"Panita Thai is one of my favorite Thai restaurants ever. It's basically a house tucked away in Virginia Highlands, which gives the odd experience like you're invading someone else's property. The decor and knick knacks scattered about the place reinforces the homey feel, like you've been invited over for a home cooked meal. My dish of choice is the Makua Pad Phed, or the stir fried basil eggplant. It's the best take on the dish I've ever had; bursting with salty, spicy flavor, yet earthy with fresh cut peppers, minced tomato, and aromatic thai basil. If you ask them for spicy, brace yourself this husband and wife team don't mess around. They do hot as Thailand does hot with unforgiving Thai chili peppers that will turn your face red and sweaty. Panita Thai has also made presentation of their food an art form, something that sadly has been neglected in many restaurants. Presenting food in hollowed out melons, or wrapping the dish with swan shaped aluminum foil makes the meal memorable and beautiful. People have commented that the husband and wife team are rude. I have not had this experience with them for the few times I've been there. They are very straightforward, but this is not off putting to me in the slightest. I find them quite friendly. Any special requests I've made when I ordered no tofu, vegetarian, extra spicy they're happy to accommodate. Plus, even though I swing by every several months, they seem to remember me and always engage in polite conversation. If there's a reason why I'm docking a star, it's because of two things: 1. Hours are inconsistent. I've shown up a few times for lunch just past noon and the door is locked.Other times I've shown up at the same time, same day of the week, and voila! They're there. (Also, the drapes blocking the door are very uninviting; like you're walking into a dangerous construction site. 2. Prices are expensive. Many meat and fish dishes cross into the $25+ range. That's a lot of money if I just want a quick takeout dish when similar restaurants offer the same dishes between 8 to 15 dollars. I understand that Panita only has two people running it but even so, price is a huge factor. In short, while an unusual experience, Panita Thai does have truly delicious food and very talented cooks. Taste conquers all, and if good, high quality food is what you're looking for, you can't go wrong here."
