes. Reorganizing their bussing area and cleaning up the restroom would've probably gotten them a 4th star from me. As I said, food is EXCELLENT! I had chicken pad Thai, cooked perfectly. I started with the chicken 93 appetizer which had a perfect blend of flavor and spice, with the bag being tied by a green onion (nice touch!) Best part of the restaurant though, is BYOB! A great way to save money. We had 2 appetizers, 2 entrees, and 3 desserts (...don't judge...) and spent about $35. We brought two bottles of our own wine. Edit: spelling error
(3)
Dandaya M.
Great options for food not usually offered. Too bad the food is not great at all. For the amount of money I should've had leftovers. $5 for 4 rangoons $5 for 4 chicken wings not the whole wing, 2 wings cut up. Never order for take out and ask for your receipt I was charged for something I did not even order! Also horrible service. Waiter was awful! Save your money!!
(1)
Carissa H.
This place USED to be amazing. It WAS one of my top five favorite restaurants. We just ate takeout from there tonight and it was terrible. I feel like it went downhill. Maybe someone different is cooking?? We liked only one dish of the five we ordered. The curry was bland (flavor was one dimensional, only spicy hot) and watery. The chicken in it was so dry. I feel so deflated, because I really liked this place before. Sawadee, please get your groove back!!
(2)
Eric C.
You know me and Thai. We're like an inseparable braid. When I move, I find the nearest Thai restaurant and I attempt to latch to it like a parasite. Unfortunately, I have to say.... there's no latching here at Sawaddee. They have the convenience of being close, but not only are they by far the most expensive Thai restaurant I have ever eaten at, but they nickel and dime you to death (yes, they charge you for the white rice that doesn't come with the curry). How much does white rice really cost? Shouldn't your $12 entree come with the $0.05 that it costs you for the rice? Who knows... Overall, the food was ok, and nothing to write home about which is unusual because I always write home about Thai. I also had their Rad Nah (or lad nah depending on who you ask) which is the rice noodle in gravy sauce. It's good and I wish I could say this would be my go to place, but alas this will likely be a resounding NO. Parking is difficult to find outside of the restaurant as it is all street parking in the midst of many other restaurants. If you're starving for Thai and willing to fork over the money, then this may satiate you.
(3)
Bryce A.
I'm sorry; I know a lot of people love this place, but both times I've eaten here I enjoyed neither food nor atmosphere. Maybe I didn't order the right things, but most of my dishes included the same vegetables which were obviously dumped out of a package of a frozen, pre-cut vegetable assortment. That said, the food obviously didn't taste fresh. Ignoring that, it wasn't really palatable either. The sauces were not balanced or rich. They were often very thin, like water with soy sauce and some spices mixed in. The restaurant itself is a cramped room. It's so cramped in fact, that at one table the person sitting by the window cannot pull their chair out and the person next to them must stand up so that the other person can scoot over and out. It's like being on an airplane. With airplane food.
(2)
Molly L.
Sawaddee is my staple for Thai food in the Providence area. It gets pretty busy on Friday, Saturday nights, but on other days, it's pretty peaceful inside. I've tried a bunch of dishes here, but my favorite entrees are the Grilled Chicken Kaiyang Combo, which is basically garlic-y grilled chicken served with a scoop of sticky rice and papaya salad on the side for $12, and the Tofu with Rama Sauce ($10). The best part of the meal is dipping the chicken in the rama sauce! Sawaddee Hacks: - They offer 10% discount for students but you have to ask! - If you get Pad Thai takeout, you get at least 3x more.
(4)
Shantael C.
Came here middle of the week, so it wasn't so crowded. The servers were attentive and fast. She explained in details all that I needed to know. The food was hot and very fresh. It was not the best chicken Pad Thai I've had (noodles kinda sticky and the sauce slightly weird) but I'd surely go back with friends.
(4)
Andria T.
Sawaddee is my first choice for Thai in Providence. They have never let me down and the service is always prompt and courteous. Everything I've had there has been delicious and fresh, and doesn't have that heavy, greasy taste that some other Asian cuisine can have. As others have noted, the restaurant itself is quite small--so I've only dined in a few times, but the seating is at different levels so it makes it seem less crowded and gives you a feeling of privacy. It's fun on a winter's night to sit at the table(s) right next to the window where you feel kind of like your at your grandma's house, but she's serving you delicious Thai food. They also have really, really good lunch specials, which I sadly have not been able to take advantage of (work is just a bit too far away), but every time I walk by the sign on the sidewalk, I kick myself. maybe next week...
(5)
Eva R.
The cramped dining room hasn't been an issue for me because I mostly order take-out and have only dined-in a few times on slower nights. Im shocked at the negative reviews...I always get the duck with coconut curry and the shrimp pad thai, both are Outstanding!!!
(4)
Wow K.
Sawadee is probably the most authentic Thai restaurant in Providence, adequately satisfying my homesickness. Since discovering it, I haven't really gone back to the other ones also because Foodler delivers it. The restaurant itself is a little cramped and can get full very easily on a good night. My favourites from the menu include Gai Yang (grilled chicken with garlic) paired with sticky rice, Pad Malay/Pad See Ew (stir fried wide noodles in thick dark sauce with vegetables and meat of your choice), Chinese Broccoli with Crispy Pork, and the Garlic Fish. All of these things are essentially what I would normally eat when I go home to Bangkok. The lady who owns the restaurant is also really nice. Once, we wanted to get the Mango Sticky Rice, but she said that the mangos weren't ready yet. She even let us sample a few pieces. Sawadee is definitely worth it.
(4)
Andrea O.
Green curry soup was great! Service was lacking, but the food made up for it! will be back..
(4)
Nicole R.
On my first venture to Sawaddee I went for the drunken noodles. The portion was really small for the price. I asked for extra spicy and there was no spice at all. The flavor wasn't too bad but just not what I asked for. The noodles themselves were in chunks stuck together and there were not very many pieces of chicken or veggies. With all the competing Thai places in the area I kind of feel like Sawaddee needs to step up their game. If I could go halvesies i'd give them a 2.5 but i'm feeling generous. So, 3 it is.
(3)
Anita T.
I have eaten there for over twenty years! Love the food.
(5)
Anita I.
I am extremely late in reviewing this restaurant as the first time I ever went there was years and years ago. First off, do not expect to enjoy your meal in a spacious restaurant as that is not what you will get. There are about 8 tables in the entire place and extremely snug. One of my tricks is when frequenting little "dive eats" I always go in the "off-season" of the day, lunch early or late dinner...this way you are not cramped. On this particular occasion, I went for lunch and was pleased to see that theu have a lunch menu; however, it is only to dine-in...which sucks if you just want to take it back to the office with you. The server didn't speak very much English but was friendly. I started out with the lunch portion Som Tum Salad, fine strips of carrot and red cabbage tossed with lime juice, Thai chili, and ground peanuts. Very refreshing and delish, not to mention healthy. I ordered the lunch portion of the Tofu Pad Thai, the waitress talked me into trying it with the Crispy noodle which I was a bit apprehensive about doing as I like my flat rice noodles. I also asked for it to be extra spicy and was asked how spicy based on a 1-4 system...I got 4! The lunch Pad Thai started off with an included smallTom-Yum vegetable soup. It was the best Tom-Yum soup that I have had in a very long time. Not only were the veggies fresh and colorful, the broth was perfectly seasoned and each ingredient sang its own song. I left most of the cabbage in the bowl but finished every last bit of the broth. The Pad Thai was so tasty and spicy just as I requested. This Pad Thai was also the best I have had in quite some time. I don't like it when the Pad Thai is overly soppy & wet, glistening with oil. This was fresh, light and just enough bean sprouts, egg, scallions and peanuts. I was very pleased with my lunch and can't wait to go back to try other things which may be difficult as I can't imagine not getting these items again. For all of the people with bad experience, I am sorry to hear that. It is difficult with mom & pop spots as sometimes it is lacking in service or atmosphere but the food is amazing. For all of the people complaining about how small it is...Quality not quantity!! I will continue to go back to this place as long as it is open.
(4)
Rich H.
Summary based on 1 dinner: --ok Thai food for Providence --not especially authentic without some discussion that you really mean it --ok prices --easy parking in the evening
(3)
Tayler S.
Try the papaya salad!
(5)
Katie A.
Sawaddee serves very good Thai food. I stick with their excellent curries (they are gluten-free). My friends have tried a variety of other dishes and always been pleased. Watch out vegetarians - most of their dishes have fish sauce, but they will leave it out if you ask. As many other reviewers have noted the restaurant is tiny. If you want an intimate, romantic meal where you won't be overheard, go somewhere else. I often enjoy being surrounded by others enjoying their excellent meals, but when I'm not in the mood I order takeout.
(3)
Raza H.
A really nice and authentic Thai restaurant. The only problems are that the place itself is really limited in seating and that the service for takeout can be pretty slow. The curries are a great pick me up if you need something spicy
(3)
Ami G.
On Tuesday, I had one last exam to take at four o' clock. I had warned my husband to mark his calendar and make sure he had no other plans for Tuesday night after my test because we were definitely going out to celebrate both the end of the semester and the fact I hopefully no longer have to take another class again! I knew I wanted to go out to a casual dinner, but I couldn't decide on where to go for the life of me! Then, just before he was about to pick me up on his way home from work, I remembered one place minutes from our home that we never go to because it is so tiny and therefore always so packed-- a little Thai restaurant down our street called Sawaddee. I figured since it was a Tuesday night we might actually be able to get a table, and when I suggested it, my husband agreed that it was the ideal night to go there. We arrived at Sawaddee around 7:45, just in time to grab the last available table. The restaurant does have plans for expansion, but as of right now, there are probably no more than eight or ten tables. We had gone to Sawaddee when we first met seven years ago and remembered how amazingly delicious the food was. Of course, we were eager to see if it lived up to the reputation it held in our memories. Even though we hadn't eaten there in a while, all signs indicated the meal would be outstanding, evidenced by numerous "Best Of" awards posted right next to the booth we were sitting in. I ordered two apps since I was starving. First, I got some vegetarian nime chow, which is one of my favorite foods ever. This particular version was wonderful-- packed with rice noodles, mint, green onions and lettuce, the rolls were busting at the seams! The peanut sauce it is served with was amazing as well-- I could drink that sauce by the bucket. I also tried their green papaya salad, which I requested to be made without the dried shrimp it is normally prepared with. The salad consisted of shredded green papaya, Thai chilis, string beans, tomato, peanuts and a sweet and tangy dressing made with lime juice. I have only ever tried green papaya salad once before and fell in love with the bold flavors. Sawaddee's version was right on-- the peanuts were a perfect savory contrast to the sweet and sour dressing, and each bite created a taste that certainly was greater than each of the individual components of the salad (if that makes sense). In other words, it was one of those salads where each bite had to have a little bit of everything to get the full delicious effect. I didn't get very fancy with my entree-- I ordered one of their ten most popular dishes (according to a list placed on the table)-- their Massaman curry with tofu and veggies. Of course, a side of brown rice accompanied the curry to provide the necessary soakage of the delicious sauce. The dish was exquisite, as it was chock full of veggies like potatoes, baby corn, and string beans and tofu chunks in a delectable and spicy peanut curry sauce. I could have easily eaten the whole thing, but I practiced moderation so I could have some delicious leftovers for my husband to eat the next day. What a good wife. All in all, Sawaddee deserves its reputation as one of the best Thai restaurants in Rhode Island. It was the perfect casual spot to celebrate a weekday special occasion. Also, the service, while not at all sugar-coated, was quick and attentive. Iknow crowds there are tough on weekends though. . . so I guess I just have to eat out more on weekdays so I can get to Sawaddee more often!
(4)
April T.
Mmmm I love the food here so much. Order anything on the menu, it's all great. If you want something actually spicy, be sure to ask for it. The owner is really friendly, and always asking how the food is.
(5)
Jeffrey H.
Sawadee is one of the first thai restaurants I ever visited, and one of the few I frequented until recently. Going to college on the east side of Providence, restaurant choices are limited to those within walking distance, and this was the most logistically reasonable thai restaurant. It's small, so is better for a date than a group meal, although fortunately it's expanding into the neighboring building so who knows what that will bring. Over the past 2 years, with the addition of a car to my lifestyle, I've branched out and started eating at some other thai restaurants around the state, and then recently moved just around the corner from Sawadee and therefore have gotten take-out from it several times. Either their food quality has changed or my palette has, because the food here is not even close to as good as what you can find at some other thai restaurants in the area. I wouldn't say it's bad, but it's just not great. the tofu is kind of spongy and flavorless. The sauces are mild in flavor and substance. The service is acceptable, but nothing more. And the prices are pretty much what you'd expect for a thai place that focuses on take-out. In summary, while there's nothing about Sawadee that I would call "bad," (it's almost impossible to find bad thai food in my opinion), I wouldn't classify this as good either; it's not hard to find better.
(2)
Liz T.
