Thai-Siam has closed.

[Robin Garr]

Thai-Siam in the Gardiner Lane Shopping Center is gone. It wasn't the city's best, but it was the city's oldest Thai, so a moment of silence would be appropriate.

thai-siam-closed.jpg

Sorry to hear that. Nice people. Did not realize they were there for that long.

[Robin Garr]

Yeah, they were the first Thai restaurant in town. Lexington got one first, which really chapped my cheeks. Now, that said, I didn't think Thai-Siam had held up well over the years. I think they dumbed down their Thai to suit the regular clientele, and I hadn't gone there often in recent years. But it's still sad.

Same here, a little piece of local history is gone even if it had been eclipsed by a host of worthy competitors over the years - on both sides of the river. Thai-Siam was a pioneer in Louisville, opening in 1990 I believe. The last time we went was last year but hadn't been before that for about four years. It was OK last year but not keeping up with the young Turks (Thais?). Still, those that remain owe a certain debt to Thai-Siam as they blazed the trail for such cuisine years before the Web & hence FB, Twitter, Yelp. Thai was exotic back then.

Thai-Siam was my first exposure to Thai food back in the mid-1990s. We used to go there semi-regularly from about 1995-1999 when we lived in the Highlands. I always thought that the food was OK but the ambiance was lacking.

One of the first restaurants I went to when I moved to Louisville - darn it.

[Robin Garr]

Thai-Siam was a pioneer in Louisville, opening in 1990 I believe.

I think it might have been a year earlier, Lonnie ... I was still reviewing at the CJ then (I left early in 1990), and was delighted to see it, having had to drive to Lexington for their Siam Thai for several years before that. In my first review I had to give a glossary of Thai food words so readers would know what the dishes were.

My lovely bride & I had our first date at Thai Siam in 1992 and the spicy, flavorful food must have worked its magic as we are still going strong 22 years later! I felt it had maintained its quality until the Thai family that opened and ran it sold it to a Chinese family. That created some controversy in the Thai community here. We wish them good fortune in whatever endeavour they find themselves in going forward.

[Robin Garr]

I felt it had maintained its quality until the Thai family that opened and ran it sold it to a Chinese family.

Do you remember about when that happened, Ed? I was acutely conscious that it had lost a step at some point, but didn't realize that the ownership (and their ethnic status) had changed.

I felt it had maintained its quality until the Thai family that opened and ran it sold it to a Chinese family.

Do you remember about when that happened, Ed? I was acutely conscious that it had lost a step at some point, but didn't realize that the ownership (and their ethnic status) had changed.

10-12 years ago, Robin.

[Robin Garr]

10-12 years ago, Robin.

Thanks, Ed. That's pretty consistent with my recollection that it was competitive with other Thai places through the '90s but then seemed to go more bland.

I felt it had maintained its quality until the Thai family that opened and ran it sold it to a Chinese family.

Do you remember about when that happened, Ed? I was acutely conscious that it had lost a step at some point, but didn't realize that the ownership (and their ethnic status) had changed.

10-12 years ago, Robin.

Uless I'm sadly mistaken, the Snows - who owned it - sold it to concentrate on the Holiday Manor Thai Cafe.

I was in high school at Atherton when that place opened. I remember thinking it was odd addition to that strip mall. Funny to realize it outlasted every other business in that center.

I'm not sure I got there in time to enjoy it. My only visit about a year ago was memorable only for poor service and really mediocre food.

I was sorry to hear Thai-Siam closed...it was my first exposure to Thai cuisine (several years ago), though it's been awhile since my last visit, I always enjoyed their dishes...disappointed to hear comments from some that the quality had declined. I know "Simply Thai" has built a loyal following in the area, and I've dined there a few times (lunch)...but need to try it for dinner - haven't been overly-impressed with their lunch menu.