Very good food and healthier than traditional Thai food. I highly recommend the special lunch menu; very affordable.

Very good food and healthier than traditional Thai food. I highly recommend the special lunch menu; very affordable.

 the appetizers are more like "tapas" plates (cheap and small portions) and the entrees we tried were excellent.  the service was prompt and the staff friendly.

 the appetizers are more like "tapas" plates (cheap and small portions) and the entrees we tried were excellent.  the service was prompt and the staff friendly.

the decor is contemporary but the waterfall was not working (?on a Saturday night). also it was too quiet because there were not too may patrons and one could hear the kitchen (like CPK).  background music will solve this problem and add to the vibe.

The good: Interesting menu, Great flavors, beautiful presentation.

The bad: Just like the majority of the other reviews, the service and execution was just bad.

On a...

The good: Interesting menu, Great flavors, beautiful presentation.

The bad: Just like the majority of the other reviews, the service and execution was just bad.

On a Sunday night when the dining room was 40% full, I my wife ordered the Sea Bass and I ordered the lamb chop. My wife's Sea Bass was excellent but my lamb chops were cold, dried out and overcooked, not even rood temperature and the potatoes were cold as well. When the waitress finally came back to our table, she said she would get get me another and took the plate away. My fear that the plate would be zapped in a microwave was dissipated when a bus boy came back immediately from the kitchen with another plate, too quick even for having been zapped. He said that they had another one ready and that's what he brought to me.

However the second plate was identical to the first, cold, dried out and overcooked. One has to wonder why they had two of the same dish obviously sitting for some time in the kitchen.

On the third try they got it right, it was hot and the chops were only a little over done and not dry.

When I ordered a glass of wine it took ten minutes for the waitress to return and say "You going to hate this, but that wine is not available by the glass".

I pointed out the selection on the wine card where it was listed as one of two Cabernets that were listed for the same price and asked her to bring me the other one."Oh, I guess we do have it then" When she brought the wine it tasted  stale but after the experience with the two cold entrees I decided it was not worth the effort to tell her about it.

Our diner plates were never removed from the table until after we got the check. Our water glasses were never refilled.

A couple seated next to us waited 15 minutes with no service until one got up and went to the manager to ask a waiter/waitress to come to their table to take their orders.

Such great food, a nice decor, but a real disconnect when it comes to the dinning room service.  Judging from the other reviews our experience was all too common. If they don't get it together soon a potentially great addition to Bakersfield's fine dining establishments will go down in flames.

Unless there is a real change in management's philosphy, look for it to become a discount oriental buffet in six months.

We had the same experience as "Poprocks".  My husband and I had heard mixed reviews about this restaurant and wanted to decide for ourselves.  We went on a Thursday night...

We had the same experience as "Poprocks".  My husband and I had heard mixed reviews about this restaurant and wanted to decide for ourselves.  We went on a Thursday night (for our anniversary).  We were seated promptly, but then forgotten.  NO ONE came to our table even though we tried to catch the attention of more than one employee.  After 20+ minutes of waiting to at least order a drink, we got up and walked out.  (I wonder how long it took staff to notice?)  We were VERY disappointed, but had an excellent anniversary dinner at another local establishment....

Terrible! Nice decor but the portions are way too Thainee! We tried the Crab Rangoon which was only 4 bucks but each Crab Rangoon was smaller than a suger packet. The Main course was just OK....

Terrible! Nice decor but the portions are way too Thainee! We tried the Crab Rangoon which was only 4 bucks but each Crab Rangoon was smaller than a suger packet. The Main course was just OK. Fast food tastes better than the food here. Also the owner was openly rude to two of her employees in front of her customers. We paid 70 bucks for 4 of us and were not impressed other than how well the Thai Orchid rips off their customers. We will not be eateing there again and we are Asian ourselves!

I was not impressed with The Orchid. I did like the interior design and the wine bar. I found the menu intersting and diverse. the service, however, is lacking. I would never order another...