I have high Thai expectations. Having frequented Wondee Siam, what I consider to be the BEST Thai in NYC, I have a fairly picky palate for Thai cuisine. Sawaddee really meets my expectations head on and surpasses them in certain respects. First of all, I absolutely hate it when Asian American restaurants are overly greasy, grossly disorganized, and full of MSG. The taste at Sawaddee is clean, appropriately fried, and carefully seasoned. The Thai fried rice is made with a very high-end Jasmine rice, and the Pad See Ew is made with extremely fresh and well-cooked rice flour. They even have a "create your own" Thai noodle soup which is COMPLETELY exciting because most American Thai restaurants fail to produce a really authentic big bowl noodle soup--something I absolutely crave on a regular basis. The ambience is really cute and homey too. The restaurant is in an old house off Hope Street, front door preserved with classic New England architecture. The space inside is pretty small, but appropriately spaced with seating and capable of entertaining larger parties up to 8-10 if tables are arranged as such. I'm a fan. I'm glad there's a solid Thai option when I need my flat noodle fix.
(4)
Jeff M.
I am unfortunate to say that I can only give 3 stars for my first visit there. I waited and waited. Just for a pick up order. After about 15-20 minutes someone finally came out and gave me my order. Went back home and I was missing dumplings and a side of rice that I had to pay extra for. The food that I did get was great, but definitely not a good first impression.
(3)
Robin S.
I'd really like to give this place 4 stars, but am giving it 3 because the service there is very hit or miss. The food is great - I love the "build your own soup" options, the mango salad is great come summertime, and there are always interesting specials. That being said, I think the food is a bit over-priced, considering the portion sizes. Also, the place is tiny so it's difficult to find a spot (though I think they're expanding).
(3)
Sarah E.
I can't tell you what authentic Thai food tastes like. I walk into every Thai restaurant with a complete innocence (ignorance?). I have no idea what I like or what I've tried. I generally ask for the waitstaff's opinion and go for it! I've never been disappointed. I made my first trip to Sawaddee for lunch today. I ordered the red curry with chicken, which came with a cup of Tom yum soup. everything was delicious. The portion was on the smaller side and the menu is just slightly more expensive than other Thai restaurants in the area. But, I loved the coziness of the place and the prompt service. It's perfect for a quick lunch (as long as there is a table available).
(4)
Vilay S.
I come here when I'm craving home-y style Thai food, and it hits the spot. My usual is the combo that comes with garlicky bbq chicken, sticky rice, and papaya salad. It's a meal I've eaten a million times at mom's house. I like that this restaurant serves up foods you don't typically see at Thai restaurants, like everything on the northeast-style section of the menu. Some tips for newbs - sticky rice is eaten with your hands. Dip it in sauce or w/a bite of meat if you want. Don't ask for chopsticks unless you're eating noodles.
(3)
Fah Z.
If you are looking for authentic Thai food. Highly recommend this place. So good. Food is real Thai test not too sweet and not to creamy. This place is a real deal.
(5)
Lauren A.
Pretty good for a Thai craving- good portion size for lunch specials- and the soup broth is awesome with a combo. I would skip the chicken broth if your'e getting a noodle soup bowl. Not bad, not too expensive, but nothing to write home about.
(3)
Stephanie M.
I do like Sewaddee. The two things that make me rank it a three star (below Thai Star)? The small portion sizes and the lack of spice. The food is tasty, particularly the pad see eiw, but I've yet to leave here not feeling as if I could use some more of whatever I got. The curry puffs in particular - three small (two bite) puff for $6? Really? Ten dollars for a small serving of mostly noodles is almost extortion - and it's getting worse and worse. The other issue is the lack of spice in the food. Everything could use way more - not just hot-spicy, but also flavourful-spicy. Things like the pad see eiw have just enough white pepper to make you wish there was twice as much. The other thing to note - though it's not an issue with the food - this is the smallest restaurant I think I've ever seen. It's maybe the size of my living room - and they somehow pack in eight tables. This is NOT a place to go with groups of more than four, or with anyone with issues moving and sitting in a tight space.
(3)
Molly O.
My Pad Thai tasted like Cat food. Gross. Their water was warm I like ice. But I won't go here again.
(1)
Andy G.
Thai Iced Tea. Mango sticky rice. Pineapple fried rice. Good enough for me.
(4)
Ocheeto C.
I've been to this restaurant several times and tried different dishes from the menu. The food tastes great. My favorite dish is the bankok duck. This dish is about $20. The quality of the food isn't the issue. I feel like I'm getting ripped off when i order this dish and I need to fork over another $2-3 dollars for a small portion of sticky rice. A really small portion. Really?! The owner nickel and dimes you to death!!!! There are plenty of restaurants where the rice is included with the meal. Rice is not that expensive when you buy it in bulk. This is just ridiculous. Most of the portions are small including the appetizers and desserts. Everything is super small. If they increased their portions and included rice with their signature dished I might come back to dine there. I'm not coming back here out of principle.
(1)
Victoria K.
For months now I've been craving Thai food. I hadn't had really good Thai food since I moved back to RI (ugh). I figured in order to get through the rest of my sentence here, I better find a good Thai place to satisfy my current and future cravings. Sawaddee is it in so many ways. First of all, I understand this place is beyond tiny. It's cozy, it's quaint, it's not fancy, but does it really have to be? It's not posing as something it isn't. It's a down-to-Earth, authentic Thai cuisine gem. Does the dining area need to be elaborate for you to enjoy your meal? Maybe for you, but I'm quite thrilled to enjoy my Pad Thai in such a simple setting if it manages to quench my hunger. It's also really delicious, as was the Tom-Yum Soup (wow, who knew something that seems so simple could be so flavorful and perfect), the Springs Rolls (exactly what I was hoping for), Thai Noodles (my sister loved it), and the Sticky Rice with Coconut Custard (great "al dente" texture of the rice played off the creamy custard it accompanied). We also ordered some Green Curry to go to eat later for dinner. It too was perfection. Really, I have no complaints whatsoever. And just so you know it's not only the great food I love about this place. The service was amazing. First of all, we enjoyed a fairly late lunch so the tiny dining area was mostly vacant, so we lucked out. Our waiter was incredibly attentive, helpful, polite, sweet, and just plain adorable. I almost wanted to adopt him, haha. Even after we had paid for our meal, he still came by to ask if we needed water refills. At some other restaurants I have to beg multiple times before I get an appropriate amount of water from them. You'd think they were suffering a drought or something. All in all, I'm a huge fan of Sawaddee. I really can't wait to go back. There's really so much I want to try, including the make-your-own noodle soups! They offer great lunch deals which include soup and rice for non-noodle entrees, all at a reduced price from their dinner menu. Either way, their prices are very fair and the food is authentic, authentic, authentic! I don't know how long the wait may be during busy times, but quite frankly, I could care less. If they can satisfy my Thai-tooth, then all is well in the world...
(5)
Alma C.
This place is a tiny little hole-in-the-wall and my go-to Thai restaurant in the area. I have especially enjoyed the curry dishes and noodles. As other reviewers have noted, the portion sizes are not large by any means, but they are adequate for the cost. Come early if you can for dinner, the space is very limited.
(4)
Leslie B.
I want to like this place. Its a few blocks from my house and it's BYOB! But I just don't. Dining in- Small, which is fine, but dirty, which is not. Personally I'm not a fan of seeing food specks all over the wall and grime in every crevice. They could do with closing the place for a day and power washing the whole dining room. I can't imagine what the kitchen looks like. The food is decent, not great. But the portions are small and about 1-2 dollars more then they should be for the quality and size. Take out- Was craving thai the other night and decided to give this place another try. The portions were even smaller then dine in! Again, the foods ok. Nothing great. But way too expensive for the portion sizes. Sidenote- What is it with thai places in Providence 1. not including rice with curry dishes and 2. not putting any veggies in the tofu option. Was I spoiled in NY? Is this the only place where ordering tofu as your protein means ditching the veggies?
(2)
Dee W.
My wife just got some take out and she's very disappointed. She got Pad Thai which is not good at all and it had a weird smell. She also got an order of sticky rice with mango, which was okay. Both portion sizes were extremely small, especially for the cost. I don't think we'll be going back again, which is a shame because it's around the block from our house.
(2)
John P.
I found the service to be sub par and the portions to be very small compared to other Thai restaurants. They brought out my meal and it took 5 more minutes to bring my son's meal. The portions were about 1/2 what they are at Apsara on Hope Street or Pakarang on Main Street or Spice Thai on Waterman Street. I asked for the Pad Thai to be spicy at 3 on a scale of 4. It was mild and bland with very little chicken. Finally, the place is a dump. Very small and confining.
(2)
Diya S.
Decent meal, I'm vegetarian so I got the drunken noodles. Small portions, and you have to be sure to tell them no fish sauce. Was not super impressed.
(3)
Bailey M.
I agree with everything in Victoria K's review. Sawaddee is basically an extension of my own kitchen when I'm too tired or lazy to cook for myself. Because I'm lazy and unimaginative, I only eat the pad see ew or green curry beef with white rice. I've tried some of the other menu items and been very happy with them, so it seems like their menu is consistently good across the board. Surprisingly, they have great customer service. The place is always packed every night of the week, and they do a lot of take-out orders as well. I eat here way too often. I love Sawaddee. Helpful hint: Valpak sends out coupons for Sawadee so check for them in the mail!
(5)
John P.
The ambiance is terrible and he food is excellent. Dinner is better quality cooking then lunch by and large. Best massaman curry I have ever had, and I have had it everywhere but Thailand.
(4)
Billy D.
Wonderful food - green papaya salad, curry shrimp, mango sticky rice. My new favorite restaurant.
(5)
mrs q.
For everyone who's bitching. I don't know what people are bitching about. Just because you had to wait for your seat doesn't mean that the portions should be bigger. And maybe the people who came after you got seated because they were joining a party. Anyway, as for the sriracha...that sauce is often eaten with Pho (Vietnamese food)...Thai people only use sriracha (NOT the rooster lable) when eating seafood (such as steamed shrimp). Thai sriracha is sweeter and isn't spicy like the Huy Fong brand (rooster lable). As for the food. The papaya salad is good, but it's not the best I've had in my lifetime. But it's good. And I've ordered it more than once. "Lao" /"Laotian" style is much better. Pad Thai...always good with chicken or shrimp. Yum Nurr -- the best ever ! the beef is always fresh. And they use good cuts of meat for the dish too. We always order this dish and sticky rice (they go well together). The Tom Yum soups are also good -- very clean yet flavorful. All the curry dishes are good. I've never ordered anything I didn't like. As for Asian restaurants in Providence, this is the most authentic you can get. So get over yourself(if you're bitching), stop your bitching and just enjoy the food while you can. =) Like the 5 stars indicate, it's "as good as it gets!" BTW, this place is BYOB and no cork charge !!!!
(5)
Christian J.
Best Thai on the East Side. The pricing is good, and the menu selection is diverse. I've tried something new every time I've been since moving here, and I haven't been disappointed yet.
(5)
Vanessa T.
For many years, this was my favorite Thai spot in Rhode Island. Over the years, it's gotten more popular, more expensive, and less consistent. That's a recipe for sad panda face. I still stop in periodically when I'm in town because I'm a softie for Sawaddee, but it's definitely slipping. The fresh spring rolls are about half the size they were when I started going there in 1998. The portions, in general, are shrinking. I'm not really one of those big portions and "bang for your buck" kind of people, but at some point, you start to feel like your relationship is a little one-sided. Where's the love, Sawaddee? My last few meals there have had varying rates of success, with the last visit being especially concerning: hard chunks of overcooked or deep fried chicken that my fellow diner took for nuts. We're no longer exclusive and I'm seeing other Thai places when I'm in town.
(3)
Jim Y.
Best Tai food in miles! It's authentic and very good. If you've never eaten at a place like it, I suggest you try it. Try the chive dumplings too. The only bad thing I can say is that the appetizers are small for the price.
(5)
Gary S.
This Thai restaurant is small but inviting. The food is very good, and the service is very friendly. I agree with some of the other reviewers who point out that portions are a bit on the small size.
(3)
Sbs S.
Sawaddee is really good. It's small...actually tiny, but if you go during the day or make a reservation if you're trying to go on a Fri-Sat night, you'll be fine. I've been there many times and almost always get the Pad See Ew. I get it with tofu instead of chicken and no carrots because I personally just don't like cooked carrots. I'm practically a carnivore but I get it with tofu because I feel like it doesn't need the meat at all. Also the tofu is cut into really big chunks (and fried, just FYI) and since tofu is so mellow it balances out the saltiness of this dish. I always ask for a side of peanut sauce because it brings in a sweet and creamy factor to cut out the saltiness along with the tofu. That, and I just love peanut sauce. I took some out of state friends here one night, party of 6. They each ordered something different and I tried a bite of everything. It was ALL so good. I've had Thai food all over Thailand and this tastes pretty dang close to the real deal. It has that hot yummy salty spicy sweet tangy bitter thing going on that Thai food is all about. Their Plah-Rad-Prik is so good. Deep fried whole fish that is topped with some type of tamarind sauce. It looks small but I shared it with my dad and we were both full. Actually we also shared the green curry with eggplant (really good, but a littleeeee bit bland, but it worked well with the fish since that was SO flavorful) and it was a perfect dinner. The only reason I gave it 4 stars instead of 5 was because the service is kinda wonky. Everyone seems really nervous, and can sometimes be a bit forgetful. Also I think the portions are kind of small. Or maybe I just eat a lot. But I think the portions are just small haha. Also it's a bit over-priced! A handful of Pad Thai goes for 11, 12 bucks? It's just annoying to me when the ingredients to make the dish are so cheap, but they yank up the price, just because it's from a restaurant. I don't care to pay a bit more for a meal, but I do care if the portion is the size of an English muffin. Ps- Don't get the mango with sticky rice. Mango is frozen and sticky rice is a 1x1 inch cube of dry, flavorless sticky rice. Bummer!
