One of my favorite restaurants is Green Papaya, a Thai restaurant located in Hyde Park, Cincinnati, Ohio.
I can start with the good as it far outweighs the bad with this hidden gem. The main room of the restaurant has a sushi bar with a fantastically colorful array of rolls. The decor is very fascinating and everywhere you look you will see a piece of art, a fountain, or a hidden Koi fish statue tucked away. The second you receive your menu, you will recognize the long list of fantastic options, each sounding more flavorful than the last. You will find the "lunch box" will allow you to get an affordable set of options (think "Pick 2 from Panera").
The sushi is fantastic, fresh, and unique - it is hard to be disappointed with anything at this restaurant. If you are a soup lover, or frankly even if you are not, try the Green Papaya soup. This soup, loaded with Holy Basil, prawns, mushrooms, coconut milk, and lemongrass is not only sweet and spicy, but fantastically flavorful and will touch taste buds you didn't know existed.
I will share my review of two of my favorite dishes on the menu, Crispy Pad Thai and the Panang Curry. The pad thai is a crispy mix of your favorite dish full of green onions, crunchy noodles, and loaded with sauce. I have attempted to made this dish numerous times and it's difficult to replicate the perfect amount of crisp without under or overcooking the noodles.
The Panang Curry is full of vegetables, rice, and an amazing coconut based sauce that is extremely sweet. It is very different from Indian curry so do not get confused however Panang is a must try for sure.
As this restaurant is affordable, local, and has fantastic service I can say few negative things about Green Papaya but I will try as to create a balance in the amazing experience I have described. The lot for Green Papaya is small so parking can often be an issue however the walk back to your car will help you burn the very few calories consumed in your meal. When the restaurant is full there may be very little elbow room at your table as without a booth seat you will find yourself in close quarters with your neighbor. Look on the brightside, for eavesdroppers it will make it easy to listen in on the couple next to you chatting about their date night plans! Finally you will find that the single bathrooms are in a narrow hallway and it may be a cramped wait.
All in all Green Papaya is an amazing choice for a night out, a sweet date, or a lone munch for lunch.
*Update*
It's been a while since I have written but after undergoing a move and having to adjust to an electric stove (eep!) I had to restock my supplies before I was blog ready.
I have also changed my eating habits in the last few months as "single girl" eating means a very different menu. I should mention, I have a LOT of friends that are vegetarians, actually, the majority of my close circle practices healthy eating habits or lives a vegetarian lifestyle.
After consulting my friend Katie, who is currently working as a Yoga Instructor and Wellness Coach, she suggested I simply eat more vegetables and less meat since I am not committing to being a vegetarian necessarily for moral reasons.
I was a vegetarian for a year and enjoyed how healthy I felt, how energized, lighter, and though I stopped, I still do believe in a vegetable heavy lifestyle. Most meals I used to eat, I opted for the meat option in my pastas, salads, tacos, everything!
So, my compromise has been, during the week I consume no meat however, on the weekend I can treat myself to what I want. Though this was never about losing weight I must say, I have shed pounds and gained energy and it has been a great inspiration for trying new meals!
My blog is back in action and my recipes are getting all mixed up. My meals will be more influenced by ingredients that are easily replaceable by vegetarian options as well as meat free altogether! Don't worry, my weekend dishes will still fulfill any meat-lover's cravings.
I have also changed my eating habits in the last few months as "single girl" eating means a very different menu. I should mention, I have a LOT of friends that are vegetarians, actually, the majority of my close circle practices healthy eating habits or lives a vegetarian lifestyle.
After consulting my friend Katie, who is currently working as a Yoga Instructor and Wellness Coach, she suggested I simply eat more vegetables and less meat since I am not committing to being a vegetarian necessarily for moral reasons.
I was a vegetarian for a year and enjoyed how healthy I felt, how energized, lighter, and though I stopped, I still do believe in a vegetable heavy lifestyle. Most meals I used to eat, I opted for the meat option in my pastas, salads, tacos, everything!
So, my compromise has been, during the week I consume no meat however, on the weekend I can treat myself to what I want. Though this was never about losing weight I must say, I have shed pounds and gained energy and it has been a great inspiration for trying new meals!
My blog is back in action and my recipes are getting all mixed up. My meals will be more influenced by ingredients that are easily replaceable by vegetarian options as well as meat free altogether! Don't worry, my weekend dishes will still fulfill any meat-lover's cravings.
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