10/23/09

Expensive for Typical Thai Food

by rubyfruit76

For the price I paid, I expect exceptional, unique food, attention to detail and excellent service. I also expect to be served all my courses. I arrived with a group of 4 and asked for a menu so we would know what would be served to us. I was told by a waiter that they would verbal describe it when they serve each dish. The set $85 price includes 6 appetizers, 4 entrees (served family style) and 2 deserts. Unfortunately the staff at Arun’s is unable to count up to 12 and missed serving us one of the courses all together. The service was disorganized. We didn’t have a primary waiter but different people bringing out each course. There were times when the food would come out but we had no utensils or plates. When I initially was seated, there are these beautiful plates set out. The staff promptly removed them since they were just for show and never came back with any plates or utensil. Our first course came out and we had nothing to eat it on or with.

The portions were small and what was served was good but it wasn’t anything exceptional. I could have found it at any typical Thai restaurant. I was excepting Thai food that I can’t get anywhere else. I got served Basil Thai Chicken as an entrée!?

Appetizer 1 – One bite salad: The description explains it

Appetizer 2 – Rolled chicken stuff with mushrooms: It was soy chicken! You can get this in any Thai or Chinese restaurants

Appetizer 3 – Single Dumpling in broth: reminds me of the glutinous crepe you get at dim sum

Appetizer 4 – Noodles with a Single shrimp: It was a deconstructed Pad Thai!

Appetizer 5 – Spicy pork soup

Entrée 1 – Seared Scallop on a bed of asparagus – how is this unique Thai dish?

Entrée 2 – Fried fish with sweet & sour source – also served at my neighborhood Thai restaurant. .

Entrée 3 – Basil Thai Chicken – I can get this at any typical Thai restaurant

Entrée 4 – Braised beef curry – by far the best dish

Desert 1 - Baby pear with a small crepe – extremely small dish, it was a single bite

Desert 2 – Lycee sorbet – again a single bite dish

There were suppose to be 12 courses but as I mentioned above, only served us 11.

For the price, I highly suggest you go elsewhere. If you want a good typical Thai restaurant, I suggest you find a place that doesn’t cost over $150 per person for food, drinks and taxes.

• Pros: Decor is nice
• Cons: Horrible Service!

06/30/09

The worst meal I've had in years

by Foodie1woman

I just left arun and felt extremely compelled to share my review. The 12-course tasting was by far one of the worst meals I've ever had. My dining partner, who is a classically trained chef, said the food was no better than what you would eat at a food court. Nothing tasted fresh, many items were soggy, and some were spiced so much that the flavors masked the integrity of the food. As I paid the bill, I felt completely ripped off. Never, never go there. (I should have known upon seeing all the restaurant's empty seats when we entered the establishment).

• Pros: Good service
• Cons: Terrible food

05/13/08

A master chef elevates Thai food to heavenly heights.

by Contributor

The Scene
On a dark, fairly uninviting stretch of Kedzie Avenue, Arun's is an unlikely oasis of culinary excellence. Ornate Thai artifacts and paintings shimmer on golden-yellow walls; two intimate dining areas are separated by a windowed wall. Music is traditional and soft; service is relaxed, friendly and efficient.

The Food
Prepare for a meal you won't soon forget. The chef's special menu (the sole option) is a 12-course dining adventure ($85) that will change the way you think about Thai food. It starts with six appetizers served one at a time, each a perfectly presented treasure: One night's offerings may include rice vermicelli in a crystalline, piquant broth; a combo of delicately fried wonton, egg roll and shrimp pouch; and tender, chilled pork satay salad. Presented banquet-style, entrees are overwhelming: Beef curry in a spicy sauce sneaks up on you, while tender, fatty stewed pork is memorably melt-in-your-mouth.

• Pros: best Thai aroundintimate surroundings
• Cons: priceycruddy neighborhood

09/11/07

OVERrated

by josisand

I have heard about this restaurant over the years and after seeing it listed in the book "1000 Places to See Before You Die", I made a reservation. It was the worst meal. I could have ordered from my neighborhood thai restuarant and thoroughly enjoyed myself and saved $270.00. The presentation is lovely but if the food doesn't taste fresh, what is the point of carving carrots for hours to look like Nemo. I would rather spend my money at Nomi, Shanghai Terrace or Le Colonial. I felt really bad for the staff. They were very attentive and nice but seem unaware of the horrible food.

• Pros: nice servers
• Cons: awful food, very bright - needs dimmer

05/10/07

Phenomenal Dining!

by pjs2780

When my parents were visiting, my husband and I wanted to take them to the best restaurants Chicago had to offer, and Arun's did not disappoint. Each appetizer was more tasty than the one before (and the presentation was great -- a cute carrot basket on one plate, an abstract fish on another), and the four entrees were each standouts in their own way (I loved the Massman beef and the lobster). And the two desserts were absolutely delicious! It truly was like being royalty in Thailand. I can't wait to go back!

• Pros: fantastic cuisine, attentive staff
• Cons: parking, not very romantic

11/14/06

Worth the rating!

by msimon71

We dined at Arun's for the first time 2 weeks ago. Our dining companions were 1 hour late, yet they seated us and never blinked an eye. The service was wonderful, and the food was exquisite! Presentation, taste, aromas, everything! We will be back.

11/03/06

Fantastic Out of this World Experience

by jwright0924

Love, love, love this place!!! I love how they ask you if you have any dietary likes and dislikes in addition to dietary restrictions. The food presentation is beautiful. The portion sizes are perfect in that you have room in your tummy to try all the many dishes they bring to you. The staff caters to you so you feel as if its your own kitchen. Wonderful experience!

• Pros: Food, Service, Parking

09/29/06

Good food, great service

by dvattana

The first few times at Arun's was nice...12 courses of the best of Thai entree. If you go too often, you notice the menu doesn't change much. Great place for a special occasion.

• Pros: great service
• Cons: bad location

03/26/06

Once-in-a-lifetime, but why limit to one visit?!

by reviewernashville

Arun's came highly recommended, and since I LOVE Thai food, I decided that we absolutely had to go.

Not only was the place lovely, the greeter was a joy: She seemed so genuinely pleased with our being there. Our waitress took time to carefully review our dietary preferences. And the fare reflected that exactly. Moreover, she helped with the wine selection, which enhanced the meal even further.

Speaking of the meal, it was wonderful. We were served 6 small appetizers on lovely white plates: they were works of art, both visually and gastronomically. Then came the 4 entrees. They were each so different, and they complemented each other nicely. Finally, there were two desserts, served together: amazing!

My next trip to Chicago will include a visit to Arun's.

• Pros: amazing food
• Cons: distance

01/21/06

User review by yamkara

by yamkara

i had read mixed reviews in early 2005 and had given this place a miss, especially with what some of the others had said about the limited quantity of food.

after reading the last 2 reviews before mine, i decided to finally visit arun's with my wife.

first, the service is simply excellent. i have been to a few high-end restaurants where i thought that the service is a little overbearing. the folks at arun's were attentive to our smallest needs and created a wondeful, relaxed atmosphere.

second, the food was awesome. the dishes were delicately flavored and the selection which the chef had prepared was fabulous.

lastly, the quantity of food was just right and at the end of the meal, i didnt think either of us could have eaten a single additional morsel of food.

we had a wonderful time and are definitely going back again.

• Pros: Awesome Food, Excellent Service