Nida's Thai on High

I have been a fan of this place since high school. The interior is pretty small but they use the space in an innovative way. Best time to come here is for lunch on a random day. Dinner hours tend to get extremely crowded.
They have something for everyone, even people who are picky eaters. For appetizers the Tom Kha soup is great, really rich. I usually get the pineapple fried rice with chicken for an entree. I know that the curry dishes are also amazing.

I've been meaning to post this, check it out... For 2013 readers of Columbus Alive voted Nida's Thai on High the city's BEST ASIAN RESTAURANT for the 3rd consecutive year!  Congrats Nida!!!  Like all of the other voters you're my favorite Thai and Asian restaurant too. I love dining and drinking here any day or night of the week.  I only wish you were open on Sundays!  All of your food and the cocktails ROCK!!!

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I really don't understand the high reviews for this place. Perhaps it's because I haven't been to their happy hour, which everyone seems to talk about in their reviews. Nevertheless, my one time at Nida's was underwhelming (and that may actually be a nice way to put it). This only experience I had at Nida's was for Friday Lunch. I arrived with a group of 6-7 right at opening time so we were the first and only customers for a good 10-15minutes after our orders had been placed. Since it was our first time there, we asked the server for recommendations and all she could come up with was "uhh the Pad Thai is good" followed by *pointing to the most expensive thing on the menu*.. whatever that was. The food was slow to come out.. and it's not like they attempted to deliver all 6-7 entrees at the same time.

The atmosphere at Nida's is not bad hence the 2-stars. My friends who ordered cocktails said that they were pretty strong (perhaps a little too much so.. eg a cocktail should include more than just the liquor itself, or else it is just a larger-than-normal shot)

Where Nida's is lacking and thus the reason for the low rating is in its pricing and food. The food is non-authentic, certainly overly-sweet. Furthermore, portions are meager- everyone at my table felt unsatisfied at the end of the meal despite having ordered entrees, appetizers and soup. This is all with the added fact that entrees here are EXPENSIVE.

I simply don't understand why this restaurant is rated so highly and why it seems as though they have return customers. Maybe I need to go experience their happy hour, but until I do, if i want crappy Thai food, I think I'll go with Tai's Bistro on Lane Ave (not saying that they're worthy of any more stars or my business). But at least with Tai's I'll get a larger portion of equally crappy Thai food for a cheaper price.