Satay Restaurant

10/10/2008 Posted by savagerocket

I had such a disappointing experience with this place last night, particularly with the manager, Juan, who showed an astounding lack of customer service and rudeness I haven't seen in a long time. Had never been here, but found it to be close to a friends house for a quick meal before we both had to be somewhere else. I called an hour and a half beforehand so my food would be ready for pickup. I was on time; they had forgotten to make my food. My "3 more minutes" from the manager who was rude from the beginning, turned into 10-15 minutes - that's fine - the interior is beautiful, and the food coming out of the kitchen looked amazing (from too afar??).. so I'm excited. I stayed in Thailand for a while, and know good and bad food. Juan tightly knots the small containers in a plastic bag before I can stop him (to make sure all my stuff is there as a general rule with takeout) I attempt, he repeats my order, I say yes, he says "yes, it's there". There is a line behind me waiting on service, so I go. I get down the street with little time to eat, and I cannot believe the portions in my bag. For $11/entree, I assumed I would be getting two meals out of one. I thought the rice thrown into the small box, and the small spattering of noodles in my friends box was really a joke. really. We were in such a hurry, though, I couldn't go back and be irate as I was feeling. I ate my terrible green curry in one small bowl, (WHO skimps on white rice and rice noodles??) in one quick sitting. I was still hungry, and I was super mad. I called when I got home, exactly an hour later, but Juan didn't return my call for 30 minutes. He assured me that the portion size of takeout was the same that's served to the tables, he was extremely rude and said that too much time had passed between me leaving with my food and calling - though I wasn't asking for a refund or anything... he was just being defensive and accusing me of lying! DON'T SPEND YOUR MONEY HERE.

Pros: ambience is beautiful if you're just wanting somewhere nice to sit.

Cons: service, taste of food, service, service, service, taste of food

08/21/2008 Posted by badfishlove

My boyfriend and I went here for lunch and were very dissapointed. the portions of rice were very large but the shrimp and chicken were very small. The atmosphere was great but the lack of service was truly the defining factor. We immediatly went to another restaurant down the street and had a GOOD MEAL THERE. I would not reccomend this to anyone.

Pros: beautiful interior

Cons: terrible food by any standard

08/01/2008 Posted by shaft28

We hadn't eaten Thai food often since we left Portland (a haven for Thai restaurants) so over 18 months or so and were happy with Satay. Much more traditional food that the more Americanized versions we've had in town. I tried a coconut sauce/lemon grass stew that seemed to have everything in it. Was a taste bud overload but very good. My wife had the 10 BBQ prawn dish that was very good more more along the lines of a seafood salad. Both werre good but we went off our typical norm of trying a standard well known to us dish the first time we try a place - looking forward to trying the Mus Man curry next time. We did love the Filipino lumpia, alittle different from the homemade stuff I used to get in San Jose, but I'm not splitting hairs of the sytel of rice paper the wrap it in - it was delicious, Their service seems a little random of who will help you but everyone is so nice it doesn't matter that they didn't check on us every 4 minutes (like some people need). Very good food, looking forward to trying foods I know better to get a true idea of how good. You figureseerving Thai food for 20 years in Texas...they have to be doing something right (and they are).

05/21/2008 Posted by Livemusic

I like this place, its cozy and serves nice THAI food. Service quality is also exceptional. Lot of variety to choose for Non-veg and Veggie lovers!!!

Pros: Good service

Cons: None

03/02/2008 Posted by foodieat

My husband and I had takeout from here this evening, and I was so disappointed I had to write a review. I've heard so many good reviews of this place that, even though I've been disappointed eating here in the past, I thought I'd give it another try. We ordered the Tom Yum Goong and split a Bataan Delight. The name should have been a hint -- it was awful. There were three slices of carrot, each the size of a small dog, equally enormous pieces of bell pepper, a few other disappointing veggies and 5 miniscule off-color shrimp swimming in a thin broth. We opened it up and just thought yuck. The soup was flavorful, but the shrimp was hard to find. (Do they know that Goong means prawns?) There's no way we're eating here again... there are way too many better Thai places in town (Madam Mam's, Thai Passion...)

Pros: ?

Cons: expensive, poor value, terrible presentation

02/12/2008 Posted by foodpicky

I and my fiancee were very disappointed with Satay. We are spoiled with the best food as we have lived in several countries around the world and love cooking the most delicious cuisines. WE had a friend from Thailand who cooked for the US embassy people the most delicious dishes. So, we do love good quality Thai food, but Satay was a true joke: no flavor at all, tiny portions, tasted like leftovers from yesterday supper. WE definitely would not recommend it to anyone and we are not returning there either! Sadly, we have not found any real Thai alternative to this place....

01/17/2008 Posted by safflor

Besides the decor, it's terrible! I was expecting much more after reading so many positive reviews. This restaurant is completely unorganized and the service is unapologetically bad. The food was served cold and the portions are extremely small. I found the menu misleading about quantities and ingredients. The flavors are either unpleasant or nonexistent. My boyfriend and I resorted to canceling our drink order when it did not arrive after we had finished our main course (this was after multiple promises from the waiter that the drinks were coming)! We discovered that there was no bartender at the full service bar. Instead it appeared that the manager for the evening was attempting to make drinks, seat people, take phone calls, and run the register. The experience was both maddening and disappointing. This is the worst Asian restaurant I can remember! Save yourself some grief and drive down the street to Korea house.

Pros: eclectic decor

Cons: disorganized, cold food, tiny portions, overpriced, bad service, not tasty

01/09/2008 Posted by dab2000

You'll find that if you eat in the portions are very generous. I found the staff nothing but pleasant and the food was delicious. My mouth is watering just thinking about the yummy dish I had there a few weeks ago. In response to some of the reviews saying that the portions were too small, the portions were very generous if you eat in. I think if you eat at the restaurant the price is appropriate.

Pros: Yummy food, great people, lots of parking, not usually packed but enough people to make you think it's good

10/02/2007 Posted by coed

The food is great, service is pleasant. Very unique! It looks very simple from the outside but the food and sauces are just fantastic! Great place for lunch.

Pros: perfect food

Cons: not fancy

08/30/2007 Posted by cubano61

While the food is good, I was infuriated with the small size and outrageous cost for my takeout meal. A 6 oz cup of shrimp soup was $6.50 and I got about 9 oz of panang chicken curry and white rice for $10. I called to complain and the folks I spoke with did not seem in the least concerned with my gripe. So, I will not be eating here again. It's a further drive from me, but I much prefer Thai Tara at 601 W Sixth St Austin. The food is better, less expensive, with much more generous portions and with nicer people working there. Satay has a pretty interior, but it is run by greedy people.

Pros: location, parking, pretty decor

Cons: small and expensive portions, especially for takeout