(4)
Susan Z.
Good curries. The restaurant is small, so don't expect too much personal space, but the staff is very nice.
(4)
I W.
I tried this out last night...similar to another reviewer I live close by and wanted to see if this would be my new Thai take out place. Unfortunately the food was not impressive.
(2)
Denise P.
Sawaddee is my favorite Thai restaurant in RI, even though portions are small. Tonight I was frustrated though. I went as part of restaurant week, after seeing a two-for-one special promising two appetizers and two entrees. When we got there and were handed a menu, the word "two" near the list of appetizers was scribbled over and replaced with a "one." I felt mislead. I was further frustrated when my vegetable pad Thai (I'm a vegetarian) had a piece of chicken in it.
(2)
Nancy Z.
Two pieces of "dumplings," aka Chinese shumai for $5? I feel like I got ripped off. The Nime Chow, fresh spring rolls, were okay, but nothing compared to other restaurants like Apsara or Thai Star. I came here based on all the great reviews, and I was kinda disappointed. The second we arrived, we asked for a booth instead of a small table that looked like it was on a pedestal (mind you only 2 other people were there- awkward!) The waitress was not a happy camper. What did I hear about good service? Lies! Okay... she wasn't horrible but it made asking her for other things very uncomfortable. I will say that the decor of the restaurant was very homely, cozy if I can say so myself, but everybody knows it comes down to the food. We ordered Pad Kee Mao (Drunken Noodles) and the Choo Chee dish, which is a combination of seafood (or a choice of salmon) in red curry. The Pad Kee Mao was okay, but lacked a lot of flavor and was dry. On the other hand, the Choo Chee dish was DELICIOUS! I couldn't stop dipping the sticky rice in the sauce. Yum. Dinner cost $37 for the "dumplings ($5)," Nime Chow ($5), Pad Kee Mao ($9-10), Choo Chee ($13-14). Overall, I felt like the food was not worth the money... I know I sound like an ass for this, but it's true. Customer service was uncomfortable and food was okay-with the exception of one dish. I will not be a returning customer :(
(2)
Sunisa A.
I go to Providence to visit my family very often. We live near by Sawaddee. So,we order from this restaurant a lot.These dishes are my favorite dishes from Sawaddee: 1. Som Tum (papaya salad) 2. Yum Nurr (beef salad) 3. Muk Tua Squid is amazing!!! the squid is so big and so soft with chili/sweet sauce served with stringbeans...hm.... I can't get enough. RAMA dish is good,too but I think the sauce is similar to Muk Tua Squid. so, if you order the squid dish, you shouldn't order Rama dish. 4. Honey fish (Pla-Tod). it's deep fried fish with honey sauce....so good! you can order duck instead,too 5. Pad Thai is pretty good 6. Pad Malay (Pad see ew), it's widen/flat noodle with black sauce....I love it. 7. for curry, I would go for Chu Chee seafood. it's sort of orange curry. with a lot of seafood. 8. Masaman curry, it's yellow curry with potato and you select meat. 9. Bangkok curry, I like this curry,too. they put pineapple in it. color is kinda orange/red. For dessert, I love banana dumplings serve with vanilla ice cream. it's a very nice hot/cold combination.. oh! if you want an updated menu, go to their website: sawaddeerestaurant.com Hope this help! enjoy guys. If I explore something else, I will let you know.
(5)
Todd O.
Very disappointing. I had heard that this was the "best" Thai. I ordered crab rangoons, chicken pad thai, and chicken pra ram. I received something that was not chicken pra ram, no rice, and 4 rangoons. Anemic. We returned the pra ram and received a plastic container of cooked plain chicken - not appetizing - and a small amount of peanut sauce. It was oddly spicy for pra ram, and the pad thai was also unusually spicy. The rangoons were passable, though more wonton than I prefer. Overall a very disappointing experience. Not totally horrible, but won't go back unless I'm having a Thai emergency.
(2)
Esme S.
Pretty swell thai food. Always hits the spot. It gets very packed though, and sometimes the communication barrier can be hard but at the end of the day who cares when you got a plate of pad thai in front of you. I highly reccomend the mango sticky rice and the Pra Ram.
(4)
Brittany K.
My boss has been talking this place up for a long time, and I finally made the trip over the find out what all the noise was for. Trouble is, I DON"T KNOW WHAT WE'RE YELLING ABOUT. The place was ultra tiny. Not an issue, really but it should be noted. We were sat at a table along the wall, and there were bits and chunks of food freshly smeared on the wall. Yummy. We asked for the fresh spring rolls with no shrimp, and there were shrimps nestled comfortably in my supposedly animal free appetizer. We also ordered the mango curry with tofu and and pad thai with tofu and no egg. The mango curry was not bad, but boasted only two pieces of mango in a sea of sauce. The pad thai was served as requested without the egg, but the noodles were grossly overcooked into a giant gelatinous mass topped with some sad little bean sprouts. I could barely pull it apart. Not. Pleased. The service was genuinely friendly, so stars for that, but the search continues for five star Thai.
(2)
Jennifer M.
very authentic and delicious thai. small seating area...best if you go at an off time or for lunch.
(5)
Chris K.
One of the greatest places to get take out (a little cramped for eating in although if you like to eat in it isnt so bad)- Tom-Kha soup is always our favorite thing to get. I started off here getting Pad Thai but have recently ventured to other dishes like drunken noodle and the cold meat orders (for lunch) . We also like that we can get sticky rice which is always good - the owner is also always in this place and she is very friendly. I salute this small business and its dedication to quality food- have been here about 7 times and have always had consistent food, service and great prices)
(5)
Liz B.
This restaurant is delicious. The food and atmosphere is always intimate and consistent. I always order the tom-kah soup, chilled mango salad, and pad thai with vegetables. The portions are filling and the food is always served on fine China. The kitchen is impeccably clean. There is usually a crowd- it is popular with college students and families alike. There are only a handful of tables. The atmosphere is casual- no need to dress up & it is BYOB! This is a great date spot because the food never disappoints and it is relatively inexpensive. A true hidden jewel!
Sawadee? Sawa-don't!!! First off, what I ordered: * Order of Curry Puffs * Order of Chicken Sa-Tay * Chicken Pad Thai * Thai Fried Rice with Crab * White Jasmine Rice (which ended up not being in the bag) I was feeling Thai food, and in my quest to try to find the best Thai food in Providence, I tried Sawadee for the first time. I chose to take out, and not to dine in. The portions are very small. The Curry Puff appetizer had 3 pieces, and the Pad Thai comes in a rice type container. Now, lets start with the good. The Curry Puffs were delicious. Very delicious. But, at @ $6.00, a portion of 3 leaves a lot to be desired. The Chicken Sa-tay was also pretty good, but again the price and portion size (4 small sized tenders) did not match up. The Pad Thai was a bit mushy, and the flavor was really lacking (flavorless, really.) I have had much better Pad Thai at a Chinese restaurant. The Thai style fried rice was just okay. Nothing special at all, and it had a over powering fishy taste. They did use real crab meat in the rice, which was a bonus... but the taste was over-powering. My total came to a little over $34.00 for those 5 items (one of which I did not get.) I was not at all satisfied, and even though the Curry Puffs and the Sa-tay were really good, I will not be returning to Sawadee ever again.
(1)
May R.
Food is comparable to other great Thai restaurants like SIAM square. The only thing I am going to complain about is that you never ask customers who are seated to give up their seats to accommodate other customers. That is a way to make your customers feel less valued. There are other places worth going to.
(2)
Huan z.
I went there with friends during the Water Fire event. Food are so yummy but in small portion. Place & table are also very small, but the waitress was very friendly. They don't offer wine or beer, but they allow you to bring your own wine and provide glass. How nice!
(3)
Andrew B.
Once people found out I was moving down to Fox Point, they were telling me to try Sawaddee. I ordered takeout the first weekend I was in my new place and once or twice since. I'm glad I had initially decided on takeout because Sawaddee is tiny. It's no bigger than the living room of my small apartment and feel like I'm intruding in someone's home when I go to pick up my order. I'd never try to eat inside. It's too small to be comfortable. The food is isn't bad but I never know what I'm going to end up with but so far it's all tasted similar and rather bland. I'm sure I'll call for takeout again some time but I can guarantee I'll call one of the Wickenden St pizza places first.
(3)
Zee T.
Sawaddee - I love you for so many different reasons. 1. You were always there for me during my summer in Rhode Isand! 2. You are cozy and inviting. 3. Your food is so yummy. Try the Curry Puffs, Pad Thai, Pad Malay, Sticky Rice. 4. You made me into a sticky rice enthusiast. ... I'm not kidding, I literally am eating some as I type this. This restaurant is one of the many things I miss about Providence - and someday I hope to return!
(5)
Tyrone W.
Place is small as shit. We came here with 2 bottles of red-wine recommended to us by the Campus Fine wines store down the street. We had planned to go to Guidos but it was closed on July 3rd, go fucking figure. Anywho, we decided to come across the street to this place. We stood awkwardly for 10 minutes in the middle of the restaurant while they waited for a table to clear for us. Once seated we were treated to an excellent culinary experience. Very good and piping hot crab ragoons. I had the Pad Thai, so typical I know. My friend had the Green Curry which was KICK-ASS!!! Luckily she was sick and dehydrated from a day of fun at a cookout in Mass and then walking around Newport, RI all afternoon and evening and unable to eat hers so I obliged! The redwine wasn't the best combo with our dishes but who cares it's BYOB. Overall great with down home feeling, would def. return!
(4)
Tim C.
This was our first time ordering and the pad thai was good. That's about the only good thing we have to say. We also ordered dumplings and for five dollars we received two mini dumplings. I've never seen such a small order in my life. Most restaurants say how many you receive on the menu but they did not. For five dollars there should of been more. I won't be going back which is sad since they are right around the corner from where I live.
(2)
JH P.
I don't usually write reviews, but my experience was so horrid I had to warn all of you. My experience went something like this: I sat down with my girlfriend on Saturday afternoon. I should have known something was off when the waitress (owner?) poured us two glasses of the most turbid and least refreshing water I have ever seen. There was also a piece of blue thread in my glass, probably just a garnish. Whatever, the food was probably OK, right? I ordered a steamed shrimp dumpling appetizer ($4.95) and a ginger chicken dish ($8.95), while my girlfriend ordered a spicy shrimp dish ($10.95). We got our food all at once, and I was dismayed to see two of the most pathetic pieces of shrimp dumplings in my life. It took us all of about 23 seconds to finish the appetizer. So it was onto the entrees, which looked fine. Two bites in, I discover a medium-length, well-done black hair wrapped around a piece of chicken. Always the gentleman, I get the attention of the waitress and calmly tell her that there is a hair in my dish. She feigns a look of surprise and takes it back to the kitchen without so much as an excuse. Five minutes later, my dish is back in front of me with what appears to be more chicken this time. Cool. Two more bites. ANOTHER BLACK HAIR. Even longer this time. At this point I give up, and send the dish back for good without getting an apology. I ask for the check, pay for the remainder of the meal and leave. That's my story. Eat at your own risk. You've been warned.
(1)
Claudia M.
I ordered from this place not too long ago and when I went to pick up my order, I barely had a place to stand. Two couples were in front of me so I had no choice but to stand next to someone dining. Really uncomfortable. Also, I think their young son (12 or 13 years old?) was working there and he looked SO SULLEN and BITTER that I wondered if I should still order my food because later that night I became violently ill. The other person with whom I shared my order with was not affected. Not sure how clean this place is so I won't be going back again.
(1)
R L.
Great authentic Thai food. I had the tofu and vegetables entree with a basil and red chili sauce. A little salty, but everything was fresh and delicious. The portion size might be small for some people, but it was just right for me. The people who I went with enjoyed the food too, from drunken noodles to chicken curry. The prices are very reasonable, my meal costing $8.25. I didn't get rice though, so that might be a couple of dollars more. However, the dining area is small and rather cramped, with only around 8 small tables. To reach the restroom, you have to go inside the kitchen and through another door. On a random note, there are figures of animals decorating the bathroom area.
(4)
Lisa K.
