Update: Unfortunately, Thai Heaven is now closed. Please support Coweta businesses to prevent the loss of great restaurants like Thai Heaven.
Located in Ashley Park directly across from the movie theater, Thai Heaven is now Newnan’s only exclusively Thai restaurant. The interior is decorated with glittering art, brightly painted walls, warm wood and natural bamboo that combine with low lighting and exposed brick to give the restaurant a surprisingly warm and home-like appeal.
We tried two of the dozen or so appetizers on the menu. Both dishes came out piping hot. The crispy crab cheese rolls live up to their name with a crunchy fried outer shell and a rich creamy center. The flavor of the crab meat is indistinct compared to the bright notes of cilantro.
The vegetable spring rolls provided a more robust flavor with an accompanying tangy sweet and sour sauce for dipping. The rolls are stuffed with fresh vegetables, pickled cabbage and glass noodles. The tart, nutty flavor of the rolls was a great way to begin our delicious meal.
Each appetizer comes with a choice of side, but this is a no-brainer. The coconut soup is a taste bud’s greatest dream. The rich, salty broth is heavy on coconut and spiced with chili and roasted garlic for the perfect savory flavor. An infusion of lime and chopped green onions lend a fresh taste that puts this soup over the top. Mushrooms and your choice of chicken or tofu float in the broth to add heart.
The entrees come in generous portions so that you could easily share or have leftovers to take home. We tried two of the entrees. The masaman curry is a popular Thai dish that combines the earthy taste of root vegetables with the rich flavor of coconut and the nuttiness of cashews. Thai Heaven’s take on this dish did not disappoint. We chose tofu for the protein in this curry. The dish is nicely balanced in a way that Thai chefs have perfected. We were a little disappointed that it was not spicier, but the kitchen is happy to add extra spice or provide you with spices on the side to add heat to your taste. This dish is served with a large mound of steamed rice.
Our second entrée was the traditional pad Thai dish. This stir-fried concoction is a blend of chewy rice noodles, fresh vegetables and crushed peanuts. The pungent taste of the peanuts was prevalent throughout the dish. This, like the other dish we tried, nicely combined drastically different ingredients with harmonious results.
We ordered a pot of jasmine tea with our meal. They bring out an entire pot with two cups. The tea was lightly floral and a very refreshing accompaniment to the bolder spices of our dishes. The menu also includes Thai iced tea, and they will soon begin serving adult beverages.
The dessert may have been our favorite part of the meal. Their dessert menu is somewhat limited, but impactful. We tried the three kinds of ice cream offered on the menu. The mango was fruity and sweet with juicy tropical notes. The green tea was light, not too sweet and incredibly refreshing. Our favorite was the coconut ice cream, sweet and creamy with meaty coconut pieces.
We also tried the mango sticky rice, but unfortunately in our excitement and greed we ate it all without taking a photograph. It was beautifully presented with the bright yellow sliced mango on a bed of white sweet sticky rice and a delicious salty cream sauce drizzled on top with sesame seeds. The tanginess of the mango combined beautifully with the sweet rice and salty sauce. It makes a perfect dessert to share between two or three people.
We highly recommend Thai Heaven for the finely balanced flavors in each dish and for a cozy spot for a first date or to catch up with an old friend. The average price of an entree is $11 with lunch specials available.