The tables were really small and narrow, and they only gave us 3 of these tiny 2-person tables for our seven-person party, which annoyed me a little especially since we had a reservation and they weren't packed or even half-full when we showed up. But oh well. The staff appeared to be all Thai themselves, except for the bartender, and there was a small language barrier with our server, but somehow everything came out okay.
I ordered a Thai iced coffee, and we got some tofu tod and egg roll appetizers to start. The tofu tod was hot and smelled wonderful for what's basically deep-fried tofu triangles. One of our party members called the tofu "marshmallowlike" in consistency, and I think she was right?before you make an "ew" noise, let me explain that this term referred to a billowy-soft quality, not to a gummy-sticky mouthfeel. The egg rolls, on the other hand, almost tasted like they'd been frozen before they were fried. The cabbage was plain and almost bitter, and the other vegetables in the center had little personality. The sweetish-tangy red dipping sauce was a little bit spicy, though, which I appreciated. I also enjoyed snacking on the carrot slices that came with both appetizers. They'd been poached in some kind of sweetish tangy liquid before being chilled and put on the plate.
Christine had ordered some kind of soup with tofu (yes, there was a tofu theme at our table), and she let me try a bite of it. I spooned out a mushroom and a little bit of broth and was rewarded with a gently chewy fungus and a savory broth with coconut milk and what may have been lemongrass flavor.
Erin and I split two entrees: tofu with cashews, and pad thai jae. The tofu with cashews was exquisite: fried triangles of tofu with cashews, slivered onions, peppers, and other veggies in a thin, savory gingered sauce. The dish was fragrant and complex, and I enjoyed every morsel. The pad thai jae was a little more predictable, with the usual balance of sweet, salty, sour, and spicy elements from various flavorings. I always like pad thai jae, and there was nothing objectionable about this particular version although I certainly wouldn't say it warranted a special trip.
We'd gone to this place mostly because of its proximity to the Folger Shakespeare Theatre. While it wasn't the best Thai I've had in town (I think Jandara in Woodley Park has much better Thai than Thai Roma did), it was certainly a satisfying meal that I'd be happy to try again. Especially that tofu with cashews?what was so good in that sauce?