It's really difficult to give 3 stars; I feel strongly that 1 star and 5 do not average out to 3 (or in this case 2), they are entirely separate rankings. Because first let it be known that the food at Sawaddee is amazing. It's been my go-to Thai place in Providence for years, being that 1. They serve the most amazing sweet and spicy Rama sauce I've had anywhere (in fact, most places I have been consider Rama to be steamed veggies with a side of peanut sauce) 2. It's BYOB and 3. It's one of the few places in the area that serves just Thai, not a pan-Asia mix of Thai, Cambodian, Chinese, and miscellaneous other varietals. Also on the do-try list is the tom yum soup - khafir leaves are a special treat in any menu item, and this is no exception. The garlic and pepper sauce also deserves a mention, as they use white pepper which has such a different characteristic than black. Where things get tricky is in the service area. Now, if you come in the evening and one of the servers waits on you, then it may be ok. But.... 'ware the afternoon pop-in where the manager is also waiting tables! Here's the sitch: I'm about to leave for an international trip, and I want a fond taste of Prov on my tongue, so on Saturday around 1:30, a friend and I stop in for lunch. We are the only customers, and yet it takes quite some time for this woman - we'll call her Dragon Lady - to come take our order. I order, naturally, rama sauce, and I request no green peppers and no mushrooms. This elicited a 'did you know you just sprouted two extra heads, and they're both pretty darn ugly' look, for no reason I can discern to this day. People have dietary preferences, right?? It's not uncommon, one would think particularly in the food service industry. But, not a big deal. Then my friend orders. The tom yum soup. And is asked, 'is that all?' Which, I would think, was fairly obvious from the nature of the interaction, whereby my friend ordered her soup, and handed the closed menu to Dragon Lady after doing so. Regardless, she answered the superfluous question affirmatively. DL then proceeded to take away the plates, the appetizer one from me and both dinner and appetizer from my friend. She then proceeded to pick up her knife and fork, her NAPKIN and then the PLACEMAT. It was one of the single-most unwelcoming restaurant moments I've ever been a party to. We exchanged some mighty perplexed looks, and discussed cancelling our order and leaving - but figured that would be an end to the Sawaddee visits, and neither of us were quite prepared, at that time, to make that commitment. Instead, we stayed, and watched several other parties arrive. While she managed to welcome each party with some semblance of pleasantry, the mask quickly faded into what appears to be her per usual dour expression. I witnessed more removing of the plates, although nothing quite so drastic as the removal of the placemat and napkin. Which MAY be understandable if there were no food item ordered at all, but last time I checked, soup was still considered legitimate food. That one must pay for in order to consume. I mean, could we have opted to pay a linen fee and keep the napkin?? The lack of a placemat and napkin was just glaring, and a continual reminder of the unwelcome vibe we were getting. So when DL returned with our orders, I requested that both items be returned. Her response? 'Oh, she wants to share the food?' Um, no, no not really. And yet even with that being the case, it did not seem an unreasonable request to me. Apparently it seemed unreasonable to this woman, however, because she only brought a placemat. Once we were completely done eating, soup gone and rama ready for a to-go container, she brought the napkin. Utterly, utterly bizarre. Now, I understand that sometimes people have bad days, and providing pleasant service, even if that is your job, is just not always in the cards. However, as I mentioned.... I love the food here. This is not the first time I have experienced the unpleasant nature of this woman, although it was certainly the most off-putting. I can only surmise that, like many such entities, it is a family run business, and by nature, DL would like nothing to do with the public sector. In fact, maybe she is agoraphobic. But the nature of family business dictates that she must work there, and so therefore she is continually bitter and unhappy, to such a degree that it permeates her every moment at Sawaddee. It's not only sad for this restaurant which is otherwise outstanding and very reasonably priced, it's sad for her and also seems like something our culture is struggling with, the conflict between finding what brings you happiness, and what you must do to survive. I hope for her sake, and the sake of the restaurant, and mine too!, that she can either come to terms with her career or get the hell out - because after that experience, I will not be dining in at Sawaddee again unless she is gone.
(2)
Ashley S.
It's great if you don't mind the tiny space. I love their red and penang curries and they give generous portions. The Tom Kha soup is amazing as well. Best Thai food I've found in this price range outside of Thailand!
(5)
Deb G.
Really great Thai food at very reasonable prices. Only negatives: the space is TINY and they don't take reservations. Also, they don't have a liquor license, but you can bring in your own beer/wine if you want. Their Thai Red Curry is fantastic! and my friend swears by the Green Curry. And their Thai tea is divine....
Takes Reservations : Yes Delivery : Yes Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Dinner Parking : Street Bike Parking : Yes Wheelchair Accessible : No Good for Kids : No Good for Groups : No Attire : Casual Ambience : Casual Noise Level : Average Alcohol : No Outdoor Seating : No Wi-Fi : No Has TV : No Waiter Service : Yes Caters : No
Megan C.
A cute little restaurant with ok food. We go here every now and then because (1) we love Thai, (2) it is BYOB, and (3) the restaurant itself is cozy. I've never loved a meal here, but it's been consistently fine. The "create your own noodle soup" option is nice, but always ask for extra extra cilantro for more flavor. They do deliver, but I haven't figured it out yet - I think they just deliver on nights when they feel like it. It's worth calling and asking if you want delivery.
(3)Charlotte S.
Not bad, not bad. I agree with a lot of Yelpers that the portions are a bit small for the price but, honestly, I don't mind paying a little extra on things I know I definitely cannot duplicate at home. I would've liked for my food to be a bit spicier but it hit the spot as far as a Thai food craving went. I ordered the Pad See Ew and tried a bit of a spicy seafood plate which, in my opinion, is well worth the price. It was loaded with assorted treasures of the sea, INCLUDING SCALLOPS WHICH IS TOTALLY MY FAVORITE. I hate when you order a seafood dish, pay a little extra, and it arrives to you with, like, four little shrimps. This one didn't disappoint. Also, I love that their plates are little animals. Except I felt weird about basically inhaling my noodles only to discover a pig underneath. What are you tryin' to say! Anyway, this is one of the first Thai places I've tried in Providence, so I'm not going to say it's "the best" but it was more than decent, the service was fast and, while abrupt, the waitstaff was always kind. I like that it's small and cozy, it's perfect for a casual, intimate dinner.
(4)Eva K.
I normally go to South Side/Elmwood neighborhood for Southeast Asian cuisine, and being that I am SEA and have been eating that cuisine since birth, and cooking since I can remember, this place is not authentic and caters to its neighborhood, which for me, takes away from diners knowing, tasting and ultimately understanding what SEA cuisine is. It's always a let down when I give any restaurant a try and it's not good- happens to all of us, but when it's a cuisine near and dear to my heart, it's pretty discouraging. FYI: The Thai noodle soup w Chkn broth comes from a noodle packet (similar packaging to Ramen noodles) that you can buy at a local Asian market for $0.50, so don't bother with theirs.
(1)Connie W.
I'm not sure why this place doesn't have better ratings!! Ok maybe I have a guess...the portions are a little small. But come on people, aren't we about quality and not quantity anyway? Maybe people aren't using Sawaddee for what it's intended to be - a cute homey place to have a nice dinner with friends, family style. It might be a good idea to each pick a plate or two and sample everything - Thai food is all about robust flavors and having a diverse smattering is how to do it. Here's my humble take on a few of their dishes: pad thai - Very flavorful, don't expect a huge portion; served on an adorable plate (everything is) pad see ew - Got the beef one, very tender beef and nice chewy noodles! The broccoli was crisp tender and sopped up all the lovely sauce and was my favorite part of this dish mango curry - Never thought of cooking with mango, but it's a nice sweet balance in this somewhat spicy curry. Delicious with the crispy fried tofu, especially on sticky rice! steamed banana leaf wrapped salmon - The waitress warned me that this would be a small portion, but it sure was flavorful! The salmon was fork tender and enveloped in coconut curry, tucked into an adorable banana leaf and steamed. Incredibly flavorful and perfect with jasmine rice. green papaya salad - Very flavorful, with crispy roasted peanuts and sweet crunchy green beans. The squeeze of lime at the table is key. A wonderful appetizer, especially in the summer. fried bananas with vanilla ice cream - This was a "welcome back to school" treat on the house! The folks at Sawaddee are so sweet and definitely do their part to ensure everyone has a great meal. Service was prompt and attentive as well. I will be back!
(4)Daniel B.
To be fair to the review, I haven't been here in a long time because I didn't get a sense of value. Nothing has changed for me. I went in for a togo order, and spend five minutes looking at the lunch menu (after expressly saying I was doing togo), and then I was informed they don't do togo for lunch. Fine. I order the same thing for the dinner menu and only one item was a different price for lunch. I leave to run an errand, and come back to find that they didn't make it togo. Fine, I'll wait. Unless you have a big screen playing Dr. Who, I'm going home. So then the server/host comes out and tells me they made the lunch portions of the items and they would discount the difference. Now I understand why she wanted me to eat in. The biggest problem I had out of all of this is the portion. My TWO orders of soup barely filled a quart container. While it was $8 total, I still feel it doesn't have the value.
(2)bo h.
In my opinion, this is the best pad thai I have ever had. However, this is not the place you go to enjoy a great dining experience...it IS a hole in the wall so take it for what it's worth and get takeout. It's not known for it's ambiance and I believe anyone that has been there would tell you that....but if you can get past the lack of ambiance, they have great food! Bottom line: Get takeout and then go to the wine shop close by and grab your favorite bottle (or 2) and enjoy in the comfort of your own home....sigh....now doesn't that sound nice?
(4)Gina C.
This place is absolutely terrible for take out. My husband and I just moved to Providence from Boston, and we ordered take out for our first dinner in our new house. We haven't moved dishes or flatware into our house yet, so I requested 4 times that the restaurant include paper plates, napkins, and utensils. The order arrives (food is cold mind you), and there are absolutely no plates, napkins, or utensils. Awesome. It was freezing outside, late at night, we had already cold food sitting on the counter, and in order to even consume the damn stuff we had to schlep ourselves around town to find plastic utensils and plates (better be worth it I'm thinking). Yeah, it wasn't. Firstly, we ordered an appetizer of crab rang-goon. Who doesn't love that sh*t, right? Guess how many were in the order....three! Laughable. Three little crab rang-goons for two full-sized adults that are ravenous after a 14 hour day. Imagine if I had a couple of people over? How embarrassed would I be after opening their flimsy little paper bag of crab rang-goons to discover that there are only three. Lol. Great segue for my next complaint. The portion sizes are TINY. The sides of sauces are also....you guessed it....TINY. You think when spending $50 on food for two people you're getting a lot of food, right? Wrong. Even the main entrees were small. Lastly, the vegetables we ordered were tired and had seen better days. They did not seem fresh at all. Part of me feels bad for writing this review, I confess. But this food wasn't even mediocre. Therefore, it is my duty to warn my new fellow "rhodies" :) Perhaps this place is great for dining in, but avoid take out at all costs!
(1)Heather V.
Big disappointment I love Pad Thai and figured if anyone would do it right in the Providence area it would be a Thai food place. I was wrong. The noodles were very bland, it didn't taste like pad thai, I had ordered it with shrimp and they were over cooked and I had 3 tiny shrimp in the whole dish. My co-worked had a different noodle dish that at least had some flavor to it.
(2)Rapas C.
This is a great spot of you are looking for a more authentic thai food. I am Thai and so are my friends. There are many dishes I like here but there are still misses. Also, this place is reallyyy small, like really. I would have to say they make one of the best pad thais in Rhode Island. The curries here are also great, I have tried the green curry, panaeng, and the mango curry. Grilled chicken would have to be the most recommended dish here as an overall from me and my Thai friends. Even though the drunken noodle and the pad see ew are not my first choices, I still enjoy them enough and my friends love them. Definitely end the day with their dessert. We loveeee the sticky rice with custard (its called sang-ka-ya). Always order, always gone in seconds. Don't order the som tum (papaya salad) here, it is really not what you are looking for.
(4)Joyce N.
Best Thai food in Providence hands down!!! Cons: -Portion sizes are small -The owner can be a bit rude/snippy But seriously, this place deserves way more stars. Get the pad thai, drunken noodles, any of their curries, or their pla rad prik. If you're looking to try a new Thai dish, their pla rad prik is whole trout fried to a crisp with chili sauce that is great accompanied with their stick rice.
(5)Gypsy V.
Ahhhh, Sawadee. I was a regular here while a student at Brown - so much so, when I called to order take-out, they recognized my voice and remembered my order! What can I say - I like what I like and I know when I've found a good thing! My usual was the crab fried rice - I love love LOVE this dish. The crab is super fresh and plentiful. I order it as spicy as it comes (4/4 "stars," which is how they rate their spiciness). Yummmmmm. The rice is fluffy, the onions cooked to perfection. It's so good, so rich and flavorful, I would order it on my death bed. I found the service to be excellent, but then again, I was a regular. As the other reviews have mentioned, it's a tiny restaurant - maybe 8 tables. BYOB, which can't be beat. They have one bathroom that you have to walk into the kitchen for, but hey, I did say the place was small! I've also tried their curries and found them delicious. But like I said - you really can't go wrong with their crab fried rice, 4 star spicy. I'm salivating just thinking about it!
