336 Webster Street
Jack London Square
Oakland, CA
Fill 'er up from $12 to $24
Website\
Last week, I attended the celebration party for the soft opening of Farmhouse Kitchen Thai Cuisine in Oakland, the newest restaurant from chef and owner Kasem "Pop" Saengsawang. Obligatory disclaimer: That means everything I'm writing about in this post was free to me to sample and enjoy. Farmhouse Kitchen is also open in San Francisco and Portland, while Montclair hosts Saengsawang's Daughter Thai.
"Pop" with our singer and MC for the evening.
The party was a lively affair, and I can't imagine the normal restaurant experience will quite match it, but from reviews of the locations in San Francisco and Portland, they will certainly try. Traditional "street peddlers" wandered through the restaurant's interior and waterfront tiki patio, offering snacks and adventurous eating for American palates. All the food I sampled offered sophistication and the love of spice expected from a high-end Thai restaurant in the Bay Area.
Yes, I ate that grasshopper, and …. I'm not rushing to eat it again, but I can appreciate the crunch. 😉 I don't think that will appear on Farmhouse Kitchen's regular menu, but there is a street food section if you'd like to make a meal of tasty nibbles.
What I mainly took away from the soft opening celebration was an appreciation for the playfulness, color, and heat that Farmhouse Kitchen endeavors to bring to its customers. This is a dining experience, one that's sure to put a smile on your face, whether or not there's traditional Thai background music or pop Thai performances going on during your meal.
Dinner entrees were served in a giant cornucopia display in the beautiful, flower-covered main dining room.
While I appreciated the brilliant color and arrangement of those main dishes—
—I didn't actually taste any as I'd filled up on appetizers, cocktails, and amusement by that time of the evening. That said, I'm certain the panang neua—a slow-braised short rib served with broccolini, blue rice, and panang curry—will be a star of the menu.
I'm using a photo from the restaurant's promo material because banquet-style photos just can't do justice to HOW DELICIOUS those short ribs looked.
I left the rest for the vultures circling at the party, though not without admiring a few more options I hope to try in in the future. Of my own munching, what most stood out were the bananas fried in sesame batter –
—and the Vegan Fresh Rolls made with tons of flavor and just the right dash of peanuts.
I preferred the yellow rice with its chicken broth and turmeric flavor over the very pretty, but plainer tasting, blue rice. Perhaps the yellow rice is the ginger rice on the menu? And I loved the green papaya salad coming from the cold counter with lots of fish sauce, spice heat, and peanuts.
Be warned: the spice and heat levels at Farmhouse Kitchen are not for the faint-hearted. Neither are the cocktails.
The restaurant's playfulness is fully displayed in the Fresh Curry cocktail's presentation, as it's served with an empty can of coconut milk for a koozie. Its basil flavor was delicious, and I was impressed by how well the St. George Green Chili Vodka, lemongrass, lime, and that basil intermingled, each contributing brightness to the greater whole.
I also tried the Mama-San, a cocktail made with unfiltered sake, red wine, lemongrass, lime, and orange bitters.
It provided hearty sangria-like fruitiness with floral and fresh berry notes that didn't get watered down until the last few sips. Most sangria concoctions in restaurants, due to all that ice, can't say the same. The sake was likely key for bulking up its body.
For nondrinkers, the Thai iced coffee and tea are every bit as lovingly crafted and crowned with a scoop of crushed ice.
All the drinks were top-notch and fun to enjoy, as were the service staff and performers at this launch event. I won't hesitate to recommend Farmhouse Kitchen Oakland to out-of-town visitors and in-town patrons. I can't wait until I get to try it in its more natural habitat of dinner service. Until then, I'll refrain from giving Farmhouse Kitchen Thai Cuisine a rating. Instead, I'll just share some more of its splendor with you.
Farmhouse Kitchen Thai Cuisine in Jack London Square is now open to the public. Head to the website (linked up top) for operating hours.
Party held 23 July 2018.
