The Dara

Thai food is one of my absolute favorite cuisines, so I was excited to try a new place! The Dara delivered with flavorful noodles, dreamy curry, and beautiful interior! Highly recommend for a night outKanom Jeeb Pu--dumplings, loved the dumpling sauce (which I think is a great indicator of restaurant quality)Lotus Root--fried to perfection, almost like a water chestnut texture with a sweet and sour esq dipping sauceMatsaman Curry--I ordered fried chicken on this and it was sooooo tasty. They really know how to do a light fry. Next time I will ask for the chicken on the side instead of in the curry to maintain the crispiness for longerPad Si Eew--one veggie and one chicken, both delicious Heat Warning: The level 1 (out of 5) was still spicy for me! In the curry it was perfect, but the noodles... I think I need level 0 next time.For drinks we got a surprisingly refreshing tamarita (a tamarind margarita) and a very good mezcal drink that we can't remember the name of.Our waiter was awesome and open about his food opinion, which I am very thankful for!

My most recent visit to The Dara was a bit different from my first. I came on Valentine's Day and was seated promptly, as I had a reservation. However, I found the seating arrangement odd--we were placed at a high-top table connected to others, making the experience feel a little too close for comfort.The service was on the slower side, which was understandable given the holiday, but what really surprised me was that they told me they couldn't make a French 75. Considering the ingredients are pretty standard, I found that a bit disappointing.As for the food, I decided to try something new, but unfortunately, the prawn garlic dish was just average. It wasn't bad, but it didn't impress me either.

Went in for a lunch. One thing to note is that parking is hard and no real signs for paid parking near by, though you can find some by googling. Service was pretty slow for lunch time. The drinks were forgettable, probably due to not having a bartender during weekday lunch. However, I will say the food was really good. All things we tried were pretty good. From papaya salad and veggie dumplings, things started off really well. Do note that the level of spiciness is pretty crazy there. As an Indian, I can really eat spicy food but when I selected level 3 spiciness, I didn't think it would make me sweat so badly. Anyways, the drunken noodles were delicious and love that they have vegan options for majority of the menu.The setting was fairly quiet so want to try dinner service to get a better experience. Energy felt lacking and heater was turned very low so felt even worse. However I'm coming back for the food for sure.

Welp, it brings me pure joy to share this review. My son's gf shared a reel w me while away at college (Oct 2024) of this place and I promised we were gonna visit. 1'3'2025, table for 4 please !!I'm glad I made a reservation.Street parking was easy peasy. Pretty close to establishment, and free up to 2 hours. The ambiance as soon as we entered was perfect. Relaxing dim lights, woodsy chic decor and lighting. We were graciously greeted upon entrance. We were a little early. After 5-7 minutes, we were seated. Jeff came over immediately to welcome us.Jeff was pretty cool. Very pleasant, and consistent w providing great customer service. Collectively, we ordered the following. Seafood Fried Wontons - Amazing taste.Wonton Soup - Very good. Quality ingredients, plentiful. Crispy Curry Chicken Roll - Impressive. Hatyai Fried Chicken - Great plating and presentation. Very savory, and yum. Basil Fried Rice (with Chicken) - Amazing taste, flavorful. Portion size smaller than other entrées.Drunken Noodles (with Chicken) - Good. Well presented. Small portion. Crab Fried Rice - This dish is an amazing creation. Well plated, seasoned and prepared. Plentiful! Enough to share. It was a hit at our table. This visit was overall amazing!We will certainly return as time permits. I've been verbally sharing this experience w friends all week. Great concept, location, and quality The Dara !!

Hidden gem with great Thai food and great cocktails. This place is in a really cute part of town and the inside is beautifully decorated. I love the little fireplace addition that they have in the front. I ended up stumbling up upon this place when looking for a place for a team dinner after an event. The restaurant turned out to be really good with great vibes and the staff was extremely friendly and accommodating with our large group. Would definitely recommend a couple of dishes which were the papaya salad with soft shell crab,crispy lotus Roots, pork dumplings, and any of their cocktails will not be disappointing. Definitely recommend this place if you're craving a little bit of spice and a little bit of fun.

I had been looking forward to trying The Dara for a while! My friend and I dined in and opted for the prix-fixe lunch at $19 per person, which included one appetizer and one entrée each. I'd consider this a greatly priced lunch deal, especially in Baltimore, but unfortunately, the meal didn't quite live up to my expectations.I was excited about the coconut shrimp, but was shocked because the dish felt more like a green apple salad with a side of shrimp than a standalone appetizer. We also tried the boneless fried chicken wings, which sadly arrived a bit soggy and lacking the crispiness you'd expect.For our entrées, we ordered the chicken pad si eew and the matsaman curry. The flavors were underwhelming compared to other Thai restaurants I've visited. The dishes lacked the bold and aromatic qualities that I usually associate with Thai cuisine.Lastly, when I am eating, I prefer not having gnats flying around! My friend and I kept having to swat gnats away from our food and glasses of water. The interior is gorgeous but something needs to be done about the gnats... Overall, the lunch prix-fixe price point is reasonable, but the portions, texture, and flavor didn't justify the excitement I had going in. I'd give them a 2/5 and hope they can improve in the future.

I've been to The Dara a few times since they opened (once during their opening week!) and have really enjoyed the ambiance and the authentic flavors of the food. I did not realize they were able to make the Kao Soi vegetarian with tofu so i ordered it this time and literally did not talk for 5 minutes as i devoured the food. The fresh crispy veggies like onions and the crunchy noodles soaked in the soupy base and soft noodles were perfect! The tofu was soaked in all the flavors as well. This is a MUST have on a cold winter day! The Thai tea espresso martini was STRONG!!!! Everything came out so quickly for it being super packed on a Friday night! The space is so beautiful and perfect for everything from a date night to a girls night!

The Dara is my go to Thai place in Baltimore because not only does it offer delicious cuisines, it's also vibey. We essentially order the same thing each time we go.Thai Teani (10/10) - it's the Thai Tea version of a creamy espresso martini.Coconut shrimp (10/10) - they have the perfect crisp and flavor, but it's not just the shrimp. It's the base which is an apple salad that really steals the show. The dressing is made in house and it's light yet packed with flavor. It will make your taste buds jump. Drunken noodles (vegetables) (10/10) - you can choose whatever protein and spice level you desire I prefer the veggies. The sauce is packed with flavor and everything is freshly made. Pad Thai (vegetables) (10/10) - similar to the drunken noodles you can pick your protein and spice level. Super fresh and flavorful. This was my friend's dish and it was so good she doubled back the next day and got it for take-out. Mango sticky rice (9/10) - this was my first time trying mango sticky rice. I enjoyed. I think I wasn't anticipating how sweet it was. Which is strictly preference. It was very tasty though.

Chicken satay and Panang curry w/shrimp were great. I believe the drink menu could use a revamp. This place has more of a casual appeal. Service was adequate.

The food was delicious, service was prompt, and ambiance was pleasant. Very nice decor and mood in the restaurant. Will come again!