(5)Leela S.
If you're looking for top-notch, polite, attentive service, don't come here--I've been barked at by the servers a couple of times (for simply asking questions like "can I get this with chicken instead of tofu?"). The interior is pretty simply done up, and there isn't a ton of space; you might have to wait on busy nights. The food is quite decent, especially the pad thai. I once had one of their curry chicken specials and it was pretty flavourful and spicy as well. Portions aren't particularly large, and you're unlikely to have leftovers. Come here for the food, but don't expect a fantastic experience away from the plate.
(3)S. P.
I would NEVER in a million years ever go back to this place. Our office ordered everyone lunch and they forgot my entire order, in addition to other items!! Upon calling back their response was "The chef says he specifically remembers making every single order 100% accurately and wanted me to call back to see if you are really missing stuff" Seriously??!! Like are we going to lie about it?? And who is going to remember over 20 orders? So this will be the last time we ever order from there and on top of it the food sucked. Tasteless and most people's orders were very skimpy.
(1)Britt C.
Well, I just ordered here for the last time. I've only been here several times and each time left much to be desired. The first time I came here, my boyfriend and I were sat at a table and weren't even acknowledged for at least ten minutes. Then someone came over and pretty much just dropped placemats and silverware in front of us, no napkins. After another good ten minutes or so, a woman came over and just looked at us, holding a pen and pad. I took this as our warm welcome and cue to order. We did and our food came out in a reasonable amount of time. We shared the satay (got 5 skewers), Tom kha soup, and som-tum salad. We had only really come here for a small meal. The food was okay, just okay. We finished eating, no one ever came to check on us, or give us the napkins we kept trying to wave them down for. We both just wanted to leave at this point so we didn't get up to ask for any. We got our check and left. The next time I came here was for takeout. I have a strange addiction to tom kha soup, thanks to Taste of Thai Express in Ithaca, NY. I ordered two: one with chicken, and the other shrimp. I got two shrimps in my soup. Not to mention they didn't even give me a bowl's worth of soup! Both containers weren't even full and they are pint sized. Soup was ok. It sated my craving. This time was the worst. I'm sick with pneumonia, I'm well enough to get out of bed and make the 10 minute drive there. When I called to place the order, the girl seemed like she had no clue what I was talking about when I was ordering chicken tom kha and satay. When I explained it to her she just said, that's fine. That's fine? It's on your menu. I wasn't ordering anything modified. I also asked if they could do iced thai tea to go, she said maybe but she could put it in a to go bowl. Haha no, but A for effort. So, I make the drive there and the girl and an older woman look up as I enter, then turn their backs to me. Then the girl says hello, from across the room with her back turned. That's just rude. There's no one in the restaurant, just like the other times I've been here. She charges me $17.89 for two $4 soups and a $6 appetizer. $14 turns into $17.89 how? I hand her a $20 bill and she goes into the back and comes back with my order. I'm still a little out of it so I didn't even notice she didn't give me my change until I was on my way home. When I get home, as expected but not appreciated, the to go containers of soup weren't even full. But the satay was also skimped on. I got 4 skewers. Last time (not even a month ago) I got 5. How about some product consistency? So I just spent $20 on a bowl of soup and a skimped appetizer. Great. Clearly, these people don't care about their business.
(1)Robert S.
Went there with my friend Diego and we enjoyed our meals. We shared the Nime Chow appetizer and it was fresh and light. The peanut sauce was very tasty with lots of peanut pieces floating on top. Diego had the Chicken Pad Thai and he said it was very good. The bean sprouts come on the side, as well as the peanut pieces. The dish was on the small size. Yes, the portions at this place are not ample, but kind of small.....:-( I had the PAD WOONSEN - a dish consisting of crystal noodles stir-fried in light brown sauce with shrimp, mushrooms, baby corn,onions, scallions and eggs. It was light and delightful. Overall a good meal. Again, I wished it would had been a bit larger.... The place is small...only about 10 tables. But the service is attentive and prompt. The restaurant is BYOB. They do not take AMEX nor Discover. VISA and MC...yes.
(4)Paul M.
Okay, this place got a lot of hype but I was super disappointed. The food was decent, but everything was cold (except for the water!) and the portions were pretty small. Went with 3 friends and ordered two appetizers and 3 entrees and weren't quite full when we left. Also, this place is TINY. It feels something like sitting in a stranger's lap to eat at Sawaddee. I don't think I'd go back-- the other local Thai places are much better. We got edamame, chicken satay, eggplant pad, chicken drunken noodles, and a red curry with tofu. The curry was rather delicious, but everything else was a bit on the bland side. Recap: tiny place, tiny portions, okay food but nothing was warm
(2)Molly H.
My boyfriend and I got pad thai, Masaman curry, and the sticky rice with coconut milk custard. The pad thai was quite good but we weren't super impressed by the curry. There was a little mix-up and we weren't given any rice despite definitely having ordered some. The portions were a bit small; there definitely weren't leftovers. Overall, it was good, not great.
(3)Neha S.
Solid thai food! Definitely the best Thai place that I've been to in Providence (admittedly not a very high number, oops). The Pad See Ew in particular is divine. I used to get it with tofu and vegetables, but I found the tofu a little dry and now just go for vegetables. The green curry here is also delicious. The thai iced tea is I think it could have done with a little more milk to round out the sweetness. As a heads up, this place is very small and not good for large groups. I wouldn't come here with more than 2-4 people on a weekend or you'll never get seated without a reservation. VEGETARIAN ALERT: a lot of the vegetable soups use chicken stock and a lot of the noodle dishes are made with fish sauce, so avoid the soups and ask them to make your noodles with soy sauce instead!
(4)Joie S.
I finally tried this place after hearing so much about it. I loved it! I had the angel shrimp and the Sam-Rod. Both were really good. It's also BYOB which is a bonus. Parking is super easy and the prices are comparable to other places. I've been wanting to go back since I left! The place is tiny so I bet there can be a wait during really busy times. We went around 8:30 and didn't have to wait at all. If you like Thai food, check this place out.
(5)Queenie L.
We were craving for asian food so went to this neighborhood Thai food place. Cute cozy restaurant, nice waitress but I wish I can score this place with more stars. Everything taste like home made, did not meet the restaurants standards. ;(
(3)Lou G.
Very good spot. Food is great and very fresh. The place is small, good service, and is pretty quiet. I go here often.
(4)Rob F.
Sawadee means Hello in Thai. Sounds inviting! When the college kids are in town, you can't get near the place. It's small, and there may be a line out the door. There are maybe ten tables. I ate my way through their small menu and wound up ordering tom kah soup as my go to dish. A big bowl with chicken and coconut soup, and rice noodles. Little cups of chili, salt, limes, basil.. Back when I brought my Mom to the place, she would get the chicken noodle soup and I would get that. I would not order it to go however. I ordered two orders to go once, and they put both orders in a quart container, and it was half full and there were no noodles. I refused to take it. I spent 5 minutes arguing with a little Thai woman, but I'm not paying $20 for $5 worth of soup! I tried the green and the mango curries everyone talks about. I thought they were small and watery. Hot, but watery. I had the whole fried fish a couple times. I'm not a fan of farm raised rainbow trout. It would probably blow my doors off if it was a scup or flatfish. It is crispy with fried garlic and chilies on top. The place is out of menu options for me. I've moved on to places like Pattaya and Pho Horns, Bee's and even Apsara, which I like better.
(2)Tyler W.
My husband and I along with two of our friends had dinner here last week during Providence Restaurant Week. Food and service were excellent! I give 3 stars for the venue itself. While I can appreciate it being a small family-owned business in a college area, it had an overall dirty feeling. In order to use the [filthy] restroom, you have to walk through the kitchen, right by a tower of day-old dirty dishes. Reorganizing their bussing area and cleaning up the restroom would've probably gotten them a 4th star from me. As I said, food is EXCELLENT! I had chicken pad Thai, cooked perfectly. I started with the chicken 93 appetizer which had a perfect blend of flavor and spice, with the bag being tied by a green onion (nice touch!) Best part of the restaurant though, is BYOB! A great way to save money. We had 2 appetizers, 2 entrees, and 3 desserts (...don't judge...) and spent about $35. We brought two bottles of our own wine. Edit: spelling error
(3)Dandaya M.
Great options for food not usually offered. Too bad the food is not great at all. For the amount of money I should've had leftovers. $5 for 4 rangoons $5 for 4 chicken wings not the whole wing, 2 wings cut up. Never order for take out and ask for your receipt I was charged for something I did not even order! Also horrible service. Waiter was awful! Save your money!!
(1)Carissa H.
This place USED to be amazing. It WAS one of my top five favorite restaurants. We just ate takeout from there tonight and it was terrible. I feel like it went downhill. Maybe someone different is cooking?? We liked only one dish of the five we ordered. The curry was bland (flavor was one dimensional, only spicy hot) and watery. The chicken in it was so dry. I feel so deflated, because I really liked this place before. Sawadee, please get your groove back!!
(2)Eric C.
You know me and Thai. We're like an inseparable braid. When I move, I find the nearest Thai restaurant and I attempt to latch to it like a parasite. Unfortunately, I have to say.... there's no latching here at Sawaddee. They have the convenience of being close, but not only are they by far the most expensive Thai restaurant I have ever eaten at, but they nickel and dime you to death (yes, they charge you for the white rice that doesn't come with the curry). How much does white rice really cost? Shouldn't your $12 entree come with the $0.05 that it costs you for the rice? Who knows... Overall, the food was ok, and nothing to write home about which is unusual because I always write home about Thai. I also had their Rad Nah (or lad nah depending on who you ask) which is the rice noodle in gravy sauce. It's good and I wish I could say this would be my go to place, but alas this will likely be a resounding NO. Parking is difficult to find outside of the restaurant as it is all street parking in the midst of many other restaurants. If you're starving for Thai and willing to fork over the money, then this may satiate you.
(3)Bryce A.
I'm sorry; I know a lot of people love this place, but both times I've eaten here I enjoyed neither food nor atmosphere. Maybe I didn't order the right things, but most of my dishes included the same vegetables which were obviously dumped out of a package of a frozen, pre-cut vegetable assortment. That said, the food obviously didn't taste fresh. Ignoring that, it wasn't really palatable either. The sauces were not balanced or rich. They were often very thin, like water with soy sauce and some spices mixed in. The restaurant itself is a cramped room. It's so cramped in fact, that at one table the person sitting by the window cannot pull their chair out and the person next to them must stand up so that the other person can scoot over and out. It's like being on an airplane. With airplane food.
(2)Molly L.
Sawaddee is my staple for Thai food in the Providence area. It gets pretty busy on Friday, Saturday nights, but on other days, it's pretty peaceful inside. I've tried a bunch of dishes here, but my favorite entrees are the Grilled Chicken Kaiyang Combo, which is basically garlic-y grilled chicken served with a scoop of sticky rice and papaya salad on the side for $12, and the Tofu with Rama Sauce ($10). The best part of the meal is dipping the chicken in the rama sauce! Sawaddee Hacks: - They offer 10% discount for students but you have to ask! - If you get Pad Thai takeout, you get at least 3x more.
(4)Shantael C.
Came here middle of the week, so it wasn't so crowded. The servers were attentive and fast. She explained in details all that I needed to know. The food was hot and very fresh. It was not the best chicken Pad Thai I've had (noodles kinda sticky and the sauce slightly weird) but I'd surely go back with friends.
(4)Andria T.
Sawaddee is my first choice for Thai in Providence. They have never let me down and the service is always prompt and courteous. Everything I've had there has been delicious and fresh, and doesn't have that heavy, greasy taste that some other Asian cuisine can have. As others have noted, the restaurant itself is quite small--so I've only dined in a few times, but the seating is at different levels so it makes it seem less crowded and gives you a feeling of privacy. It's fun on a winter's night to sit at the table(s) right next to the window where you feel kind of like your at your grandma's house, but she's serving you delicious Thai food. They also have really, really good lunch specials, which I sadly have not been able to take advantage of (work is just a bit too far away), but every time I walk by the sign on the sidewalk, I kick myself. maybe next week...
(5)Eva R.
The cramped dining room hasn't been an issue for me because I mostly order take-out and have only dined-in a few times on slower nights. Im shocked at the negative reviews...I always get the duck with coconut curry and the shrimp pad thai, both are Outstanding!!!
(4)Wow K.
Sawadee is probably the most authentic Thai restaurant in Providence, adequately satisfying my homesickness. Since discovering it, I haven't really gone back to the other ones also because Foodler delivers it. The restaurant itself is a little cramped and can get full very easily on a good night. My favourites from the menu include Gai Yang (grilled chicken with garlic) paired with sticky rice, Pad Malay/Pad See Ew (stir fried wide noodles in thick dark sauce with vegetables and meat of your choice), Chinese Broccoli with Crispy Pork, and the Garlic Fish. All of these things are essentially what I would normally eat when I go home to Bangkok. The lady who owns the restaurant is also really nice. Once, we wanted to get the Mango Sticky Rice, but she said that the mangos weren't ready yet. She even let us sample a few pieces. Sawadee is definitely worth it.