I was not impressed with The Orchid. I did like the interior design and the wine bar. I found the menu intersting and diverse. the service, however, is lacking. I would never order another appetizer there  because two bites is not worth the prices to me. The waiter brought our apps and left before we could get appetizer plates and silverware and napkins from him so we just sat there and stared at them until we were able to get his attention again. I loved the wine bar for the novelty of the card and choosing your amount. We ordered Pad Thai and the Mac and Cheese and we all enjoyed both.

The two stars comes from the experience my parents and a family friend had while dining there.

The coconut shrimp was over cooked and tasted burnt, which you know if you are a connissuer of cocnut shrimp is not hard to do. They ate it anyway and told the waitress they jsut wanted her to know to watch for that in the future. She told them she had noticed they were too dark  when she brought them but hoped they wouldn't say anything...when she told the owner she was uninterested so the the waitress brought a new order although the owner had not told her to and my parents hadn't asked for them.

The steak with a reduction sauce had a few drizzles of sauce but not enough to get a good taste in even one bite so my dad asked for more. Twenty minutes later when it had not been delivered my mom saw the waitress across the patio and went to her to find out what the delay was. The waitress apologized and informed my mom that the wait staff has trouble communicating with the cooks because they only speak Thai. So a simple request like additional sauce is virtually impossible to get across.

My mom loved her food and so did the friend who went with them excpet that she had failed to notice the sauce in hers was white, which she doesn't like. She explained to the waitress that she hadn't noticed the white sauce and she was sure the dish was fine but that she would rather have something else. Reiterating the fact that it was her own fault, not the server's.

In my opinion these were all very reasonable requests to make at a fine dining establishement.

Wehn the check came the owner walked over and said very abruptly, "what's your problem? You complain about food all night"...they were obviously taken aback by this. My mom told her that other than the coconut shrimp being over cooked the meal was fine, that they had all loved thier food and enjoyed the wine bar. The owner then says, "no, you complain all night. Give me your bill. I pay, you go." My mom told her she didn't want for her to pay the bill becuase again, she loved her food" . This continued back and forth...escalated...her telling them to leave and never come back...refunded the money from thier wine cards and took the bill away. Then physically took thier leftovers away from them.

I think she may have had a bad taste in her mouth becuase there were a couple of dollars left on one of the wine cards and the owner has no policy in place for that. You pay the money and if not used you are expected to take it home and bring it back next time. If you choose not to come back you are expected to "eat" that money. My dad asked her if she could apply the remaining balance on the wine card to his bill becuase he didn't know if or when he would be returning. This may heve been in part where her unsavory attitude came from, but i do beleive she should have some alternative to "donating" the money to her.

Good luck running a bussiness in that manner!

I suppose the moral of the story is as long as you don't utter a word about the food you will have a lovely experience there.

I, too, recently ate for the first time at The Orchid restaurant with my mom. I ordered the Pad See Ew. The food presentation was very good and I was impressed by the beautiful waterfall located...

I, too, recently ate for the first time at The Orchid restaurant with my mom. I ordered the Pad See Ew. The food presentation was very good and I was impressed by the beautiful waterfall located on the wall inside the restaurant. Our waitress kind of got our bill mixed up with another, but other than that, it was a good place to try.

I love a delicious Pad Thai. What makes The Orchid’s Pad Thai exceptional is how light and fresh it is; not tasting fried in the least. The coral-colored egg noodles are light and fluffy and...

I love a delicious Pad Thai. What makes The Orchid’s Pad Thai exceptional is how light and fresh it is; not tasting fried in the least. The coral-colored egg noodles are light and fluffy and full of tangy, nutty flavor. The chicken and shrimp nestled inside the noodles are perfectly cooked, tender and juicy. On top of the hot noodles is a menagerie of crisp shredded carrots, bright purple-hued shaves of cabbage, crisp strings of bean sprouts and ample shreds of cooling cilantro. All of The Orchid’s dishes are as dazzling to the eyes as they are to the palette and the Pad Thai is a feast for the eyes.

