Wallapa Suksapa had a little dream: to combine great Thai food with reasonable prices. Amara caf‚ is the unpretentious result of Suksapa's vision. Conveniently located near Rittenhouse Square but far enough removed to avoid the flashy crowds from pretentious Center City eateries, this BYO is a hidden gem.
Upon first entering Amara Caf‚, the bare walls and sparse setting may be off-putting, but as soon as head waiter Fik warmly welcomes you into this shoebox of a BYO, it is clear that while Amara may not boast gawdy d‚cor, it certainly boasts friendly service.
As Fik opened our wine, he sang the praises of the pad-thai ($12.95), pronouncing it the best in Philly. Our gastronomic adventure was about to begin and Fik's enthusiasm led the way. A myriad of appetizers was quickly brought to the table. The chicken peanut ($4) was the biggest hit, so good in fact that we ordered another one after our mouths furiously watered from the succulent marinade of the first one. The shrimp rolls appetizer ($4) was nothing special but the appetizer soups made up for it.
The tom-kar soup ($3.50), which is coconut milk based, had just the right amount of spice and, while I'm not partial to tofu, even the tofu soup was delicious. The soups and appetizers could certainly constitute a full meal, but we kept going nonetheless.
The fast service continued as our entrees were brought shortly thereafter. Fik delivered the pad-thai with total confidence -- and you know what? I object to his proclamation that Amara's pad-thai is the best in Philly. In fact, the pad-thai was the best that I've ever had in my life. It boasted a satisfying mix of shrimp, chicken and tofu which I have yet to see rivaled in my long Thai-eating career.
Although not given as much attention as the former dish, the chef-recommended roast duck ($15.95), in a creamy chili and basil sauce, was equally delicious. The duck was crispy, tender and -- in typical Amara fashion -- offered up as a hefty portion.
These more than satisfying portions left little room for dessert, but if you can muster up the energy, try the cream caramel with young coconut ($4) -- delish -- or the Thai coconut ice cream ($4). With satisfying portions and outstanding service, Amara caf‚ is an unlikely surprise which will satiate your appetite and warm your heart.
