Silk Elephant, Squirrel Hill

Welcome to the Silk Elephant, Thai Tapas and Wine Bar.  Is it just me, or has the word “Tapas” become the most over-used word in the culinary world these days?  For those of you that aren’t familiar with the word, let me explain.  “Tapas” is a small dish of something edible.  The word originated in Spain, but has found its way into almost every type of ethnic cuisine.  You can have Japanese Tapas, Moroccan Tapas, and even Italian Tapas.  But I’m getting off point again, back to The Silk Elephant.

The Silk Elephant is a beautifully designed restaurant.  The walls have warm colored drapes, as well as Thai art.  There is a small wine bar; room enough for maybe 12 people.  There is an open kitchen, so you can see the cooks as they work.  The vibe in the kitchen is smooth and collected, even during busy hours (unlike and kitchens I’ve worked in).  The lighting is low, and the mood of the restaurant is quiet and soft; this is a good place to bring a date.  The service staff is attentive, but doesn’t necessarily anticipate your needs.  I’ve never seen the same waiter/waitress there more than once; they must have a high turn-over rate.

We started with the Silk Elephant Rice Wrapper Rolls (2 pcs. $5.95) Cucumber carrot, lettuce, crab meat and rice paper served with a sweet chili sauce.  They were tasty, but when did cream cheese find its way into Thai cuisine? Fresh Rolls were also ordered (2 pcs. $5.50) Fried tofu, rice noodles, carrots, mint, basil leaves, served with a sweet brown sauce and ground peanuts.  The Fresh Rolls were good, but a little thick with one layer too many of the rice paper.  We really liked the sauce and the ground peanuts.

There are many different Curry dishes to choose from at the Silk Elephant.  You can try Red, Green Panang, Duck or Wild Curry, to name a few.  Also available are Lamb dishes, Crab Cakes (Thai cuisine?), and Basil Duck.  Prices range from $8.95 to $20.00.  The Silk Elephant offers a wide variety of vegetarian dishes for those avoiding meat.

I would describe the cuisine at The Silk Elephant as “close-to Thai-cuisine.”  There are a few dishes on the menu that seem to be outside the realm of true Thai food.  I’m not sure if the owners/Chefs are trying to appease their conflicted clientele, but it sure confused me.  The ambiance is nice, but if you’re searching for true Thai gastronomy, you may be disappointed.