    After finishing up our entrées and feeling ourselves slip into food mood, owner/manager June Boerger presented us with yet another entrée to share. The aroma of freshly grilled lamb chops was far too much to resist. I really have to thank June because these lamb chops were some of the best I have ever eaten. I pride myself on making a killer grilled lamb lollipop but I have to admit that these are better than mine. The chops are marinated in lemongrass oil, citrus and salt and pepper, then grilled perfectly, served on a tower of fluffy fried potato wedges and accompanied by refreshing mango avocado salsa. Absolutely delicious!

We were not going to order any dessert but June had other ideas. She brought three gorgeous desserts and there was no way we could refuse. The first was a three-layer Chocolate Mousse graduating from white to dark chocolate. The second was a golden Crème Brûlée and the third was the Chocolate Pyramid filled with white chocolate mousse and dusted with cocoa. All three were incredible, but if I were forced to pick a favorite I would have to choose the Chocolate Pyramid. It is a chocolate lover’s dream: rich, creamy and filled with white chocolate. All the desserts I saw are the perfect size; just enough for a satisfying treat.

 

I love the concept of their wine bar and felt very metropolitan in Bakersfield.

One side of their wine bar houses the reds and keeps them at room temperature. The other side of the...

I love the concept of their wine bar and felt very metropolitan in Bakersfield.

One side of their wine bar houses the reds and keeps them at room temperature. The other side of the bar is chilled and stores the whites.

I ordered the Mac ‘n’ Cheese with lobster. It was luxurious mac and cheese with five types of cheese, truffles and lobster. I offered each of the girls a bite, but I kept my hands on the bowl as I passed it to Katie since she loves comfort food. Sixteen dollars for pasta might seem a little extravagant, but trust me, the creamy cheese paired with the tasty lobster was well worth the money.

All of the dishes were artfully presented. The only thing to outshine the beauty of the presentation is the unique blending of tastes that make this Thai fusion cuisine a one-of-a-kind restaurant in Bakersfield.

 

The Orchid is located in the Brimhall Square shopping center on the corner of Brimhall and Calloway. Just look for their fabulous outdoor dining patio with wrought iron chairs and market...

The Orchid is located in the Brimhall Square shopping center on the corner of Brimhall and Calloway. Just look for their fabulous outdoor dining patio with wrought iron chairs and market umbrellas.

From bright warm colors on the walls to dark tones in the wood to the grey slate water feature in the dining room, it’s easy to tell that this is not a typical restaurant in Bakersfield.

My Blue Crab Avocado Salad ($12) was beautifully presented with spring mix greens and real blue crab meat in a deliciously rich, creamy sesame dressing. The crab was nestled on top of a bowl of shredded cabbage and carrots, which accompanied the large slices of cucumbers, chunks of avocado and cherry tomatoes. 

My first impressions of hearing about The Orchid were how fancy and expensive a restaurant it is. My impressions of it now are welcoming, stylish and affordable. The menu has many choices from spicy curries to gourmet entrées. The ambience was wonderful and the wine bar was creative and inviting.

 Everyone I run into has been talking about this place. It’s been a while since I’ve heard so much chatter about a new restaurant in town. People can’t tell me enough...

 Everyone I run into has been talking about this place. It’s been a while since I’ve heard so much chatter about a new restaurant in town. People can’t tell me enough about the pay-as-you-go wine bar or gush enough about the lobster-studded Mac ‘n’ Cheese.

Walking into The Orchid, I was struck by the atmosphere. The dining room décor is nicer than I expected of a place in a strip mall. The dark woods and dim pendant lighting give it a subdued, high-end feel.

I immediately saw the wine bar so many of my friends have been talking about. It’s like a high-tech wine vending machine. The pre-paid cards can be fed into slots above each bottle for an individual tasting. There are different prices for a taste, a half glass and a full pour. I could see how this do-it-yourself wine tasting would be a blast while out with friends.

The menu of lunch specials at The Orchid is pretty impressive. The small spiral-bound book is divided into four sections: Curry, Stir Fry, Noodles & Rice and Noodle Soup. With multiple choices in each section as well as choices of meat on most, there are numerous options to choose from.