(4)Andrea O.
Green curry soup was great! Service was lacking, but the food made up for it! will be back..
(4)Nicole R.
On my first venture to Sawaddee I went for the drunken noodles. The portion was really small for the price. I asked for extra spicy and there was no spice at all. The flavor wasn't too bad but just not what I asked for. The noodles themselves were in chunks stuck together and there were not very many pieces of chicken or veggies. With all the competing Thai places in the area I kind of feel like Sawaddee needs to step up their game. If I could go halvesies i'd give them a 2.5 but i'm feeling generous. So, 3 it is.
(3)Anita T.
I have eaten there for over twenty years! Love the food.
(5)Anita I.
I am extremely late in reviewing this restaurant as the first time I ever went there was years and years ago. First off, do not expect to enjoy your meal in a spacious restaurant as that is not what you will get. There are about 8 tables in the entire place and extremely snug. One of my tricks is when frequenting little "dive eats" I always go in the "off-season" of the day, lunch early or late dinner...this way you are not cramped. On this particular occasion, I went for lunch and was pleased to see that theu have a lunch menu; however, it is only to dine-in...which sucks if you just want to take it back to the office with you. The server didn't speak very much English but was friendly. I started out with the lunch portion Som Tum Salad, fine strips of carrot and red cabbage tossed with lime juice, Thai chili, and ground peanuts. Very refreshing and delish, not to mention healthy. I ordered the lunch portion of the Tofu Pad Thai, the waitress talked me into trying it with the Crispy noodle which I was a bit apprehensive about doing as I like my flat rice noodles. I also asked for it to be extra spicy and was asked how spicy based on a 1-4 system...I got 4! The lunch Pad Thai started off with an included smallTom-Yum vegetable soup. It was the best Tom-Yum soup that I have had in a very long time. Not only were the veggies fresh and colorful, the broth was perfectly seasoned and each ingredient sang its own song. I left most of the cabbage in the bowl but finished every last bit of the broth. The Pad Thai was so tasty and spicy just as I requested. This Pad Thai was also the best I have had in quite some time. I don't like it when the Pad Thai is overly soppy & wet, glistening with oil. This was fresh, light and just enough bean sprouts, egg, scallions and peanuts. I was very pleased with my lunch and can't wait to go back to try other things which may be difficult as I can't imagine not getting these items again. For all of the people with bad experience, I am sorry to hear that. It is difficult with mom & pop spots as sometimes it is lacking in service or atmosphere but the food is amazing. For all of the people complaining about how small it is...Quality not quantity!! I will continue to go back to this place as long as it is open.
(4)Rich H.
Summary based on 1 dinner: --ok Thai food for Providence --not especially authentic without some discussion that you really mean it --ok prices --easy parking in the evening
(3)Tayler S.
Try the papaya salad!
(5)Katie A.
Sawaddee serves very good Thai food. I stick with their excellent curries (they are gluten-free). My friends have tried a variety of other dishes and always been pleased. Watch out vegetarians - most of their dishes have fish sauce, but they will leave it out if you ask. As many other reviewers have noted the restaurant is tiny. If you want an intimate, romantic meal where you won't be overheard, go somewhere else. I often enjoy being surrounded by others enjoying their excellent meals, but when I'm not in the mood I order takeout.
(3)Raza H.
A really nice and authentic Thai restaurant. The only problems are that the place itself is really limited in seating and that the service for takeout can be pretty slow. The curries are a great pick me up if you need something spicy
(3)Ami G.
On Tuesday, I had one last exam to take at four o' clock. I had warned my husband to mark his calendar and make sure he had no other plans for Tuesday night after my test because we were definitely going out to celebrate both the end of the semester and the fact I hopefully no longer have to take another class again! I knew I wanted to go out to a casual dinner, but I couldn't decide on where to go for the life of me! Then, just before he was about to pick me up on his way home from work, I remembered one place minutes from our home that we never go to because it is so tiny and therefore always so packed-- a little Thai restaurant down our street called Sawaddee. I figured since it was a Tuesday night we might actually be able to get a table, and when I suggested it, my husband agreed that it was the ideal night to go there. We arrived at Sawaddee around 7:45, just in time to grab the last available table. The restaurant does have plans for expansion, but as of right now, there are probably no more than eight or ten tables. We had gone to Sawaddee when we first met seven years ago and remembered how amazingly delicious the food was. Of course, we were eager to see if it lived up to the reputation it held in our memories. Even though we hadn't eaten there in a while, all signs indicated the meal would be outstanding, evidenced by numerous "Best Of" awards posted right next to the booth we were sitting in. I ordered two apps since I was starving. First, I got some vegetarian nime chow, which is one of my favorite foods ever. This particular version was wonderful-- packed with rice noodles, mint, green onions and lettuce, the rolls were busting at the seams! The peanut sauce it is served with was amazing as well-- I could drink that sauce by the bucket. I also tried their green papaya salad, which I requested to be made without the dried shrimp it is normally prepared with. The salad consisted of shredded green papaya, Thai chilis, string beans, tomato, peanuts and a sweet and tangy dressing made with lime juice. I have only ever tried green papaya salad once before and fell in love with the bold flavors. Sawaddee's version was right on-- the peanuts were a perfect savory contrast to the sweet and sour dressing, and each bite created a taste that certainly was greater than each of the individual components of the salad (if that makes sense). In other words, it was one of those salads where each bite had to have a little bit of everything to get the full delicious effect. I didn't get very fancy with my entree-- I ordered one of their ten most popular dishes (according to a list placed on the table)-- their Massaman curry with tofu and veggies. Of course, a side of brown rice accompanied the curry to provide the necessary soakage of the delicious sauce. The dish was exquisite, as it was chock full of veggies like potatoes, baby corn, and string beans and tofu chunks in a delectable and spicy peanut curry sauce. I could have easily eaten the whole thing, but I practiced moderation so I could have some delicious leftovers for my husband to eat the next day. What a good wife. All in all, Sawaddee deserves its reputation as one of the best Thai restaurants in Rhode Island. It was the perfect casual spot to celebrate a weekday special occasion. Also, the service, while not at all sugar-coated, was quick and attentive. Iknow crowds there are tough on weekends though. . . so I guess I just have to eat out more on weekdays so I can get to Sawaddee more often!
(4)April T.
Mmmm I love the food here so much. Order anything on the menu, it's all great. If you want something actually spicy, be sure to ask for it. The owner is really friendly, and always asking how the food is.
(5)Jeffrey H.
Sawadee is one of the first thai restaurants I ever visited, and one of the few I frequented until recently. Going to college on the east side of Providence, restaurant choices are limited to those within walking distance, and this was the most logistically reasonable thai restaurant. It's small, so is better for a date than a group meal, although fortunately it's expanding into the neighboring building so who knows what that will bring. Over the past 2 years, with the addition of a car to my lifestyle, I've branched out and started eating at some other thai restaurants around the state, and then recently moved just around the corner from Sawadee and therefore have gotten take-out from it several times. Either their food quality has changed or my palette has, because the food here is not even close to as good as what you can find at some other thai restaurants in the area. I wouldn't say it's bad, but it's just not great. the tofu is kind of spongy and flavorless. The sauces are mild in flavor and substance. The service is acceptable, but nothing more. And the prices are pretty much what you'd expect for a thai place that focuses on take-out. In summary, while there's nothing about Sawadee that I would call "bad," (it's almost impossible to find bad thai food in my opinion), I wouldn't classify this as good either; it's not hard to find better.
(2)Liz T.
I have high Thai expectations. Having frequented Wondee Siam, what I consider to be the BEST Thai in NYC, I have a fairly picky palate for Thai cuisine. Sawaddee really meets my expectations head on and surpasses them in certain respects. First of all, I absolutely hate it when Asian American restaurants are overly greasy, grossly disorganized, and full of MSG. The taste at Sawaddee is clean, appropriately fried, and carefully seasoned. The Thai fried rice is made with a very high-end Jasmine rice, and the Pad See Ew is made with extremely fresh and well-cooked rice flour. They even have a "create your own" Thai noodle soup which is COMPLETELY exciting because most American Thai restaurants fail to produce a really authentic big bowl noodle soup--something I absolutely crave on a regular basis. The ambience is really cute and homey too. The restaurant is in an old house off Hope Street, front door preserved with classic New England architecture. The space inside is pretty small, but appropriately spaced with seating and capable of entertaining larger parties up to 8-10 if tables are arranged as such. I'm a fan. I'm glad there's a solid Thai option when I need my flat noodle fix.
(4)Jeff M.
I am unfortunate to say that I can only give 3 stars for my first visit there. I waited and waited. Just for a pick up order. After about 15-20 minutes someone finally came out and gave me my order. Went back home and I was missing dumplings and a side of rice that I had to pay extra for. The food that I did get was great, but definitely not a good first impression.
(3)Robin S.
I'd really like to give this place 4 stars, but am giving it 3 because the service there is very hit or miss. The food is great - I love the "build your own soup" options, the mango salad is great come summertime, and there are always interesting specials. That being said, I think the food is a bit over-priced, considering the portion sizes. Also, the place is tiny so it's difficult to find a spot (though I think they're expanding).
(3)Sarah E.
I can't tell you what authentic Thai food tastes like. I walk into every Thai restaurant with a complete innocence (ignorance?). I have no idea what I like or what I've tried. I generally ask for the waitstaff's opinion and go for it! I've never been disappointed. I made my first trip to Sawaddee for lunch today. I ordered the red curry with chicken, which came with a cup of Tom yum soup. everything was delicious. The portion was on the smaller side and the menu is just slightly more expensive than other Thai restaurants in the area. But, I loved the coziness of the place and the prompt service. It's perfect for a quick lunch (as long as there is a table available).
(4)Vilay S.
I come here when I'm craving home-y style Thai food, and it hits the spot. My usual is the combo that comes with garlicky bbq chicken, sticky rice, and papaya salad. It's a meal I've eaten a million times at mom's house. I like that this restaurant serves up foods you don't typically see at Thai restaurants, like everything on the northeast-style section of the menu. Some tips for newbs - sticky rice is eaten with your hands. Dip it in sauce or w/a bite of meat if you want. Don't ask for chopsticks unless you're eating noodles.
(3)Fah Z.
If you are looking for authentic Thai food. Highly recommend this place. So good. Food is real Thai test not too sweet and not to creamy. This place is a real deal.
(5)Lauren A.
Pretty good for a Thai craving- good portion size for lunch specials- and the soup broth is awesome with a combo. I would skip the chicken broth if your'e getting a noodle soup bowl. Not bad, not too expensive, but nothing to write home about.
(3)Stephanie M.
I do like Sewaddee. The two things that make me rank it a three star (below Thai Star)? The small portion sizes and the lack of spice. The food is tasty, particularly the pad see eiw, but I've yet to leave here not feeling as if I could use some more of whatever I got. The curry puffs in particular - three small (two bite) puff for $6? Really? Ten dollars for a small serving of mostly noodles is almost extortion - and it's getting worse and worse. The other issue is the lack of spice in the food. Everything could use way more - not just hot-spicy, but also flavourful-spicy. Things like the pad see eiw have just enough white pepper to make you wish there was twice as much. The other thing to note - though it's not an issue with the food - this is the smallest restaurant I think I've ever seen. It's maybe the size of my living room - and they somehow pack in eight tables. This is NOT a place to go with groups of more than four, or with anyone with issues moving and sitting in a tight space.
(3)Molly O.
My Pad Thai tasted like Cat food. Gross. Their water was warm I like ice. But I won't go here again.
(1)Andy G.
Thai Iced Tea. Mango sticky rice. Pineapple fried rice. Good enough for me.
(4)Ocheeto C.
I've been to this restaurant several times and tried different dishes from the menu. The food tastes great. My favorite dish is the bankok duck. This dish is about $20. The quality of the food isn't the issue. I feel like I'm getting ripped off when i order this dish and I need to fork over another $2-3 dollars for a small portion of sticky rice. A really small portion. Really?! The owner nickel and dimes you to death!!!! There are plenty of restaurants where the rice is included with the meal. Rice is not that expensive when you buy it in bulk. This is just ridiculous. Most of the portions are small including the appetizers and desserts. Everything is super small. If they increased their portions and included rice with their signature dished I might come back to dine there. I'm not coming back here out of principle.
(1)Victoria K.
