Home > Columbus Restaurants > Restaurant Review > First look: Nida's Thai

For anyone in search of a comfortably modern Thai restaurant in Columbus, look no further than Nida’s Thai on High. Nida, proprietor of Nida’s Sushi in North Market for more than seven years, opened this full-service bistro on Nov. 17, and the food and dining experience has become quite the buzz around Columbus. 

 

It’s not hard to see why—in addition to heart-warming Thai cuisine at moderate prices, Nida’s is warmly decked out in modern lighting fixtures, pillow-lined booths and just the right mix of Short North young professionals and more unassuming folks looking for good food and spirits.

 

Food: Nida’s appetizers offer something for everyone, from classics like chicken satay (grilled marinated chicken served with peanut sauce and cucumber salad for $6) and crab ragoon (crab meat with cream cheese and scallion, served with sweet and sour sauce for $4) to new spins like Thai fresh spring roll (rice paper wrapped marinated minced chicken, rice noodles, mint leaves and lettuce, served with peanut sauce for $5).

 

While most of the entrée portions might be on the larger side for lunch, there are a number of soup and salad options on the Nida’s menu that could be perfect for the noon hour. Tom Yum soup (Thai hot and sour soup) is a simmer of lemongrass, galangal, lime leaf and Thai spice with mushroom, tomato and cilantro garnish. Try it with chicken for $4 or with shrimp for $5.

 

For dinner, it’s hard to select just one of the many options on Nida’s menu. Pick from fried rice dishes like ka prow fried rice (with holy basil and onion), curry dishes served with rice or noodle, like panang (panang curry paste with coconut milk, thai spices, peas, red pepper and topped with light crushed peanuts … a winner at our table), or traditional Nida’s pad thai, which is perfectly spicy and sweet simultaneously.

 

All entrees range from $7 to $12, depending on whether you opt for chicken, pork or tofu ($7); beef ($8); shrimp ($9), a combination of items ($10), or seafood ($12).

 

Currently Nida’s serves chocolate cake for dessert and is hoping to expand the after dinner sweets in coming weeks. Try one of the Nida’s specialty cocktails as a great dessert drink, like the Bangkok Buckeye (peanut infused Vodka with chocolate).

 

Libations: After walking past the typical Short North large front window table, the bar is a welcoming sight for Nida’s casual diners. The bar is also prime real estate for watching bartender Vivian whip up some of the restaurant’s best concoctions: Phuket Punch, a.k.a. passion fruit-infused vodka, ginger and lemonade; a Lychee Martini, consisting of vodka cointreau and lychee nectar; or a Nida’s Hot Toddy, with bourbon, lime and ginger extract.

 

All of the beautifully crafted signature cocktails are $7, or $5 during Happy Hour from 4 to 7 p.m. dailly. Nida’s also offers a decent beer selection from the Great Lakes Brewing Company and the Columbus Brewing Company.

 

Décor: The first word that comes to mind when thinking of Nida’s interior is “modern,” but with special touches that make modern approachable rather than cold or impersonal. A continuous booth lining one wall is adorned with pillows in exactly the right places to prop guests up for good food and conversation, and are beautiful as well.

 

Be prepared to sit rather close to other diners, especially if you are seated on the booth side or at the bar. The guests are typically friendly, chatty sorts, so don’t be afraid of your neighbor.

 

Service: One of the best things about Nida’s Thai on High is the service. Servers double as hosts, and they work hard without interfering in long overdue get-togethers with friends or family. The staff is also very helpful in selecting drinks or picking from the five curry selections on the Nida’s menu, and they will go out of their way to make sure your food is prepared just as you order it. They seem to be equals with their guests in their jeans and scarves, adding to the comfortable feel of dining at Nida’s that might be unexpected to most first-timers.

 

Crowd: The crowd at Nida’s is likely to be a few parts Nida’s Sushi fan club members, a few parts curious Thai food lovers, topped with some Short North foodies. During the day there are likely to be more business-types popping in for out-of-office lunch or takeout. During the dinner hours Nida’s guests vary from 20-something friends catching up to couples having a nice date-night to co-workers relaxing from their day. Most people at Nida’s look rather hip, but the atmosphere is definitely warm and receptive no matter who is dining.

 

Insider's tip: Have no fear if you are more of a seafood person and your fellow dining buddy is a turf person—Nida’s has enough rolls to satisfy the sushi craving of a full army, but plenty of Thai options that are prepared with chicken as well. All items can be adjusted to an individual’s spicy liking, and your server will definitely ask you if you would like your curry or pad thai mild, medium, or spicy.

 

Bottom line: Nida’s Thai on High is a welcomed addition to the Short North dining scene, especially for anyone craving her North Market food but looking for a dine-in experience. For anyone unfamiliar with Thai flavors, Nida’s is also a great place to test out the Thai food waters because the setting and the service are so unpretentious.

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