In these modern days, it sometimes seems as if the work day never ends. However, when your day is finally done, it would be nice to relax and have a quiet and peaceful meal. To achieve that, you simply cannot go to a “big chain” restaurant. You need a small place that will deliver peace and harmony in addition to your meal. A place destined to let you unwind is “Tub Tim Thai” in downtown Skokie. "Tub Tim" means a ruby in Thai, and while you don’t ordinarily think of downtown Skokie as the place to find a great restaurant, “Tub Tim” appears to be worth a try.
Don’t let the small storefront appearance fool you, once you step inside you immediately feel your stress just melt away. Warmly painted walls adorned with original works of art (all for sale), soft music in the background, and a tranquil copper fountain all aid in the harmonious atmosphere. Start with some hot tea, and you are ready to relax and enjoy your meal.
But the tranquility means nothing if the food isn’t good. To see if the food is as good as the vibe, we decide to start with the chicken satay. For our entrées, we decide on the beef Pad Prik and the chicken Pad Thai. The satay arrives first and it’s grilled chicken on bamboo skewers, served with peanut sauce, cucumber salad and garlic bread. Presentation is gorgeous for such an affordable dish. Each item is arranged separately, to ensure that each is enjoyed properly. The vibrant yellow chicken is very tender, and is equally enjoyable on its own or dipped in the peanut sauce. The sweet cucumber salad is refreshing, but the tasty garlic bread seems a little out of place at this party. Definitely the first time I’ve had garlic bread served with satay.
Dinner arrives and like most Thai restaurants it is served family style. The Pad Thai has wonderful peanut flavor, generous amounts of chicken and thin rice noodles. While I prefer slightly thicker rice noodles, the flavor was pretty spot on. The Pad Prik on the other hand, stole the show. The sautéed strips of beef were incredibly tender and swimming in a wonderful sauce that included both garlic and jalapeños. Worried about the heat? Don’t be, our server asked what our heat preference was and tailored the dish accordingly.
To truly unwind from the day, you need to finish with dessert. Mocha Mousse cake and a scoop of green tea ice cream are our choices tonight. Two small squares of cake are layered with a mocha mousse and topped with a layer of chocolate ganache. The rich yet delicate cake was the perfect size to satisfy your cravings while not leaving you guilty for you indulgence. Green tea ice cream is an acquired taste, and one I do enjoy. Sweet cream ice cream is infused with green tea (leaves included) and starts sweet and finishes earthy. For the less adventurous they also offer coconut, mango, and other more common flavors.
Final bill with tip was $35, which is a steal for any sit down establishment. Overall “Tub Tim Thai” offers wonderful atmosphere, beautiful presentation, and quality food at affordable prices. Residents in and around Skokie should not overlook this tranquil gem. Rating *** out of ****.
Location
4927 Oakton Street
Skokie, IL 60077
(847) 675-THAI/8424
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