A five-course tasting menu for just $13? No, it’s not a misprint. That’s what it costs at Latitude Eight Thai Grill, a very promising new addition to downtown Chandler’s burgeoning dining scene.

Admittedly, it’s a lunch tasting menu, but for less than the price of an entrée at many restaurants, I get two spring rolls, two pieces of chicken satay, a fruit salad (fresh strawberries, papaya and pears with a mouth-warming chili dressing), a dish of panang curry (not too spicy with jasmine rice) and sweet rice with mango for dessert (all pictured at right).

Each course, timely delivered, is decent-sized and delicious — and even my iced tea is included in the price.

Before you jump to the conclusion Latitude Eight is some kind of hole-in-the-wall dive, just walk through the door (from Arizona Avenue, despite the Boston Street address). Owner David Fliger still is working on the finishing touches, but there’s already a cool urban-chic vibe to the renovated Arrow Pharmacy building.

The dark wood foor and tables starkly contrast the white and mustard walls and white padded seating. The high ceiling is painted orange, and the glass front affords an expansive view of busy Arizona Avenue.

Right now, the 1,500-square-foot space accommodates 40 people; by the end of next month, it’ll be 55. By then the restaurant also should have its liquor license. In the meantime, it’s BYOB.

Likewise, the authentic Thai menu — Fliger’s half Thai and he convinced his mother, Nicha Jithchamnonk (both pictured at left), who ran a successful Thai restaurant in Los Angeles, to oversee Latitude Eight’s kitchen — also is a work in progress. For my visit, it’s lunch-only, limited to seven appetizers, four salads and nine entrees. (It’s since opened for dinner.).

In addition to the tasting menu, I feel compelled to try the stuffed chicken wing ($8). Filled with minced chicken, glass noodles and Thai herbs and accompanied by a Sriracha-aioli dipping sauce, it’s one of the most unusual starters I’ve encountered. I can’t wait to try it again.

I’m also impressed with the two other entrees I try: pad see ew (chicken, broccoli and flat noodles in a slightly sweet brown sauce, $8) and pad kee mao (chicken, rice noodles, onions and basil in dark soy sauce, $8). The latter is marked “spicy” on the menu but the heat-adversive needn’t worry.

My young server is a little unfamiliar with the menu but makes up for it by being extra attentive. Fliger stops by my table several times and mentions Latitude Eight only has been getting 10 or so customers per lunch — which suits him just fine while he works out the kinks.

He better hurry, because I predict that number is going to rise. Quickly.

LATITUDE EIGHT THAI GRILL
Where: 11 W. Boston St. (southwest corner of Boston and Arizona Avenue).
Open: 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. and 5:30 p.m. to 10 p.m. daily.
Prices: Appetizers $6-$12, soups $8, salads $6-$9, entrees $8-$19, desserts $4-$5.
Dress: Casual.
Info: (480) 722-0560 or latitude-eight.com.

First Taste reviews are based on initial visits to new East Valley restaurants. Full reviews are written after multiple visits, usually over a period of several weeks, after the restaurant has been open at least a couple months.

This entry was posted on Thursday, May 15th, 2008 at 11:39 am and is filed under Chandler, Latitude Eight. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.