All the ingredients for an exotic evening await behind the doors of Ring of Fire, a full-service restaurant specializing in Thai and Pacific Rim cuisine.
Inside, leafy plants and Asian art accent a backdrop of coral-colored walls; low lighting and tribal music further enhance the mood. The food is equally impressive — it stretches beyond typical Thai fare with inventive flavor and spice combinations.
Adjacent to Ring of Fire’s main dining room is the stylish Lava Lounge, a good place to start if pre-dinner drinks are on the agenda. Good for groups (or twosomes if you’re really thirsty) is the Volcano Bowl, a flaming pot filled with a fruity alcoholic beverage, orange and pineapple chunks and maraschino cherries; straws are provided for team sipping. A lengthy list of beer, wine and trendy mixed drinks is also available.
The menu’s descriptions of intensely flavored dishes do not exaggerate. Curries are served with jasmine rice and come in varying degrees of heat; Panang, a red curry, is quite spicy but its delicious combination of bamboo shoots, basil and red peppers will make you want to keep munching even while you sweat. Matsaman is a milder yet filling choice containing potatoes, onions and a creamy coconut milk sauce with a hint of cinnamon. Peanut Sauce Curry, which features angel hair pasta, vegetables and a rich topping, is delightfully nutty, sweet and hot.
A lighter choice is the Thai Noodle Salad, a fresh mix of steamed noodles, broccoli, carrots, sprouts and peanuts that gets its flavor from a sweet, translucent lime sauce. Appetizers of satay and tempura, soups, noodle dishes and meat-heavy choices are also up for the picking. Vegetarians will be pleased at Ring of Fire, as many menu items offer tofu and tempeh as protein choices. Portion sizes are generous and sharing is encouraged.
Although I understand that Ring of Fire’s powerfully flavored food requires careful preparation, service is often slow at the restaurant, which can be a pain. The price range is moderate to expensive — entrees run from $10-$17, so this restaurant is best saved for a special occasion. Located at 1099 Chambers St., it’s a little off the beaten track (students who are looking for a hip place to walk to from campus are out of luck). But Ring of Fire is an attractive spot with exciting Thai food that’s worth the wait and the distance. Couples, friends and groups will delight in the sleek ambiance that makes way for conversation, romance and laughter.
Ring of Fire is open from 11 a.m. to midnight Monday through Thursday, 11 a.m. to 1 a.m. Friday and Saturday and noon to midnight on Sunday.

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