Thai Boat Restaurant – Hop on Board!

By Steve Cook :

Thai Boat co-owner Joe Kiatsuranon (center) is flanked by business partners and chefs Wasv Suksomboon (l) and Thanit Sonsart (r) Bar Manager, “Boat” Rungpibulsapit looks on from behind the bar.

Visit Richmond’s newest Thai hot spot, the Thai Boat Restaurant and get ready to discover high-energy nightlife along with an authentic Thai menu and fresh, flavorful cocktails.  The Thai Boat has docked at 2301 W. Main Street in Richmond’s Fan District.

“This is the most authentic Thai food in town,” says co-owner, Joe Kitatsuranon. Joe should know. He’s been serving up delicious Thai food for most of his life. He cut his teeth working with his mom, Sue Palaart. Sue is the “Mom” in Mom’s Siam, perhaps the city’s most popular Thai Restaurant, located in Carytown.

Thirteen years ago, Joe struck out on his own and opened My Noodle and Bar at 1600 Monument Avenue. Between Joe, his mother, and his brother Sonny Songkran, the family is responsible for several other very popular Thai/Asian eateries around town.

Thai Boat is a concept Joe came up with following a visit to his native Thailand and the resort beach town of Phuket, which offers a wide diversity of nightlife including a chill vibe scene and unique craft cocktails. That’s what patrons are quickly discovering at Thai Boat, which boasts a menu that blends Thai flavors with the essence of the sea.

Visitors to Phuket are attracted to the beautiful boats, which are a common sight in Phuket Bay. That colorful sight is partly behind the inspiration for the restaurant’s name. However, there may be a more notable reason that Joe chose to name the restaurant as he did. His good friend Narongchai “Boat” Rungpibulsapit is the bar manager. “Everyone has called me ‘Boat’ all my life,” Narongchai explains. “My real name is too hard to pronounce.”

Boat tells me that the bar scene features over 40 craft cocktails. And, as for the food, Joe says that while the atmosphere is Phuket inspired, the food is more what you’d enjoy in the markets of Bangkok, which is famous for its flavorful, affordable street foods.

Meanwhile, while you’re in the area, slip over to My Noodle and Bar and see what Joe’s done with that place, which is situated in an inviting English basement. The atmosphere and the furnishings at My Noodle and Bar have long been captivating, but Joe’s created a “Miracle on Monument Avenue” feel to the restaurant for the holiday season. The savory aromas, the exquisite tastes, the visual impact, the lively sounds of delighted diners – it’s a truly enjoyable, multi-sensory experience that awaits when you visit both the boat and the basement.

To learn more, visit ThaiBoatRVA.com and My-Noodle-Bar.com.

 

    There’s always a festive atmosphere at My Noodle and Bar. And now diners can enjoy the Thai hotspot’s “Miracle on Monument” seasonal transformation.
    Joe Kiatsuranon shares My Noodje and Bar’s Butterfly Lemondrop, a popular Cirrus Vodka-based craft cocktail. A touch of lavender is responsible for the beverage’s color.
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