New Fast-Casual Thai Restaurant and Take out Offers Healthy Options

Syracuse, N.Y. — A new fast-casual Thai restaurant, appeThaizing, opens early May in Campus Plaza at 727 South Crouse Ave., next to LaTazza’s coffee house. The only Thai restaurant on The SU Hill, appeThaizing offers a menu of delectable Thai food made with the freshest ingredients.

Open Monday through Saturday, lunch is served 11 a.m.–3:30 p.m. and dinner 3:30p.m.–9 p.m. Patrons can either dine in at this self-service restaurant or order take-out. A partially opened kitchen allows guests to catch a piece of the action behind the scenes. The dining room, which seats up to 75, offers a warm, comfortable atmosphere.

Some exceptional homemade menu items include: appeThaizing Shrimp, lightly fried shrimp with a spicy, homemade cream sauce, $7.49; Tom Yum Soup, a hot and sour lemongrass soup, starting at $3.29; Pad Thai, the famous Thai noodle served with egg, bean sprouts, chives and ground peanut in a tamarind sauce, starting at $7.99 for lunch and $10.99 for dinner; and Pad Prig Pow, choice of meat or tofu in a roasted chili sauce with fresh garlic, chili peppers and coconut milk, starting at $7.99 for lunch and $10.99 for dinner. Many items offer your choice of beef, chicken, shrimp or tofu.

Kris Ratanaphan, co-owner, will manage the restaurant and serve as head chef. Originally from Thailand, Ratanaphan moved to Syracuse in 1991. He has been in the cooking profession for 13 years, and has acquired a reputation for creating unique, tasty recipes with a Thai flair. Locally, Ratanaphan has cooked at Lemon Grass, Amoré, Erawan Thai Restaurant, and Bonefish Grill. Prior to moving to the area, he served as a chef in Las Vegas.

“I’m very passionate about cooking,” Ratanaphan says. “Cooking to me is an art. Every dish I prepare is a chance for me to be creative.”

To coincide with the trend of healthy eating, appeThaizing prepares its food with the freshest herbs and spices. Many of these used in Thai cooking, such as chilies, coriander, lemongrass and turmeric, are loaded with immune-boosting and disease-fighting powers. Thai cuisine is also known for its complex mixture of distinctive flavors, with a harmonious blend of the spicy, sweet and sour.

“Today, people are more conscious of their health, so all of our food is made fresh to order,” Ratanaphan says. “People can feel good about themselves when eating at appeThaizing.”

appeThaizing will open in time for Syracuse University’s graduation weekend. The restaurant currently has a staff of five and Ratanaphan says he hopes to hire more people in the future. Ratanaphan also has plans to launch a restaurant website, www.appethaizing.com.