The first dish to arrive was the  Siamese Chicken Satay. Two good-sized planks of white meat chicken were grilled on bamboo skewers and served with the requisite peanut sauce and cucumber salad. The chicken was moist and well cooked with a nice flavor on its own. I think a Thai restaurant can be measured by the flavor of its peanut sauce. As far as I’m concerned, this sauce made the grade. Thick and rich with hints of coconut milk and garlic, it is complex while holding its peanut flavor.

    In addition to the Satay, we decided to try the Blue Crab Tartlet ($5). This cold appetizer is light and refreshing and consists of two small pastry shells filled with a mixture of crab tossed with Meyer lemon oil, shallot vinegar, red onion, tomato, avocado and mango. This starter certainly won’t ruin an appetite – it’s small – but I appreciate that. Instead of filling me up, the bright flavors of these quick bites made me look forward to the rest of the meal to come.

My entrée was Emerald Curry with Chicken. This green curry consisted of a good-sized bowl of white meat chicken mixed with basil and bamboo shoots in a spicy light green sauce that tasted of citrus, basil and coconut. It was exactly what a good Thai green curry should be – spicy yet light with complex flavors that work on multiple levels topped off with an amazing fragrance. Despite telling myself I should only taste my dish, I went back to this curry over and over. I thought it was a particularly impressive $8 lunch.

The most appealing thing about The Orchid is that it seems to have something for everyone. Whether it’s a die-hard Thai fan looking for a curry fix or someone intrigued by the idea of truffle-infused lobster Mac ‘n’ Cheese, The Orchid is ready to deliver.

Great Great Great!  I am very picky when it comes to my exotic food and only eat Thai at the "Thai Kitchen" on Hageman... well, I can absolutely say that they now have...

Great Great Great!  I am very picky when it comes to my exotic food and only eat Thai at the "Thai Kitchen" on Hageman... well, I can absolutely say that they now have competition!  Food quality is very similar (Thai Kitchen is more on the spicy side)... but Orchid has much better ambiance, and very good looking servers.  If you haven't yet, check it out!

The menu is amazing but the service and front-of-the-house supervision is just plain HEARTBREAKING.

The menu is amazing but the service and front-of-the-house supervision is just plain HEARTBREAKING.

• The restaurant is clean.


• The menu is diverse and well organized.


• The duck roll appetizer features perfectly prepared and sliced duck along with an amazing fill of fresh produce.


• The lobster bisque was also well prepared and I got the impression it was infused with peanut oil or peanut butter in a very east/west interpretation.


• Both the sea bass and duck curry entrees were terrific.  Even on a slow Sunday evening, the kitchen staff had paid attention to every detail and the presentation, along with the preparation paid dividends with my wife and I.

• For an establishment boasting a wine bar, the server was clueless as to wine presentation.  He neglected to present the bottle to me before opening.  He did not allow me to sample the wine before pouring.  He pocketed the cork.  He poured my glass before my wife's.  I'll spare you the remainder of the missteps.


• The wine selection was full of fault, an obvious sign that it had been improperly stored.  The server’s vigorous jarring of the bottle during its “presentation” caused the resting sediment to proliferate the vintage, destroying the quality of the wine.


• Service needs a lot of attention.  If you want to charge fine dining prices, you have to deliver fine dining service.  Our waiter has real potential, but lacks the attention to detail an experienced dining room manager would instill immediately (ie. Serve from the left, clear from the right, wine presentation, menu knowledge etc.)


• It is never acceptable to see the service staff lounging around in a booth on the dining room floor with management/owners.  It gives off a very lazy, unorganized vibe.


• The décor is muddled.  While some may find it fun to sit in a restaurant with a dark motif, I believe they should repaint the walls white and change the lighting fixtures so that the dining area is as clean and fresh and the food is.  It just felt drab.

When will restaurants learn that charging $18-24 an entree requires having a polished and well-trained service staff? Either lower your prices or properly train your employees. Either way, I will not be returning until I hear that the quality of the service has caught up with the quality of the menu.