Pii Nong Thai
Pii Nong Thai
1677 Bayview Ave, East York, ON M4G 3C1
www.piinongthai.com
Over all: ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Service: ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Food: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Atmosphere: ⭐️⭐️⭐️
I first dined at Pii Nong in summer 2024 and recently returned in September 2025, hoping to find that the issues from my first visit had been addressed. Unfortunately, my second experience showed that while there were a few high points, several core dishes and the overall dining environment still require significant attention.
• Basil Chicken (5/10): This dish was the most disappointing. While the sauce itself seemed well-prepared, the chicken slices were chewy and dry. It tasted as if the chicken was cooked separately and then simply tossed with the basil sauce, preventing it from absorbing the aromatic flavours.
• Pad Thai with Chicken (7/10): A common observation on this staple was the need for a stronger, more authentic base. My friend felt it lacked sufficient tamarind sauce and would have been much better with a more generous addition of sprouts for texture.
Second Visit (2025) Highlights & Lowlights:
• Spring Rolls (6/10): The size of the rolls was appropriate, but the flavour was completely generic and uninspired. They lacked the vibrant, fresh taste one expects from a good Thai appetizer.
• Green Curry Chicken (8/10): This was the clear winner. The flavours were well-balanced, and the chicken was tender, indicating a proper cooking process where the meat absorbed the curry's essence.
• Pad Thai (6/10): Disappointingly, this dish showed little to no improvement after a year. The noodles were too oily, and while the tamarind was present, the dish lacked the necessary "umph" or intensity that defines a great Pad Thai.
Service and Atmosphere: Major Concerns
While the staff provided generally good service, it could certainly be more attentive.
The most significant negative impact on the dining experience was the atmosphere.
Throughout our meal, we were plagued by an excessive number of drain flies in the dining area. We had to constantly wave them away, which was a major distraction and took away entirely from any enjoyment of the meal. This is a serious hygiene and maintenance issue that needs immediate resolution.
Pii Nong shows potential, particularly with dishes like its Green Curry, but struggles with consistency and execution of classics like Pad Thai and Basil Chicken. For a restaurant to thrive, its signature dishes must be excellent. More concerning is the maintenance issue that detracts significantly from the dining experience.
I genuinely hope the ownership takes this constructive criticism to heart. With improvements to the foundational recipes and an urgent cleanup of the fly issue, Pii Nong could be a much more recommendable establishment.
Second Visit (2025) Highlights & Lowlights:
• Spring Rolls (6/10): The size of the rolls was appropriate, but the flavour was completely generic and uninspired. They lacked the vibrant, fresh taste one expects from a good Thai appetizer.
• Green Curry Chicken (8/10): This was the clear winner. The flavours were well-balanced, and the chicken was tender, indicating a proper cooking process where the meat absorbed the curry's essence.
• Pad Thai (6/10): Disappointingly, this dish showed little to no improvement after a year. The noodles were too oily, and while the tamarind was present, the dish lacked the necessary "umph" or intensity that defines a great Pad Thai.
Service and Atmosphere: Major Concerns
While the staff provided generally good service, it could certainly be more attentive.
The most significant negative impact on the dining experience was the atmosphere.
Throughout our meal, we were plagued by an excessive number of drain flies in the dining area. We had to constantly wave them away, which was a major distraction and took away entirely from any enjoyment of the meal. This is a serious hygiene and maintenance issue that needs immediate resolution.
Pii Nong shows potential, particularly with dishes like its Green Curry, but struggles with consistency and execution of classics like Pad Thai and Basil Chicken. For a restaurant to thrive, its signature dishes must be excellent. More concerning is the maintenance issue that detracts significantly from the dining experience.
I genuinely hope the ownership takes this constructive criticism to heart. With improvements to the foundational recipes and an urgent cleanup of the fly issue, Pii Nong could be a much more recommendable establishment.
Update (November 2025) : Pii Nong is sadly shuttered, but the restaurant is now operating as Chon modern Thai! go support them.
Comments
Post a Comment