Fans of Thai food have reason to celebrate as crews from new restaurant Best Thai put the finishing touches on their location at 74 Main Street in Damariscotta.
“This is authentic Thai cuisine,” said chef Channit Hanjitsuwan, a native of Chiang Mai, Thailand. “It’s all natural ingredients and fresh.”
Hanjitsuwan, 52, along with daughter Thanyalak Rojpanichkul, 24, recently signed a lease on the 40-seat eatery which was the former home of the eatery Blue Marble.
The restaurant will be the second eatery for the family who also owns a similar venture in Portland. Hanjitsuwan said he senses an opportunity in the Damariscotta area because of a lack of true ethnic dining spots.
“We were driving through and saw the space; it looked promising,” he said.
The building’s owner Elaine Eskesen said it was somewhat serendipitous that Hanjitsuwan noticed the rental space.
“We were going to have a shoe store in the space but that fell through,” she said. “It really lends itself to a restaurant however.”
In addition to the snug but comfortable indoor seating, Best Thai will offer al fresco dining in a lush outdoor patio. Inside, the walls are decorated with Thai themed artwork, all of which will be for sale.
“It’s also an art gallery of sorts and well appointed,” said Eskesen.
As for the food, the owners say it will be authentic to Thailand and not a fusion meant for purely American taste buds.
“This is not to say it’s too spicy,” said Rojpanichkul. “We have a sliding scale from 1-5 and can accommodate anyone’s taste.”
An early peek of the menu reveals the popular Pad Thai and also the lesser known such as Andaman Madness, a combination of scallops, shrimp, squid and mussels in a chili garlic sauce.
In keeping with the authenticity, the eatery will also feature Thai beers and a selection of wines. All involved feel the timing is perfect for a new restaurant to join the crowded field of downtown dining choices.
After the closing of King Wok at the Coastal Marketplace on Rt. 1 in 2010, the Damariscotta-Newcastle area has been without a traditional Asian restaurant.
Eskesen said early reports from passers-by suggest the eatery will be a hit, welcome news for an area teaming with sophisticated taste buds but with few options in which to satisfy them.
Along with carry out, the Best Thai owners are planning to offer delivery at some point in the near future. When asked to name his favorite dish to create, Hanjitsuwan said any “of the noodle dishes.”
When asked if he could shed light on the curiously named plate of pan-fried egg noodles known as Drunken Noodle, he offered, “I think when people are drunk the spices help wake you up,” he said. “Or if it’s in the morning, it helps with a hangover.”
Best Thai will be open seven days a week “very soon” said the owners with lunch served from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., and dinner from 4-9:30 p.m. For more information call 563-1440.
