Pineapples: Fresh, Flavorful, and Delicious Thai Cuisine
When I first entered Pineapples Thai Kitchen, a gorgeous flower wall grabbed my attention. This display complements the aesthetic of the whole restaurant: From the flowers at every table to the poetry board on the wall, Pineapples’ colorful and inviting atmosphere matches its fresh and flavorful food.
Pineapples offers traditional and unique takes on authentic Thai food at reasonable prices. The large menu includes appetizers, entrees, curries, noodle dishes, and much more. Most dishes come with a choice of protein and a side of rice, and their spiciness is rated on a scale of 0-3. There are plenty of vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free options. They also have a bar and drink menu with a range of wines, beers, and cocktails, in addition to a variety of teas, coffees, and soft drinks.
Pineapples was nearly empty when my grandmother and I arrived on a recent Friday evening. The restaurant has ample seating in their indoor and outdoor dining areas, along with the bar. We were immediately greeted by a friendly server who led us to our table and quickly brought over water and menus. Pineapples’ entire menu is so enticing that we struggled to pick what to eat. We eventually landed on two appetizers to start: the spring roll ($6) and the avocado fresh roll ($9).
Our appetizers both arrived within minutes and were delicious. The spring rolls reminded me of the lumpia I grew up eating with my Filipino family. The spring rolls were crispy on the outside and filled with warm vegetables. Paired with a flavorful sweet and sour sauce, this was the perfect start to our meal. The avocado fresh rolls, served with a salty peanut sauce, were equally delicious. Rice paper wrapped up a mix of greens, veggies, and avocado.
After much deliberation, I ordered the roasted tofu curry ($17) and my grandmother picked the pad see eaw ($15). My curry was full of produce, including pineapple, peppers, bamboo shoots, and tomatoes, which perfectly contrasted the chewy seitan — a vegan meat substitute made from wheat gluten. The red curry sauce, which had both sweet and spicy notes, brought the whole dish together. Rated a 2 for spice level, the dish was just at the threshold of my admittedly low spice tolerance, and I appreciated the generous serving of rice to balance out the heat.
My grandmother enjoyed her pad see eaw, a noodle dish served with wide rice noodles, egg, and broccoli. We concluded the meal with the classic Thai dessert of mango sticky rice ($8). Pineapples puts a unique and brilliant spin on the dish. The warm, gelatinous, coconut-flavored rice has a crunchy topping — perhaps puffed rice or cereal — that provides a lovely texture contrast when paired with the chilled and sweet fresh mango.
Pineapples gives large servings, and we happily left with plenty of leftovers. The service was incredible; the waiters were attentive and friendly, checking in on us throughout the meal, and our food arrived quickly, even as the restaurant got busier. While the meal was on the pricier side, the generous portions, amazing quality of food, and pleasant atmosphere made it well worth it. We had a lovely evening, as has been my experience every time I have dined at Pineapples. If you are looking for authentic, fresh, and flavorful Thai food, Pineapples is the restaurant for you.
Pineapples is located at 722 Preston Ave, Suite 103, and is open every day of the week from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. and from 5-9 p.m. Pineapples shares a large parking lot with several other businesses, which can fill up quickly. Call 434-202-1682 to make a reservation.