Located in the heart of Westborough near the rotary at 22 South Street is a newly opened Thai restaurant Thaiminal. While most of us here in Westborough would recognize it as the nostalgic Christina’s Cafe, we are pleased to say it was replaced with a promising business. After visiting this new local gem for dinner, we are certain that Thaiminal will pose some competition to the already opened Thai Tamarind in town. 

Thaiminal features authentic Thai food and drinks, a calming ambiance, and a friendly and welcoming staff. Plus, for those of us who are bubble tea fans, Thaiminal has Thai Milk tea with Boba, as it’s the first in-town option for bubble tea. And this wasn’t even the best part–the food was exceptional and the service was without any errors. 

Walking in,  you can’t help but notice the diner-esk layout, and the updated modern decor brings new light to the familiar space. Upon arrival, we were immediately greeted by the staff and were seated promptly. In the main dining room all the tables were spaced out appropriately with some blocked off to accommodate social distancing guidelines. Though this is pertinent to the times we are in, the lack of available tables spark concern for their ability to entertain a busy Friday or Saturday night. Nonetheless, the overall relaxing atmosphere of the restaurant was quite appealing. Featuring gold walls plastered with a variety of artwork, the restaurant certainly captures the authenticity of the cuisine in a sophisticated manner.

As we were one of the only parties in the restaurant at 6:00 p.m., the service was prompt. The menu was vast with options to satisfy a wide variety of guests. From Thai curry and pad thai, to various rice and noodle dishes, the selection did not disappoint. Across the board the prices were fairly consistent. Though the food was not cheap, it did not break the bank either offering a perfect middle ground for a night out. The entrees ranged from around $12.75 to around $25 for the more sophisticated dishes while the appetizers rang in at approximately $10 each. Our personal favorite, the thai iced tea with boba, also cost a respectable $4.50 each. 

When it comes to the food, we were certainly not disappointed. The portion size was adequate as we were able to enjoy our meal as well as each take some home. The Crispy Spring Roll appetizer can only be described as excellent. Crunchy beginning bites with a flavorful inside, still hot from the kitchen. Not to mention it came with great dipping sauce and was plated beautifully with lettuce and other vegetables. 

As for entrees we decided on the Panang Curry as well as the traditional Pad Thai dish. For us personally, we really liked the complex flavors of the Curry, and we definitely think that any person who enjoys Thai flavors would agree that the curry was excellent.  It was as delicious, flavorful, and creamy. The Pad Thai, although tasty, was very strong, catering towards someone with a strong taste for Thai spices. This, however, is neither a pro or a con, simply just an observation.

We walked out of the restaurant having spent $52.16 plus a tip. It’s no doubt that this restaurant is a cozy, center of town hotspot, and that dinner for two isn’t unreasonable. We see this restaurant booming, but that only comes with the help of its customers. So, grab your parents or your friend and go get some takeout or COVID-safe in house from Thaiminal on 22 South Street.  

Website: https://thaiminal.com/ 

Hours: 

Mon-Friday 11:30 a.m. – 2:30 p.m. 

Sun – Wednesday 5:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.

Thurs – Saturday 5:00 p.m. – 9:30 p.m.