The Regent, or Regent Thai, or the Regent Thai Cuisine (personally, I called it Regent Thai for three years until I wrote this review) is a relatively new Thai restaurant on the 18th Street corridor between Adams Morgan and Dupont Circle. The owner is Chuchart “Bobby” Kampirapang, who worked as a waiter and cook at the former restaurant in College Park, Chef’s Secret.

Cost – $$

Service – A
The service is great, hands-down. This may piss some politically correct people off, but I am going to stereotype and say that I think Thai people are as friendly as they come. I honestly have never had a bad experience at a Thai restaurant with the service – particularly not at the Regent.

Food – A
The menu is the brain child of Saowaluk Wiyagul (of Busara fame) and it is pretty damn good. The ingredients are fresh and the dishes are mouth watering. This may sound strange, but the fact that the portions are European sized (you don’t get a big plate full of rice and cheap meat) furthers the appeal of the restaurant.

Decor – A
You may be noticing a trend with the grades that The Regent is receiving but I think the world of the place. I don’t know who Bobby Kampirapang got to direct the place, or if he decorated it himself, but it is just a sexy, cool place adorned with tasteful Thai fixtures and ornaments.

Feel – A
The place scores high across the board. In fact, the first time I ever visited the place was because Lauriol Plaza was too damn crowded and I was starving. That was the best decision I could have made because now when people want to go to Lauriol Plaza for dinner I tend to say, “why not just go across the street to a good place.” It is my favorite Thai restaurant and possibly my favorite restaurant in the DC area.

The Regent is at 1910 18th Street, N.W. Washington DC 20009. They can be reached at (202) 232-1781.

What’s the Buzz:

January 19, 2007 – The Regent (The Gourmet Pig) – There are a few restaurants on 18th St. just below Adams Morgan, a stone’s throw from where I live, but I’ve never really tried any of them out. The other night, though, James, Julie and I and were looking for somewhere to go and no one was particularly motivated to choose a restaurant, so when Julie suggested Thai, I remembered I’d wanted to try the Regent. Full Article…

January 19, 2007 – The Regent (The Gourmet Pig) – There are a few restaurants on 18th St. just below Adams Morgan, a stone’s throw from where I live, but I’ve never really tried any of them out. The other night, though, James, Julie and I and were looking for somewhere to go and no one was particularly motivated to choose a restaurant, so when Julie suggested Thai, I remembered I’d wanted to try the Regent. Full Article…

October 24, 2004 – Regent Thai Cuisine (Washington Post) – THE LOUD SIZZLE preceding the arrival of my beef entree, neua krata, seems out of place in the context of the serene Regent Thai Cuisine, where the only other sounds on a slow weeknight have been gentle background music and the tinkle-tinkle of a nearby fountain. Full Article…

admin