For months now I've been craving Thai food. I hadn't had really good Thai food since I moved back to RI (ugh). I figured in order to get through the rest of my sentence here, I better find a good Thai place to satisfy my current and future cravings. Sawaddee is it in so many ways. First of all, I understand this place is beyond tiny. It's cozy, it's quaint, it's not fancy, but does it really have to be? It's not posing as something it isn't. It's a down-to-Earth, authentic Thai cuisine gem. Does the dining area need to be elaborate for you to enjoy your meal? Maybe for you, but I'm quite thrilled to enjoy my Pad Thai in such a simple setting if it manages to quench my hunger. It's also really delicious, as was the Tom-Yum Soup (wow, who knew something that seems so simple could be so flavorful and perfect), the Springs Rolls (exactly what I was hoping for), Thai Noodles (my sister loved it), and the Sticky Rice with Coconut Custard (great "al dente" texture of the rice played off the creamy custard it accompanied). We also ordered some Green Curry to go to eat later for dinner. It too was perfection. Really, I have no complaints whatsoever. And just so you know it's not only the great food I love about this place. The service was amazing. First of all, we enjoyed a fairly late lunch so the tiny dining area was mostly vacant, so we lucked out. Our waiter was incredibly attentive, helpful, polite, sweet, and just plain adorable. I almost wanted to adopt him, haha. Even after we had paid for our meal, he still came by to ask if we needed water refills. At some other restaurants I have to beg multiple times before I get an appropriate amount of water from them. You'd think they were suffering a drought or something. All in all, I'm a huge fan of Sawaddee. I really can't wait to go back. There's really so much I want to try, including the make-your-own noodle soups! They offer great lunch deals which include soup and rice for non-noodle entrees, all at a reduced price from their dinner menu. Either way, their prices are very fair and the food is authentic, authentic, authentic! I don't know how long the wait may be during busy times, but quite frankly, I could care less. If they can satisfy my Thai-tooth, then all is well in the world...
(5)Alma C.
This place is a tiny little hole-in-the-wall and my go-to Thai restaurant in the area. I have especially enjoyed the curry dishes and noodles. As other reviewers have noted, the portion sizes are not large by any means, but they are adequate for the cost. Come early if you can for dinner, the space is very limited.
(4)Leslie B.
I want to like this place. Its a few blocks from my house and it's BYOB! But I just don't. Dining in- Small, which is fine, but dirty, which is not. Personally I'm not a fan of seeing food specks all over the wall and grime in every crevice. They could do with closing the place for a day and power washing the whole dining room. I can't imagine what the kitchen looks like. The food is decent, not great. But the portions are small and about 1-2 dollars more then they should be for the quality and size. Take out- Was craving thai the other night and decided to give this place another try. The portions were even smaller then dine in! Again, the foods ok. Nothing great. But way too expensive for the portion sizes. Sidenote- What is it with thai places in Providence 1. not including rice with curry dishes and 2. not putting any veggies in the tofu option. Was I spoiled in NY? Is this the only place where ordering tofu as your protein means ditching the veggies?
(2)Dee W.
My wife just got some take out and she's very disappointed. She got Pad Thai which is not good at all and it had a weird smell. She also got an order of sticky rice with mango, which was okay. Both portion sizes were extremely small, especially for the cost. I don't think we'll be going back again, which is a shame because it's around the block from our house.
(2)John P.
I found the service to be sub par and the portions to be very small compared to other Thai restaurants. They brought out my meal and it took 5 more minutes to bring my son's meal. The portions were about 1/2 what they are at Apsara on Hope Street or Pakarang on Main Street or Spice Thai on Waterman Street. I asked for the Pad Thai to be spicy at 3 on a scale of 4. It was mild and bland with very little chicken. Finally, the place is a dump. Very small and confining.
(2)Diya S.
Decent meal, I'm vegetarian so I got the drunken noodles. Small portions, and you have to be sure to tell them no fish sauce. Was not super impressed.
(3)Bailey M.
I agree with everything in Victoria K's review. Sawaddee is basically an extension of my own kitchen when I'm too tired or lazy to cook for myself. Because I'm lazy and unimaginative, I only eat the pad see ew or green curry beef with white rice. I've tried some of the other menu items and been very happy with them, so it seems like their menu is consistently good across the board. Surprisingly, they have great customer service. The place is always packed every night of the week, and they do a lot of take-out orders as well. I eat here way too often. I love Sawaddee. Helpful hint: Valpak sends out coupons for Sawadee so check for them in the mail!
(5)John P.
The ambiance is terrible and he food is excellent. Dinner is better quality cooking then lunch by and large. Best massaman curry I have ever had, and I have had it everywhere but Thailand.
(4)Billy D.
Wonderful food - green papaya salad, curry shrimp, mango sticky rice. My new favorite restaurant.
(5)mrs q.
For everyone who's bitching. I don't know what people are bitching about. Just because you had to wait for your seat doesn't mean that the portions should be bigger. And maybe the people who came after you got seated because they were joining a party. Anyway, as for the sriracha...that sauce is often eaten with Pho (Vietnamese food)...Thai people only use sriracha (NOT the rooster lable) when eating seafood (such as steamed shrimp). Thai sriracha is sweeter and isn't spicy like the Huy Fong brand (rooster lable). As for the food. The papaya salad is good, but it's not the best I've had in my lifetime. But it's good. And I've ordered it more than once. "Lao" /"Laotian" style is much better. Pad Thai...always good with chicken or shrimp. Yum Nurr -- the best ever ! the beef is always fresh. And they use good cuts of meat for the dish too. We always order this dish and sticky rice (they go well together). The Tom Yum soups are also good -- very clean yet flavorful. All the curry dishes are good. I've never ordered anything I didn't like. As for Asian restaurants in Providence, this is the most authentic you can get. So get over yourself(if you're bitching), stop your bitching and just enjoy the food while you can. =) Like the 5 stars indicate, it's "as good as it gets!" BTW, this place is BYOB and no cork charge !!!!
(5)Christian J.
Best Thai on the East Side. The pricing is good, and the menu selection is diverse. I've tried something new every time I've been since moving here, and I haven't been disappointed yet.
(5)Vanessa T.
For many years, this was my favorite Thai spot in Rhode Island. Over the years, it's gotten more popular, more expensive, and less consistent. That's a recipe for sad panda face. I still stop in periodically when I'm in town because I'm a softie for Sawaddee, but it's definitely slipping. The fresh spring rolls are about half the size they were when I started going there in 1998. The portions, in general, are shrinking. I'm not really one of those big portions and "bang for your buck" kind of people, but at some point, you start to feel like your relationship is a little one-sided. Where's the love, Sawaddee? My last few meals there have had varying rates of success, with the last visit being especially concerning: hard chunks of overcooked or deep fried chicken that my fellow diner took for nuts. We're no longer exclusive and I'm seeing other Thai places when I'm in town.
(3)Jim Y.
Best Tai food in miles! It's authentic and very good. If you've never eaten at a place like it, I suggest you try it. Try the chive dumplings too. The only bad thing I can say is that the appetizers are small for the price.
(5)Gary S.
This Thai restaurant is small but inviting. The food is very good, and the service is very friendly. I agree with some of the other reviewers who point out that portions are a bit on the small size.
(3)Sbs S.
Sawaddee is really good. It's small...actually tiny, but if you go during the day or make a reservation if you're trying to go on a Fri-Sat night, you'll be fine. I've been there many times and almost always get the Pad See Ew. I get it with tofu instead of chicken and no carrots because I personally just don't like cooked carrots. I'm practically a carnivore but I get it with tofu because I feel like it doesn't need the meat at all. Also the tofu is cut into really big chunks (and fried, just FYI) and since tofu is so mellow it balances out the saltiness of this dish. I always ask for a side of peanut sauce because it brings in a sweet and creamy factor to cut out the saltiness along with the tofu. That, and I just love peanut sauce. I took some out of state friends here one night, party of 6. They each ordered something different and I tried a bite of everything. It was ALL so good. I've had Thai food all over Thailand and this tastes pretty dang close to the real deal. It has that hot yummy salty spicy sweet tangy bitter thing going on that Thai food is all about. Their Plah-Rad-Prik is so good. Deep fried whole fish that is topped with some type of tamarind sauce. It looks small but I shared it with my dad and we were both full. Actually we also shared the green curry with eggplant (really good, but a littleeeee bit bland, but it worked well with the fish since that was SO flavorful) and it was a perfect dinner. The only reason I gave it 4 stars instead of 5 was because the service is kinda wonky. Everyone seems really nervous, and can sometimes be a bit forgetful. Also I think the portions are kind of small. Or maybe I just eat a lot. But I think the portions are just small haha. Also it's a bit over-priced! A handful of Pad Thai goes for 11, 12 bucks? It's just annoying to me when the ingredients to make the dish are so cheap, but they yank up the price, just because it's from a restaurant. I don't care to pay a bit more for a meal, but I do care if the portion is the size of an English muffin. Ps- Don't get the mango with sticky rice. Mango is frozen and sticky rice is a 1x1 inch cube of dry, flavorless sticky rice. Bummer!
(4)Susan Z.
Good curries. The restaurant is small, so don't expect too much personal space, but the staff is very nice.
(4)I W.
I tried this out last night...similar to another reviewer I live close by and wanted to see if this would be my new Thai take out place. Unfortunately the food was not impressive.
(2)Denise P.
Sawaddee is my favorite Thai restaurant in RI, even though portions are small. Tonight I was frustrated though. I went as part of restaurant week, after seeing a two-for-one special promising two appetizers and two entrees. When we got there and were handed a menu, the word "two" near the list of appetizers was scribbled over and replaced with a "one." I felt mislead. I was further frustrated when my vegetable pad Thai (I'm a vegetarian) had a piece of chicken in it.
(2)Nancy Z.
Two pieces of "dumplings," aka Chinese shumai for $5? I feel like I got ripped off. The Nime Chow, fresh spring rolls, were okay, but nothing compared to other restaurants like Apsara or Thai Star. I came here based on all the great reviews, and I was kinda disappointed. The second we arrived, we asked for a booth instead of a small table that looked like it was on a pedestal (mind you only 2 other people were there- awkward!) The waitress was not a happy camper. What did I hear about good service? Lies! Okay... she wasn't horrible but it made asking her for other things very uncomfortable. I will say that the decor of the restaurant was very homely, cozy if I can say so myself, but everybody knows it comes down to the food. We ordered Pad Kee Mao (Drunken Noodles) and the Choo Chee dish, which is a combination of seafood (or a choice of salmon) in red curry. The Pad Kee Mao was okay, but lacked a lot of flavor and was dry. On the other hand, the Choo Chee dish was DELICIOUS! I couldn't stop dipping the sticky rice in the sauce. Yum. Dinner cost $37 for the "dumplings ($5)," Nime Chow ($5), Pad Kee Mao ($9-10), Choo Chee ($13-14). Overall, I felt like the food was not worth the money... I know I sound like an ass for this, but it's true. Customer service was uncomfortable and food was okay-with the exception of one dish. I will not be a returning customer :(
(2)Sunisa A.
I go to Providence to visit my family very often. We live near by Sawaddee. So,we order from this restaurant a lot.These dishes are my favorite dishes from Sawaddee: 1. Som Tum (papaya salad) 2. Yum Nurr (beef salad) 3. Muk Tua Squid is amazing!!! the squid is so big and so soft with chili/sweet sauce served with stringbeans...hm.... I can't get enough. RAMA dish is good,too but I think the sauce is similar to Muk Tua Squid. so, if you order the squid dish, you shouldn't order Rama dish. 4. Honey fish (Pla-Tod). it's deep fried fish with honey sauce....so good! you can order duck instead,too 5. Pad Thai is pretty good 6. Pad Malay (Pad see ew), it's widen/flat noodle with black sauce....I love it. 7. for curry, I would go for Chu Chee seafood. it's sort of orange curry. with a lot of seafood. 8. Masaman curry, it's yellow curry with potato and you select meat. 9. Bangkok curry, I like this curry,too. they put pineapple in it. color is kinda orange/red. For dessert, I love banana dumplings serve with vanilla ice cream. it's a very nice hot/cold combination.. oh! if you want an updated menu, go to their website: sawaddeerestaurant.com Hope this help! enjoy guys. If I explore something else, I will let you know.
(5)Todd O.
Very disappointing. I had heard that this was the "best" Thai. I ordered crab rangoons, chicken pad thai, and chicken pra ram. I received something that was not chicken pra ram, no rice, and 4 rangoons. Anemic. We returned the pra ram and received a plastic container of cooked plain chicken - not appetizing - and a small amount of peanut sauce. It was oddly spicy for pra ram, and the pad thai was also unusually spicy. The rangoons were passable, though more wonton than I prefer. Overall a very disappointing experience. Not totally horrible, but won't go back unless I'm having a Thai emergency.
(2)Esme S.
Pretty swell thai food. Always hits the spot. It gets very packed though, and sometimes the communication barrier can be hard but at the end of the day who cares when you got a plate of pad thai in front of you. I highly reccomend the mango sticky rice and the Pra Ram.
(4)Brittany K.
