Restaurant provides fresh food in modern atmosphere

Fresh herbs and passion are key at Gingerine Thai Fresh Asian in Southlake.

"All the ingredients pass through our heart and our hand," said Alisa Pruettiangkura, who owns the restaurant with her husband, Pote.

Alisa, whose roots are in northern Thailand, recommends the Khoa Soi ($12.99) for taking the edge off winter's chill.

"This is a spicy noodle dish," she said. "It really can warm you up in the winter time."

The coconut curry egg noodle soup is topped with crispy egg noodle, fresh lime, red onion and cilantro.

Pote's recommendation was the Golden Field Fried Rice ($10.99). Like many of the menu items, it can be ordered with chicken, beef, pork, tofu or vegetables. The dish comes with perfectly cooked rice, crunchy onions, juicy tomato wedges and a subtle golden brown sauce. It is accompanied by slaw and pieces of cucumber.

The restaurant, in a shopping center along Southlake Boulevard, features modern paintings on the walls, contemporary white chairs, comfortable couches, brick and soft yellow walls, a modern bar, and fresh flowers on every table.

Pote, who has a Ph.D. in chemistry, says he and an employee are looking into hydro farming inside the restaurant — for example, allowing them to grow herbs at the bar so they can pull off mint leaves for a drink.

Pote and Alisa, who has a master's degree in business administration, worked in the corporate world for many years before they decided to focus on owning their own businesses to escape corporate politics.

Gingerine is the couple's fourth restaurant. They have sold two, but they still own Blu Ginger Thai Caf in Las Colinas.

The Pruettiangkuras jumped into their first restaurant without any food industry background — in fact, they bought Masami in 2001 because the owner noticed they ate there often and asked them to buy it. They added Thai dishes to the menu of the Japanese restaurant in Richardson.

Problems on the first day could have kept them from opening that evening, but they made it through.

"The objective of that night was to send a message to the team that we're here for a solution, we're not here to be defeated by problems," Pote said.

They use the same positive outlook at Gingerine, which they opened in 2010.

That extends to the difficulty they face with getting people to the restaurant because of the nearby road construction.

The couple hasn't raised prices at any of their restaurants since 2003.

"We'll hold that as long as we can," Pote said. "Because we know times are tough, so everyone needs a helping hand."

Owner Recommendations

• Khoa Soi Northern Thai Curry Noodle. Spicy and creamy curry noodle soup, topped with crispy egg noodle, fresh lime, red onion and cilantro. ($12.99)
• Golden Field Fried Rice. Thai fried rice with golden brown sauce, egg, tomato and onion. ($10.99)

Other dishes to try

• Brownie Spy – Fresh flat rice noodle with sweet brown sauce, egg and broccoli. ($10.99)
• Nutty Professor – Special Thai dish with peanut sauce over steamed broccoli, bean sprout and carrot. ($10.99)
• Cinnamon Bull – Rice noodle soup with beef infused with anise and cinnamon, bean sprout, red onion, celery and roasted garlic. ($9.99)

Services offered

• Carryout
• Catering
• Private events
• Full bar with signature drinks

By the same owners

Blu Ginger Thai Caf, 6550 N. MacArthur Blvd., Ste. 150, Las Colinas, 972-373-9799, www.blugingerthaicafe.com

Gingerine Thai Fresh Asian, 2750 E. Southlake Blvd., Ste. 100, Southlake, 817-749-0998, www.gingerinefreshasian.com