Panita Thai Kitchen
(404) 888-9228
1043 Greenwood Ave NE
Atlanta,
GA
30306
33.7767
-84.354
Neighborhoods: St. Charles/ Greenwood, Northeast, Northeast
What People Are Saying About Panita Thai Kitchen
The Editor
Contributor
Citysearch
The Scene
Entering Panita is seductive: a twinkly-lit, trellised walkway delivers you into a large, inviting room with soaring wooden beams, earth-toned decor and a stacked flagstone fireplace. There's a patio, but eating inside feels like dining alfresco, thanks to ceiling fans that languidly circle overhead and wrought iron screened windows. In cooler months, heat lamps take off the chill. The soothing setting makes conversations drop to hushed tones, while the service is attentive yet unobtrusive.
The Food
You'll find both familiar and refreshingly new dishes. Thai staples such as drunken noodles and chicken satay sport light, thin sauces that allow flavors to shine. Bags of gold is a knockout. The dish features bean curd crisped into a purse holding bean threads, perfectly prepared vegetables and tofu cubes, with a piquant garlic and honey sauce adding contrast. Fork-tender chilied lamb has the right kick, while pra pla mueg's perfectly grilled squid is bathed in a too-hot chili sauce.
User Reviews
KPSM
May 22, 2009
We tried this place because we love Thai and because the reviews for the food were favorable. We were prepared for "quirky" service but wasn't prepared for the sorry excuse for service barely provided by the lone waiter/manager. Wasn't a good sign that the plates pre-set on the table were dirty (grime due to open screens in the main dining room). When we asked for clean plates and the waiter (with a huffy attitude) pulled a couple of dirty plates off the next table - I knew we were in trouble. We had a great first course - Spring Rolls. The second course was bad - Nam Sod - it had so much heat it was inedible. The Pad Thai should have been a home run - it was barely so-so. So we paid our bill and chocked it up to a never to repeat again adventure. The following day I discovered that the waiter charged my debit card TWICE and both charges exceeded the amount on my debit card receipt. Tried to reach the restaurant by phone - no answer. The bank has agreed to dispute the charges if we can't get no help from the "quirky" server. So if you see two people picketing the place this weekend that would be us. BTW - keep your cards in your wallet and pay with cash.
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laatlboy
November 03, 2008
for years ive always walked past this adorable restaurant, covered in christmas tree lights, plants, flowers in an old stucko building...the place wreaks of chic-coolness. being from los angeles, im a totally spoiled thai food snob. everytime id visit atlanta, this place was always closed being that i was only in the highlands during the day. i FINALLY was able to eat there a couple weeks ago and honestly it was the best thai food ive ever had. from the pad thai, to curry chicken and even their rice was delicious. the service is quircky, but it just adds to the uniqueness of the place. i highly recommend it.
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gobytrain
June 22, 2008
I'm an out-of-towner who ate at Panita, basically by lucky perchance. I'm tired from a long day, but my experience there was such that I'm thwarting sleep to see what feedback was available on this establishment with charming curb-side appeal. One companion, a jaded (but good hearted) New Yorker at my table found the waiter's charm to be in his straight forward, efficient manner. All of us were exhausted road warriors hungry from a long day's work and good candidates to be a high maintenance table. Yet, our waiter was a little magician who stated and met our immediate needs. Somehow, without our notice, the passage of time was of the length necessary to cook four different entrees (and accompaniments) by a produce-proud Thai uncle while we (his favorite nieces and nephews) sat enjoying each others company in his lovely garden. I hate to think of those who may have (or will) be undeserving, ignorant recipients of this candid offering. The owner has lovingly and uncannily managed to create a bona-fide experience for a society whose culture long ago gave up the authenticity presented by the unknown for the comfort of redundant. I can only hope such generosity of spirit can and will be met with modest, respectful, gratitude and not a thing more or less.
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