Nestled into a small hub of restaurants on Preston Avenue, Pineapples Thai Kitchen serves unique flavors accompanied by a welcoming ambiance. From classic Thai dishes like drunken noodles to unique desserts like Green Tea Cheesecake, this unassuming, but inviting spot is sure to be a hit for your tastebuds.
Located a short seven-minute drive from Central Grounds near the Dairy Market, Pineapples is open Monday through Sunday from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. and again from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. If you choose to venture here with friends, family or even for a date night, Pineapples provides the ideal environment to engage in deeper conversation, forgoing any background music. While dining, customers may admire each table’s thoughtful floral arrangement, or write a kind message on the bulletin board displayed inside the restaurant.
This past week was Charlottesville Restaurant Week, in which 33 participating local restaurants served three-course meals for either $25, $35 or $45. My friend and I selected the $35 menu that Pineapples offered, which consisted of an appetizer, an entrée and a dessert. We purchased two versions of this combo — both with a Thai iced tea — giving us a lineup of seven total items to review.
First up on our list of items are the two appetizers — the Fried Spring Rolls and the Thai Samosa, both of which are also available on the regular menu. Our server, who was exceptionally patient and friendly, brought our food out in a timely manner, even though the restaurant was quite full.
Served on a bed of cabbage with sweet and sour sauce on the side, the Fried Spring Rolls — regularly priced at $5 — were a classic, comforting dish. This plate consisted of four spring rolls, each with carrots and cabbage wrapped in rice paper and deep-fried. I appreciated how the crispy shell that enveloped the veggies didn’t feel too oily on the surface.
Next, we tested the Thai Samosa, which is regularly priced at $7. Growing up eating Pakistani and Indian foods, samosas were a staple in my household. The triangle-shaped dough shells that I am used to are crispy throughout and filled with savory potatoes and peas, but Pineapples’s take on this dish was totally different. Instead, these shells — sporting a crispy exterior and soft interior — were stuffed with sweet potato filling that bore notes of cinnamon and pumpkin. This unexpected, but pleasant taste was made even better by the vinegar-flavored cucumber relish that came on the side.
After savoring each of our appetizers, we made our way to the entrées. First, we tried the Kee Mow, or Thai drunken spaghetti, as it is called on the regular menu. The Restaurant Week special featured thin noodles, whereas on their regular menu, the dish has wide rice noodles. On the regular menu, the dish is $15 without the upcharge of adding a protein.
We opted to order our Kee Mow topped with shrimp and mussels for a $6 upcharge. The perfectly-cooked noodles were decorated with an assortment of veggies, including red bell peppers, green beans, bamboo shoots and basil. The mussels paired well with a flavorful spicy garlic sauce, which brought balance to the sweet and spicy flavors that coated the noodles. These bold and spicy ingredients brought just the right level of heat — though disclaimer, I have quite the high spice tolerance.
The second entrée we tried was the Tom Yum Fried Rice, an item special to Pineapples’s Restaurant Week menu. Though not available on the regular menu, you can get a similar array of flavors from the Tom Yum Soup, which starts at $7. The rice, cooked in the spicy lemongrass broth of this soup and topped with sauteed shrimp, offered a very different taste than any fried rice dish I’ve previously eaten. The kick was mild, but the flavor was bursting with lemongrass and basil.
To wrap up our night, my friend and I knew that no meal would be complete without dessert. All of the options looked absolutely delicious, and after much contemplation, we landed on the Mango Sticky Rice and the Green Tea Cheesecake with vanilla ice cream.
The Mango Sticky Rice, regularly priced at $8, brought sweet notes of coconut. The rice was rolled up into a pillow-like shape, soft, chewy and sprinkled with crispy rice bits. I was surprised with how sweet the mango was, considering that they are not in season this time of year. The chilled mango paired well with the warm rice, providing a perfect balance in temperature and flavor.
Lastly, we dug into the Green Tea Cheesecake, accessorized with vanilla ice cream. As an avid matcha consumer, I already knew I would enjoy this one. The sweet, but natural tasting vanilla ice cream paired well with the tart notes from the cheesecake. Mildly sweet and creamy in texture, it reminded me of my matcha lattes.
After all of these courses, we wrapped up our steep order with a beverage to carry us through our night spent studying. Hoping for a burst of energy, we opted to get a Thai iced tea to take for the road, priced at $3.50. Its refreshing, yet subtle flavor, beautiful orange color and bit of caffeine definitely gave me the boost I needed to get through my work for the night.
All in all, Pineapples is the perfect choice if you’re in the market for quality Thai food, with unique spins on traditional dishes. Whether you’re craving a quick fix of drunken noodles or want to schedule an evening filled with quality time, Pineapples exceeds the standard through its flavors, excellent service and charm.
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