Not Quite Top Thai: Kin Shop

Kin Shop is Chef Harold Dieterle's contemporary homage to Thai food.  I know, I know.  Why am I doing this to myself again?  (By "this," I mean eating at an "elevated" Asian place run by a non-Asian dude.)

Because it's Harold, people!  I couldn't pass up a chance to eat at the very first Top Chef winner's restaurant.  Plus, we couldn't score a reservation at Torrisi on such short notice.  Plus, the Mayor suggested Kin Shop, and she has great taste.

The place wasn't this empty when we met the Mayor and her beau for dinner.  I snapped this at the end of our meal.  We shut the place down on a Sunday night.

The Typhoon -- mekhong, calamansi, aperol, Thai basil, Fever Tree Ginger Beer ($12).

Sensational cocktail!  Really loved this!

Spicy duck laab salad, toasted rice, ground chili, Romaine hearts ($13).

Actually spicy!  But not as spicy as our beloved Pa-Ord at home.

Fried pork and crispy oyster salad, celery, peanuts, mint, chili-lime vinaigrette ($13).

Far more tasty protein than salad, and that was just fine with us.

Grilled prawns, fresh lime, Phuket-style black pepper sauce ($4 each).

Good but way too expensive for what it was.

Pan-seared black sea bass, bamboo, bok choy, chu chee curry ($26).

This may sound crazy, but this reminded me of the crispy sea bass we had at Le Bernardin three years ago, except Asian-ified.

Northern Thai-style curry noodle, braised brisket, cucumber, peanuts, fresh herbs ($24).

Very enjoyable.  Spiced.  Creamy.  Solid.

Peekytoe crab and pork Chiang Mai sausage, jackfruit congee, green onions, fried garlic ($28).

My personal favorite of the night.  I found it very soothing and comforting.  I had flashbacks of my childhood and our Saturday morning rice porridge.  I'd love to eat this on a sick day.

Root beer float with galangal ice cream ($8).

I opted to get my dessert in a gingery beverage form.  Great.

Thai coffee-chocolate ice cream ($3).

My one bite was lovely.  Beautifully bitter in a good way.

Thai iced tea ice cream ($3).

Tasted just like it sounds -- your favorite creamy orange tea, frozen.

Passion fruit and lemongrass panna cotta, fresh mango, toasted coconut, sesame cookies ($9).

Refreshing, fruity, and light.

Complimentary cookies.

Nice tasty touch.

Kin Shop was pleasant.  I liked my meal, and I loved catching up with the Mayor and meeting her boyfriend.  But Mr. Monkey was not as blinded as I was by my reunion with my old friend.  As we rode the subway back to our hotel, he said, "We can get better food like this for a lot less at a ton of places at home."

He's right.  Valiant effort, but sorry, Harold.  Please pack your knives and go [do something else].