Capital Thai Kitchen and Bar
After the closing of Penang & Tokyo, Capital Thai moved into the vacated space, opening its doors May 7. It’s been frequented by Exonians and locals alike, since word of its Thai-Asian fusion spread around town.
When you first walk through the door, the brightly lit entrance highlights the newly remodeled space, cleaner and more modern than the previous interior design of Penang. Wooden cutting boards and framed photos of Thai landscapes, food and culture line the gray-blue walls. As for the use of space, the tables in the front are relatively close together, but designed to allow large groups to sit together in a casual environment. Towards the back, diners can enjoy a bit more privacy and space with a view of the Exeter river.
These dishes are a little salty, so make sure to ask for water, soft drinks or bubble tea. Soft drinks are free for refills, but bubble tea refills are not free like they used to be in the first weeks of business.
Out of the appetizers, the greatest review goes to the spicy chicken wings. At seven dollars, the plate is topped high with several chicken wings covered in a sweet, tangy, spicy sauce. The chicken is coated and fried, which gives a pleasant crunch that holds up to the sauce. Chicken satay is the second favorite, with four of the classic skewers accompanied by a peanut sauce. The one criticism we have is how small each skewer was. A third delicious option we enjoyed are the steamed buns filled with pieces of braised pork belly and fresh vegetables covered in a sriracha mayo dressing. But like the chicken satay, the two small buns are not worth seven dollars.
As for main dishes, the safest options would be the classic noodles such as pad thai and pad see ew. Diners can choose between different options like shrimp, beef, chicken, tofu, and veggie. You could also go with the pineapple fried rice, which has curry powder and chunks of canned pineapples. We recommend the boat noodles: nobody knows what they are due to the unhelpful name. In essence, you’ll get a saltier version of pho with less soup and big chunks of fall-apart beef.
These dishes are a little salty, so make sure to ask for water, soft drinks or bubble tea. Soft drinks are free for refills, but bubble tea refills are not free like they used to be in the first weeks of business.
The biggest let down of the menu in taste and price are the spring rolls. Their variety of stuffing is unimpressive, while the veggies themselves are not very fresh. In addition, a single order is a measly two rolls cut up into small pieces.
All menu options aside, a crucial point of Capital Thai’s opening that differed from other Asian restaurants in town is their no delivery policy. Diners can pick up food but they do not deliver like their other Asian restaurant competitors. Yes, it is inconvenient, but the place is close enough to campus that picking up the food or sitting down to eat is not too much of a hassle. And it adds to their projected image that they offer much more sophisticated Asian food than their counterparts in town.
Overall, the food is good, but not as high-end as the restaurant presents it to be. Portion sizes aren’t generous for certain items, and prices are definitely marked up from the quality that they offer.
This isn’t a spot we’ll be visiting every week, but it’s certainly a decent option if you want to treat yourself to a sit-down meal with your friends.