By Madelyn Braho · Food Critic
Chang Thai, which opened on Broad Street early this semester, finally provides Grove City College students some place nearer than Slippery Rock to get spicy noodles.
Before we all left for Thanksgiving break, my friends and I walked downtown to try a variety of dishes to get an idea of the variety and quality of dishes offered, and, of course, how spicy they are.
The dining area is further back in the restaurant with a number of smaller tables, although they can be moved together for larger parties. As a heads up: If you bring in a larger group, a gratuity charge will be added to your bill, and this is different from your tip.
For those who had appetizers, there were mixed reviews. The Thai wings were a bit dry, but “overall pretty good for a place that has no business having wings on their menu,” Joseph Holland said. The shrimp in a blanket were given positive reviews by those who had them, a 10/10 according to Erien Schwab.
Quite a few of us tried noodle dishes with positive results.
The pad thai was also a hit. “Very good, a little sweet. Very large portion size … had some kick but was super mild (spice level three) … would eat again!” according to Hannah Jen.
The drunken noodles were a hit, too. “I would absolutely get this again. The broad noodles were well seasoned and cooked nicely. The dish was also very visually appetizing! My only complaint is that some of cabbage was cut too large, making it a bit unruly to eat,” Naomi Ng reported.
The glass noodles were deemed a good-sized portion with a lot to eat. “The noodles were pretty spicy (too spicy for me), but everything was really good,” Jack Davis said.
The rest of us had curries and other entrees.
“The dumpling curry, at a spice level four, had my nose running,” Carolyn Krenzel said. “The dumplings were so tasty and soft, the curry went well with the vegetables; I especially liked the broccoli, and it paired well with the rice. I wasn’t sure if the curry, tomato and coconut milk would handle dishes with positive results.”
The pad thai was also a hit. “Very good, a little sweet. Very large portion size … had some kick but was super mild (spice level three) … would eat again!” according to Hannah Jen.
The drunken noodles were a hit, too. “I would absolutely get this again. The broad noodles were well seasoned and cooked nicely. The dish was also very visually appetizing! My only complaint is that some of cabbage was cut too large, making it a bit unruly to eat,” Naomi Ng reported.
The glass noodles were deemed a good-sized portion with a lot to eat. “The noodles were pretty spicy (too spicy for me), but everything was really good,” Jack Davis said.
The rest of us had curries and other entrees.
“The dumpling curry, at a spice level four, had my nose running,” Carolyn Krenzel said. “The dumplings were so tasty and soft, the curry went well with the vegetables; I especially liked the broccoli, and it paired well with the rice. I wasn’t sure if the curry, tomato and coconut milk would handle dishes with positive results.”
The spice was weak by my standards and was suspiciously weak compared to others’ lower spice levels, which were objectively spicier. Either the sweetness of the “sweet and spicy” sauce really covered the spice, or I was judged unworthy of true spiciness by the waiter,” Christopher Corbin said. He ordered a spice level 10 and has had authentic Thai food in the past.
The pad peanut sauce was “a good peanut sauce, though thinner than my liking. I like my peanut sauce almost chunky,” Sam Rees said when asked for a review.
I had the red curry, which was a spice level seven. I have a high spice tolerance, so this wasn’t too bad; the worst of it was some mild nose running. The vegetables were good, and the tofu had a mild citrusy flavor, which was a pleasant contrast to the creamy and spicy sauce.
The spice level was the wild card of the night, as the number selected did not always easily correlate with the actual quantity of heat, as Corbin experienced.
The prices were fairly average for Grove City restaurants, which meant it felt a little pricey for college students.
Chang Thai might not be a weekly alternative to Hicks, but for a night out with friends, it’s a good choice.
Chang Thai looks like it will be a reliable spot for both college students and town residents, and even a couple professors were also spotted having dinner there.
Overall, I would give it 3.5 stars: good quality and large portions, but inconsistent spice levels and a higher price than the average student wallet can regularly accommodate.
