Yes, they have pad thai. originally uploaded to flickr.com by Mr. T in DC
In the coming months the Capitol Riverfront neighborhood will see the opening of several new eateries and watering holes. One can imagine how bustling a summer evening will be around Yards Park with free concerts, kids splashing in the fountains, and a choice of outdoor dining venues. While we wait for warmer temperatures to arrive, one restaurant has opened its doors quietly right before the end of 2012. I’ve visited Kruba Thai & Sushi twice, and while the dining room was quiet both times they are poised to be front-and-center for those fun evenings at the park. And yes, the food is good too.
Kruba Thai occupies the southwest corner of the Foundry Lofts building facing Yards Park. One can expect prime outdoor dining from this location, but for now you can settle for the ornately-decorated dining room that can easily accommodate a single diner or large party. While dimly lit from the inside, the large windows provide ample daylight during the day. Along one wall runs a full-service bar and sushi bar. Columns are covered with wood carvings and statuary in dark neutral colors. Except for the television behind the bar, the indoor space is pretty serene (the latest visit could have done without the soft rock music, though).
The menu offers a fairly standard selection of Thai food, with plenty of options for vegetarians. Main dishes here tend toward more hot spice than other Thai restaurants I’ve eaten in, but the servers are pretty honest with you about the level of heat you can expect. The red or green curry entree packs some heat, but the broth is also rich in flavors or coconut and pepper. The bowl arrives with a delicious variety of vegetables (not just carrots and broccoli) and your choice of meat, seafood, or tofu. Also delicious is the eggplant with basil leaves and bean sauce. The portion was sizable, almost enough to share, and the savory sauce was not as syrupy as I have come to expect when ordering this dish. Sushi offerings run the gamut from standards to special rolls.
There is no kids menu at Kruba, but my five-year-old dining companion was quite content sampling their appetizers. The chicken satay arrives with both traditional peanut sauce and a sweet cucumber relish as well as enough shaved carrot garnish to qualify as a side dish. That alone would have been enough for her main course. Our whole table enjoyed the steamed pork dumplings, again enough for a little one’s main dish. The special curry puffs that also arrive with the cucumber relish and are at once both like fried Asian dumplings and a samosa from an Indian cafe. Note there are no changing tables in the men’s restroom, but we were offered a high chair or booster on our arrival.
Admittedly the dining room was rather empty both times we visited, but the staff at Kruba Thai & Sushi was very friendly and welcoming and service was efficient. They are open late for dinner most nights, which is a nice option to have. And they do deliver after 5:00 p.m.