Good food, bad atmosphere make Coconut Café smart take-out choice
by Arts Editor
Arts | 2/4/03
Posted online at 11:27 PM EST on 2/3/03
Coconut Café
759 Beacon Street
Newton, MA
(617) 244-5575
Now that you can use WhoCash for Takeout Taxi, there is a plethora of options for Thai food which will be delivered right to your door. One such option is Newton Centre's Coconut Café, located on Beacon Street, right in the business district of Newton Center. The restaurant is primarily a take-out and delivery place, but there are also tables seating a total of 14 people in the snug storefront.
For dining in or taking out, Coconut Café offers standard Thai fare, including pan fried, curry and noodle and rice dishes, each of which can be made with chicken, beef, pork, duck, shrimp, tofu or veggetables.
The appetizer list is comprehensive, offering the full range, with no surprises. Tofu is served fried, grilled or with crabmeat. Rolls are either served in the Vietnamese style with shrimp or according to the Thai recipe, with vegetables and curry. Scallion pancakes with a beef sauce or an unusual coconut pancake are available, as well as many other classics.
There is nothing extraordinary about Tofu Tod, fried crispy tofu served with sweet sauce. The Thai 'Veggie' Rolls are disappointing; measuring roughly the size of one's pinky finger, the portion size leaves something to be desired. As for taste, if you do not like curry, these rolls are not for you. "Roti," the scallion pancakes, were the best of the three appetizers, though the sauce was curiously oily and meaty. The appetizers are moderately portioned and slightly overpriced, so skip ordering from Coconut Café if all you want is appetizers.
For the main dish, there is an extensive choice in both styles and ingredient. There are 17 pan fried dishes, including "Rama Longsong," a vegetable dish with peanut sauce, "Thai Sweet and Sour Sauce" and "Prik Pao," a roasted chili paste stir fry. To each of the options can be added one meat or meat substitute as aforementioned.
For those who enjoy Thai food for its spicy flavor, curry is the way to go. There are eight curry selections at Coconut Café from the traditional red, yellow and green coconut to 'Prik King' or 'Choo-Chee. ' Recommended is the 'Panang Coconut Curry,' which is heartily portioned, includes a wide array of fresh vegetables and is suitably spicy. The curry dishes are also served with rice and offer the choice of meat or tofu.
759 Beacon Street
Newton, MA
(617) 244-5575
Now that you can use WhoCash for Takeout Taxi, there is a plethora of options for Thai food which will be delivered right to your door. One such option is Newton Centre's Coconut Café, located on Beacon Street, right in the business district of Newton Center. The restaurant is primarily a take-out and delivery place, but there are also tables seating a total of 14 people in the snug storefront.
For dining in or taking out, Coconut Café offers standard Thai fare, including pan fried, curry and noodle and rice dishes, each of which can be made with chicken, beef, pork, duck, shrimp, tofu or veggetables.
The appetizer list is comprehensive, offering the full range, with no surprises. Tofu is served fried, grilled or with crabmeat. Rolls are either served in the Vietnamese style with shrimp or according to the Thai recipe, with vegetables and curry. Scallion pancakes with a beef sauce or an unusual coconut pancake are available, as well as many other classics.
There is nothing extraordinary about Tofu Tod, fried crispy tofu served with sweet sauce. The Thai 'Veggie' Rolls are disappointing; measuring roughly the size of one's pinky finger, the portion size leaves something to be desired. As for taste, if you do not like curry, these rolls are not for you. "Roti," the scallion pancakes, were the best of the three appetizers, though the sauce was curiously oily and meaty. The appetizers are moderately portioned and slightly overpriced, so skip ordering from Coconut Café if all you want is appetizers.
For the main dish, there is an extensive choice in both styles and ingredient. There are 17 pan fried dishes, including "Rama Longsong," a vegetable dish with peanut sauce, "Thai Sweet and Sour Sauce" and "Prik Pao," a roasted chili paste stir fry. To each of the options can be added one meat or meat substitute as aforementioned.
For those who enjoy Thai food for its spicy flavor, curry is the way to go. There are eight curry selections at Coconut Café from the traditional red, yellow and green coconut to 'Prik King' or 'Choo-Chee. ' Recommended is the 'Panang Coconut Curry,' which is heartily portioned, includes a wide array of fresh vegetables and is suitably spicy. The curry dishes are also served with rice and offer the choice of meat or tofu.
