Thai Barn Na (Liberty)

Thai Barn Na 

127 Jefferson Ave, Toronto, ON M6K 3E4

(416) 532-8222

http://www.thaibarnna.ca/

Over all: ⭐️⭐️⭐️

Service: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Food: ⭐️⭐️⭐️

Atmosphere: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

For me, Thai cuisine holds a uniquely elevated place among comfort foods. Having previously enjoyed the quality of Thai Barn Na's cooking via takeout from their sister location, I was particularly excited to finally dine in at the new Liberty Village spot to fully experience the in-house atmosphere. This review, therefore, focuses entirely on this new establishment, which certainly delivers high quality Thai fare, bolstered by fantastic service and a truly customizable heat experience.

The new Liberty Village space maintains a cozy, intimate feel. The dining room is quite small, seating fewer than 25 patrons. This creates a focused, pleasant, and intimate experience that feels perfectly suited to the neighborhood.

The service, in particular, was a highlight. Our server, Argisa, was simply excellent, insightful, honest, and incredibly helpful. She demonstrated a strong knowledge of the menu, elevating the ordering process from routine to genuinely informed advice. This level of personalized service is a significant asset to the restaurant and truly sets the mood for a great dinner.

A highly appreciated feature of Thai Barn Na is their granular, tiered spice level system. Moving beyond the typical mild, medium, and hot, they offer chili enthusiasts seven distinct options: No Spice, Mild, Medium, Spicy, Thai Spicy, Extra Thai, and Double Thai Spicy. This commitment allows patrons to truly customize their meal. While I personally found Thai Spicy provided a sufficient, intense kick, the upper tiers are a wonderful invitation for the truly adventurous palate.

Spring Rolls (4/10):
We began our meal with the spring rolls. While they were served piping hot, the flavour profile was unfortunately just average. They offered a standard, serviceable taste that wasn't particularly special or memorable, lacking the unique flair that defines the restaurant's main courses and with a taste that could be found elsewhere.

My Best Pad Thai (8/10):
This dish consistently delivered the quality expected of great Thai cooking. The presentation was excellent, featuring a generous distribution of peanuts and sprouts. Crucially, the tamarind flavour was spot on, providing that essential tangy sweet backbone. The noodles were soft, well stir-fried, and the overall execution was flawless. We opted for the Double Thai Spicy heat level, and it was delivered with impressive, searing intensity.

Massaman Curry Chicken (6/10):
While the flavours here were undeniably present and authentic, this dish offered the most room for constructive feedback. The presentation was unfortunately just average and wasn't as immediately appetizing as I'd hoped. A slightly heavy hand with aromatics like lemongrass and galangal made the curry intensely fragrant almost to the point of being perfume-like. The deep, authentic flavour profile and requested Spicy heat level were good, but a minor adjustment to dial back the intensity of those aromatics would likely result in a more balanced, rich, and cohesive final product.

Thai Barn Na in Liberty Village is a fantastic destination for high-quality, casual Thai comfort food. The impeccable service from staff like Argisa, the reliably delicious Pad Thai, and the innovative, customizable heat levels make it a thoroughly worthwhile visit. While the visual appeal and aromatic balance of the Massaman Curry could see minor improvements, this remains a strong contender for authentic, satisfying Thai cuisine in the city.