My boss has been talking this place up for a long time, and I finally made the trip over the find out what all the noise was for. Trouble is, I DON"T KNOW WHAT WE'RE YELLING ABOUT. The place was ultra tiny. Not an issue, really but it should be noted. We were sat at a table along the wall, and there were bits and chunks of food freshly smeared on the wall. Yummy. We asked for the fresh spring rolls with no shrimp, and there were shrimps nestled comfortably in my supposedly animal free appetizer. We also ordered the mango curry with tofu and and pad thai with tofu and no egg. The mango curry was not bad, but boasted only two pieces of mango in a sea of sauce. The pad thai was served as requested without the egg, but the noodles were grossly overcooked into a giant gelatinous mass topped with some sad little bean sprouts. I could barely pull it apart. Not. Pleased. The service was genuinely friendly, so stars for that, but the search continues for five star Thai.
(2)Jennifer M.
very authentic and delicious thai. small seating area...best if you go at an off time or for lunch.
(5)Chris K.
One of the greatest places to get take out (a little cramped for eating in although if you like to eat in it isnt so bad)- Tom-Kha soup is always our favorite thing to get. I started off here getting Pad Thai but have recently ventured to other dishes like drunken noodle and the cold meat orders (for lunch) . We also like that we can get sticky rice which is always good - the owner is also always in this place and she is very friendly. I salute this small business and its dedication to quality food- have been here about 7 times and have always had consistent food, service and great prices)
(5)Liz B.
This restaurant is delicious. The food and atmosphere is always intimate and consistent. I always order the tom-kah soup, chilled mango salad, and pad thai with vegetables. The portions are filling and the food is always served on fine China. The kitchen is impeccably clean. There is usually a crowd- it is popular with college students and families alike. There are only a handful of tables. The atmosphere is casual- no need to dress up & it is BYOB! This is a great date spot because the food never disappoints and it is relatively inexpensive. A true hidden jewel!
(5)Chris L.
Really 3.5 stars. We visited for lunch on a weekend. We were the only ones there. Smallish but not a closet as some reviewers made it out to be; classy décor (cloth tablecloth and napkins, not lavender or green, unusual items on walls) but some food particles on tablecloth. Restroom was unisex, tiny and entered through kitchen. Service was attentive (we were only ones there) and friendly. Choices were many. Prices bit on high side. A mango iced tea was $1.95 very fair. I had the make-your-own noodle: crystal noodle (not usually an option on most menus), tom kha (coconut soup base) and chicken (tender, not overcooked in soup) for $9.95 in a large bowl. This selection was excellent. Another had pad thai which was good and ample-sized. ($8.95) Our other diner had a combo green papaya salad which was very pungent and small portion, chicken satay (2 skewers in peanut curry- good) and cube of tasteless, hard sticky rice ($5.25) and tom yum soup ($4.50). We will return even if tiny bit overpriced
(3)Derrick S.
Sawadee? Sawa-don't!!! First off, what I ordered: * Order of Curry Puffs * Order of Chicken Sa-Tay * Chicken Pad Thai * Thai Fried Rice with Crab * White Jasmine Rice (which ended up not being in the bag) I was feeling Thai food, and in my quest to try to find the best Thai food in Providence, I tried Sawadee for the first time. I chose to take out, and not to dine in. The portions are very small. The Curry Puff appetizer had 3 pieces, and the Pad Thai comes in a rice type container. Now, lets start with the good. The Curry Puffs were delicious. Very delicious. But, at @ $6.00, a portion of 3 leaves a lot to be desired. The Chicken Sa-tay was also pretty good, but again the price and portion size (4 small sized tenders) did not match up. The Pad Thai was a bit mushy, and the flavor was really lacking (flavorless, really.) I have had much better Pad Thai at a Chinese restaurant. The Thai style fried rice was just okay. Nothing special at all, and it had a over powering fishy taste. They did use real crab meat in the rice, which was a bonus... but the taste was over-powering. My total came to a little over $34.00 for those 5 items (one of which I did not get.) I was not at all satisfied, and even though the Curry Puffs and the Sa-tay were really good, I will not be returning to Sawadee ever again.
(1)May R.
Food is comparable to other great Thai restaurants like SIAM square. The only thing I am going to complain about is that you never ask customers who are seated to give up their seats to accommodate other customers. That is a way to make your customers feel less valued. There are other places worth going to.
(2)Huan z.
I went there with friends during the Water Fire event. Food are so yummy but in small portion. Place & table are also very small, but the waitress was very friendly. They don't offer wine or beer, but they allow you to bring your own wine and provide glass. How nice!
(3)Andrew B.
Once people found out I was moving down to Fox Point, they were telling me to try Sawaddee. I ordered takeout the first weekend I was in my new place and once or twice since. I'm glad I had initially decided on takeout because Sawaddee is tiny. It's no bigger than the living room of my small apartment and feel like I'm intruding in someone's home when I go to pick up my order. I'd never try to eat inside. It's too small to be comfortable. The food is isn't bad but I never know what I'm going to end up with but so far it's all tasted similar and rather bland. I'm sure I'll call for takeout again some time but I can guarantee I'll call one of the Wickenden St pizza places first.
(3)Zee T.
Sawaddee - I love you for so many different reasons. 1. You were always there for me during my summer in Rhode Isand! 2. You are cozy and inviting. 3. Your food is so yummy. Try the Curry Puffs, Pad Thai, Pad Malay, Sticky Rice. 4. You made me into a sticky rice enthusiast. ... I'm not kidding, I literally am eating some as I type this. This restaurant is one of the many things I miss about Providence - and someday I hope to return!
(5)Tyrone W.
Place is small as shit. We came here with 2 bottles of red-wine recommended to us by the Campus Fine wines store down the street. We had planned to go to Guidos but it was closed on July 3rd, go fucking figure. Anywho, we decided to come across the street to this place. We stood awkwardly for 10 minutes in the middle of the restaurant while they waited for a table to clear for us. Once seated we were treated to an excellent culinary experience. Very good and piping hot crab ragoons. I had the Pad Thai, so typical I know. My friend had the Green Curry which was KICK-ASS!!! Luckily she was sick and dehydrated from a day of fun at a cookout in Mass and then walking around Newport, RI all afternoon and evening and unable to eat hers so I obliged! The redwine wasn't the best combo with our dishes but who cares it's BYOB. Overall great with down home feeling, would def. return!
(4)Tim C.
This was our first time ordering and the pad thai was good. That's about the only good thing we have to say. We also ordered dumplings and for five dollars we received two mini dumplings. I've never seen such a small order in my life. Most restaurants say how many you receive on the menu but they did not. For five dollars there should of been more. I won't be going back which is sad since they are right around the corner from where I live.
(2)JH P.
I don't usually write reviews, but my experience was so horrid I had to warn all of you. My experience went something like this: I sat down with my girlfriend on Saturday afternoon. I should have known something was off when the waitress (owner?) poured us two glasses of the most turbid and least refreshing water I have ever seen. There was also a piece of blue thread in my glass, probably just a garnish. Whatever, the food was probably OK, right? I ordered a steamed shrimp dumpling appetizer ($4.95) and a ginger chicken dish ($8.95), while my girlfriend ordered a spicy shrimp dish ($10.95). We got our food all at once, and I was dismayed to see two of the most pathetic pieces of shrimp dumplings in my life. It took us all of about 23 seconds to finish the appetizer. So it was onto the entrees, which looked fine. Two bites in, I discover a medium-length, well-done black hair wrapped around a piece of chicken. Always the gentleman, I get the attention of the waitress and calmly tell her that there is a hair in my dish. She feigns a look of surprise and takes it back to the kitchen without so much as an excuse. Five minutes later, my dish is back in front of me with what appears to be more chicken this time. Cool. Two more bites. ANOTHER BLACK HAIR. Even longer this time. At this point I give up, and send the dish back for good without getting an apology. I ask for the check, pay for the remainder of the meal and leave. That's my story. Eat at your own risk. You've been warned.
(1)Claudia M.
I ordered from this place not too long ago and when I went to pick up my order, I barely had a place to stand. Two couples were in front of me so I had no choice but to stand next to someone dining. Really uncomfortable. Also, I think their young son (12 or 13 years old?) was working there and he looked SO SULLEN and BITTER that I wondered if I should still order my food because later that night I became violently ill. The other person with whom I shared my order with was not affected. Not sure how clean this place is so I won't be going back again.
(1)R L.
Great authentic Thai food. I had the tofu and vegetables entree with a basil and red chili sauce. A little salty, but everything was fresh and delicious. The portion size might be small for some people, but it was just right for me. The people who I went with enjoyed the food too, from drunken noodles to chicken curry. The prices are very reasonable, my meal costing $8.25. I didn't get rice though, so that might be a couple of dollars more. However, the dining area is small and rather cramped, with only around 8 small tables. To reach the restroom, you have to go inside the kitchen and through another door. On a random note, there are figures of animals decorating the bathroom area.
(4)Lisa K.
It's really difficult to give 3 stars; I feel strongly that 1 star and 5 do not average out to 3 (or in this case 2), they are entirely separate rankings. Because first let it be known that the food at Sawaddee is amazing. It's been my go-to Thai place in Providence for years, being that 1. They serve the most amazing sweet and spicy Rama sauce I've had anywhere (in fact, most places I have been consider Rama to be steamed veggies with a side of peanut sauce) 2. It's BYOB and 3. It's one of the few places in the area that serves just Thai, not a pan-Asia mix of Thai, Cambodian, Chinese, and miscellaneous other varietals. Also on the do-try list is the tom yum soup - khafir leaves are a special treat in any menu item, and this is no exception. The garlic and pepper sauce also deserves a mention, as they use white pepper which has such a different characteristic than black. Where things get tricky is in the service area. Now, if you come in the evening and one of the servers waits on you, then it may be ok. But.... 'ware the afternoon pop-in where the manager is also waiting tables! Here's the sitch: I'm about to leave for an international trip, and I want a fond taste of Prov on my tongue, so on Saturday around 1:30, a friend and I stop in for lunch. We are the only customers, and yet it takes quite some time for this woman - we'll call her Dragon Lady - to come take our order. I order, naturally, rama sauce, and I request no green peppers and no mushrooms. This elicited a 'did you know you just sprouted two extra heads, and they're both pretty darn ugly' look, for no reason I can discern to this day. People have dietary preferences, right?? It's not uncommon, one would think particularly in the food service industry. But, not a big deal. Then my friend orders. The tom yum soup. And is asked, 'is that all?' Which, I would think, was fairly obvious from the nature of the interaction, whereby my friend ordered her soup, and handed the closed menu to Dragon Lady after doing so. Regardless, she answered the superfluous question affirmatively. DL then proceeded to take away the plates, the appetizer one from me and both dinner and appetizer from my friend. She then proceeded to pick up her knife and fork, her NAPKIN and then the PLACEMAT. It was one of the single-most unwelcoming restaurant moments I've ever been a party to. We exchanged some mighty perplexed looks, and discussed cancelling our order and leaving - but figured that would be an end to the Sawaddee visits, and neither of us were quite prepared, at that time, to make that commitment. Instead, we stayed, and watched several other parties arrive. While she managed to welcome each party with some semblance of pleasantry, the mask quickly faded into what appears to be her per usual dour expression. I witnessed more removing of the plates, although nothing quite so drastic as the removal of the placemat and napkin. Which MAY be understandable if there were no food item ordered at all, but last time I checked, soup was still considered legitimate food. That one must pay for in order to consume. I mean, could we have opted to pay a linen fee and keep the napkin?? The lack of a placemat and napkin was just glaring, and a continual reminder of the unwelcome vibe we were getting. So when DL returned with our orders, I requested that both items be returned. Her response? 'Oh, she wants to share the food?' Um, no, no not really. And yet even with that being the case, it did not seem an unreasonable request to me. Apparently it seemed unreasonable to this woman, however, because she only brought a placemat. Once we were completely done eating, soup gone and rama ready for a to-go container, she brought the napkin. Utterly, utterly bizarre. Now, I understand that sometimes people have bad days, and providing pleasant service, even if that is your job, is just not always in the cards. However, as I mentioned.... I love the food here. This is not the first time I have experienced the unpleasant nature of this woman, although it was certainly the most off-putting. I can only surmise that, like many such entities, it is a family run business, and by nature, DL would like nothing to do with the public sector. In fact, maybe she is agoraphobic. But the nature of family business dictates that she must work there, and so therefore she is continually bitter and unhappy, to such a degree that it permeates her every moment at Sawaddee. It's not only sad for this restaurant which is otherwise outstanding and very reasonably priced, it's sad for her and also seems like something our culture is struggling with, the conflict between finding what brings you happiness, and what you must do to survive. I hope for her sake, and the sake of the restaurant, and mine too!, that she can either come to terms with her career or get the hell out - because after that experience, I will not be dining in at Sawaddee again unless she is gone.
(2)Ashley S.
It's great if you don't mind the tiny space. I love their red and penang curries and they give generous portions. The Tom Kha soup is amazing as well. Best Thai food I've found in this price range outside of Thailand!
(5)Deb G.
Really great Thai food at very reasonable prices. Only negatives: the space is TINY and they don't take reservations. Also, they don't have a liquor license, but you can bring in your own beer/wine if you want. Their Thai Red Curry is fantastic! and my friend swears by the Green Curry. And their Thai tea is divine....
(4)