This is how I will always remember Siam Society: Seated in a courtyard surrounded by blooming vines of wisteria and a lively crowd of patrons with a starry canopy above and intriguing dishes filling the patio table. What a delightful memory!
It was a warm evening in June, and we set out to treat ourselves to dinner at the Siam Society, located in a converted power substation in the trendy Alberta district . Recognized in numerous restaurant reviews including Bon Appetit, we quickly found that parking was at a minimum. We persevered and soon found a suitable spot several blocks from the restaurant. Walking past groups of Friday night revelers, we scaled the short flight of stairs to the restaurant and were warmly greeted by the enthusiastic, welcoming staff.
Siam Society: A charming Alberta District destination!
We opted for courtyard sitting, and it wasn't long before our area was filled with the delicious aromas of our appetizer (Pulled Pork Spring Rolls with hazelnuts, vegetables and flash fried) followed by the rich entrees of Massaman Curry (chicken thighs prepared in a family recipe that has been handed down over several generations) and Mixed Seafood (including mussels, prawns, calamari in a coconut milk sauce). Room for dessert? I don't think so! After such a filling feast, we couldn't imagine such a thing, although the Silk Cocoon Banana with Sweet Rice and Toasted Hazelnuts Wrapped in a Flaky Pastry with House Made Coconut Ice Cream was very tempting indeed.
Would we go back to Siam Society? Absolutely! Next time we'll probably select a number of their small dishes from the Happy Hour menu (Happy Hour is every hour at Siam Society!). We'd probably choose such items as Fried Peanuts with Chili and Lime, Dried Squid Jerky, Moo Taut Golden Fried Pork Loin, and Thai Street Wraps, and perhaps sip on one of their many exotic cocktails. But, of course, there are the items on the "After 10:00 PM Menu" to consider...maybe we'll need to return to the Siam Society a couple of times to indulge in more of their innovative fare!
Siam Society
2703 Northeast Alberta Street
Portland, OR 97211
(503) 922-3675