Last night I had a lovely dinner and movie date. Because the movie was at Century 24, we decided to eat at Jasmine Thai, which is on Jefferson and I-25. I went through a phase not that long ago where I craved Asian foods a lot...and consequently visited Jasmine Thai quite a bit. Since that phase has passed, I haven't gone as frequently...but was reminded of why I like to go. The atmosphere is wonderful, the servers are relatively quick and friendly, and the food is always good.
When you first walk into the restaurant, you'll be transported to Asia. Brightly colored walls are softened with lower lighting, flowers and art adorn the walls and ceilings, and candles (in super awesome lotus holders) are at each table. The effect- though it sounds tacky in writing- is actually quite perfect and zen. I love just being in the restaurant.
The menu has an extensive selection of Thai dishes, and not all of them are as familiar to me. I love a good food adventure, but I'm always a little hesitant when it comes to Asian food- I've had a few "interesting" experiences when ordering the unfamiliar. However, Jasmine's menu has descriptions of each dish, so no matter what you go for, you're relatively well-informed of what you'll receive. That said, I enjoy their chicken satay (traditional and delicious), the cucumber salad (with tomatoes, lime, and cilantro...it's very fresh tasting), every noodle dish I've tried (Pad thai included), and the Sweet and Sour chicken/pork. I don't normally go looking for Sweet and Sour dishes on Thai menus, but happy circumstance lead me to try it off a dining companion's plate, and I was wowed. I appreciate that the non-noodle meals can be served with white or brown rice. The noodle meals tend to be served on one plate for the individual, whereas other dishes are served in a separate dish in "family style."
Jasmine Thai is one of those rare places that has actually succeeded in offering both Thai food AND sushi from the same restaurant. Depending on your mood, the sushi is a good choice. I'm pretty sure that the actual sushi maestro is Japanese, and judging from my limited experiences with real (read, raw fish) sushi, he knows what he's doing. When I'm in the mood for sushi, I'm more than happy with a bowl of miso soup (heavy on the seaweed, but very flavorful), a roll or two (I tend toward the spider roll or shrimp tempura roll), and a bowl of edamame (which I've had mixed experiences with- sometimes it tastes fresh, other times not).
No matter which direction you go with your main course, I suggest finishing the meal with Thai custard. They offer other desserts, but I frankly have never bothered with them after discovering the custard. It's served with sweet rice in the middle of the plate and two slices (I'm assuming from some sort of square custard mold) of custard that's slightly green (pistachio color, not something scary). I can't describe it much more than to say, it's a cultural experience that's just fantastic.
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