AROI Thai Restaurant
55 East Market Street
Rhinebeck, New York,12572
Tel. 845 876-1114
Hours Thursday to Monday 11:30-3:00 pm
5:00pm- 9:00 pm
Tuesday and Wednesday 5:00pm-9:00 pm









Tasty Thai Food with Royal Flair
There are more than a few good reasons why Aroi restaurant in Rhinebeck has kept a steady flow of loyal dining customers. Sure, there's the graciousness of the owner-chefs Apichart and Supark Warrachart. Then there is the comfortable and relaxed ambiance of the two soothing lime-green dining rooms, decorated with Thai art,
and the good team of competent and friendly servers. But ultimately it is the phenomenal food offered by Chef Apichart and his innate ability to cook healthy and flavorsome Thai food. I've had the pleasure of eating at Aroi on many occasions, and I know the menu well. One recent evening I decided to stop in for dinner.

The success of Thai cuisine lies in the balanced mix of four basic tastes: sweet, sour, salty, and spicy. A harmony of ingredients, textures, tastes, and spices,and herbs put together to create the full flavor. The masterful mixing of these flavors is what makes Thai dishes so unique. And while I've tried Thai food at other establishments in the Hudson Valley, I've been disappointed with many for not achieving that characteristic of harmony of flavors. Fortunately Aroi offers the real thing at very reasonable prices.

Thai people love soup and Aroi offers five types that are really delicious. For starters try the Tom Yum: A savory sour soup of seafood or vegetable seasoned with lemongrass, kaffir lime leaves, and lime juice. Or go for a more distinct flavor of Southern Thailand with Tom Kha: A coconut soup with mushrooms seasoned with galangal, chili, and lime juice.

The Thai heritage and training of Chef Apichart are the perfect backbeat for traditional dishes he offers like Chicken Satay: Tender chunks of chicken marinated in a house special brine served on five skewers with a peanut sauce and cucumber relish. Or try a favorite like the Tofu Yum Mango: a wonderfully cooked sweet and savory minuet of Crispy Tofu topped with fresh shredded mango nicely balanced with a lime sauce.
And perhaps the best known dish of Thailand, the Chicken, Salmon, Vegetable, or Shrimp Pad Thai, a succulent presentation of Thai noodles sauteed with brown tofu, eggs, bean sprouts, scallions and crushed peanuts.

Aroi offers some good salads. The Garden Salad was impressive--the fresh local produce that Chef Apichart takes such pride in offering was evident in this delicious creation. It had an assortment of vegetables: Romaine lettuce, green beans, carrots, peas, fried tofu, cucumber,onions and slices of egg with a very tasty an appropriate piquant peanut sauce dressing that made the dish standout.

Opened more than two years ago, Aroi has indoor seating for about forty patrons and al fresco dining for twenty during the warmer months.
This very cozy,and genteel in spot on busy Market Street specializes in the food of the Central region of Thailand which is called "Royal"cuisine" A region with a very rich style of eating expressions, and food elaborations deliciously put together that are colorful and extremely enticing. At Aroi, Chef Apichart pays tribute to this royal style of cuisine. The Jasmine rice is a fragrant variety of rice, usually served steamed, that is so tasty. Many dishes, cooked with galangal, ginger, lemongrass, tamarind, cumin, palm sugar, tumeric, garlic, chili peppers, coriander and lime and a host of other ingredients like nam pla (fish sauce), and kapee (shrimp paste), and lots of fresh water fish and a range of fresh vegetables and exotic fresh fruit complement each other to bring about a luxurious eating experience. Most of what is culinary tradition appreciated in the Western World developed in the Central region of Thailand.


Chef Apichart has a finesse for creating interesting"Royal" dishes from Central Thailand and other regions of his country. Some of the dishes with a more Southern Thai characteristics are the Mussaman Curry ( Chicken or Vegetables or Tofu). Here is a superb dish with a neat blend of Thai spices blended in chili paste with potatoes, peanuts, pineapples, pickled garlic and onions simmered in coconut milk that is soo delicious. And try the Hor Mok Seafood: A blend of seafood including squid, shrimp, and salmon steamed with curry and coconut milk.


Chef Apichart's thoughtful nods to traditional Thai food are authentically prepared and the menu sticks close to such classics as: The ChuChee, a typical seafood Thai meal that is extremely popular at the restaurant. A hearty portion of Shrimp or Tilapia fillet served with peas, basil, and lime leaves topped with a ChuChee curry sauce. What I like about this entree is that the zesty sauce elevates the flavors of the seafood even more without overwhelming the harmony and balance of the ingredients in this delicious dish. Portions are plentiful and beautifully garnished. Nothing is dumbed down. Or go for a summer favorite like the Soft Shell Crab with Yum Mango that is not to be missed. Another dish to try as a traditional entree is the Salmon with Yum Mango: Wild caught Salmon that is fresh, properly seasoned and cooked, and very flavorful, topped with shredded mango and lime juice. Sure winners for seafood lovers. And the Salmon Pad Thai a truly super delicious entree that I enjoy so much.
My entree when I went to Aroi was the Pineapple Fried Rice with Chicken: A big dish of deliciousness beautifully presented and garnished. The aromatic long grain brown rice topped with chicken chunks, tender and juicy,and fresh pineapple pieces served with perfectly cooked green peas, onions and a host of raisins with a curry amendment proved very satisfying: This is what eating at Aroi is all about. Each dish prepared by Chef Apichart is a vibrant mosaic of flavors of perfectly cooked seafood, meats, vegetables and herbs, and fruit that can only be described as sublime.

Also well established at Aroi are the aromatic dishes of red and green curries with different degrees of spiciness -- the green having more heat -- that are interesting to savor. And the restaurant overall serves a myriad of exotic vegetarian dishes that are most welcome to many diners because the way the dishes are uniquely prepared, their buoyant flavor and freshness. For the most part the cuisine at Aroi is extremely tasty fare prepared with creative flourishes, yet never highfalutin or overly complicated.

Aroi carries a short but smart selection of wines and beers that marry well with the items on the menu. There are some French, Spanish, and California reds and whites and Sparking Rose that will complement any dish: Try the Kris Pinot Grigio with vegetarian and seafood dishes. Or the Spanish Campo Viejo- Crianza with heartier food like red meats, duck and chicken. And two very outstanding wines from Thailand: The Moonsoon Valley, Malaga Blanc 2007, and the Pokdum Red 2006. Both these wines from Thailand pair beautifully with a feast of Thai dishes. The selection of beer is just as good with top brews like Singa and Chang, both from Thailand that go well with any food served at restaurant.

In the dessert department Aroi offers about seven authentically rich rewards for the palate. And a fine selection of Ice cream and sorbets.
There is a very flavorful Mango with Sticy rice that is sure to please. Although I was quite satiated already, I decided to go one step further and ask for the irresistibly delicious Taro Pearls with Coconut Cream dessert to end a fantastic and extravagant dinner. Aroi is a wholesome and fun eatery in Rhinebeck for those wishing to experience a royal banquet of succulent Thai food. AROI restaurant delivers the real deal. Every bit of food prepared by Chef Apichart is deeply moving, tasty and properly presented as a well orchestrated fanfare of delicious delights of Thai cuisine. Rating **** Very Good

Baron Corso de Palenzuela is an international food, wine, beer, and chocolate critic, a chef and connoisseur who has written extensively on international wine and cuisine. He travels both abroad and in the U.S seeking new culinary experiences. He resides in New York, Virginia, and Spain. He can be reached at 845 706-1244