TenPenh

Review by LauraPaz on January 12, 2007

This is the second time I've been to TenPehn and it wasn't as good as I remembered it. We were here for restaurant week. The appetizer we got, the Spring Rolls, were very greasy. I got the tuna, which was good, but a little on the salty side. My friend ordered a vegetarian stirfry, which she found too oily. All in all my it was better than average, but I was still a little let down because the first time I was there (also for a restaurant week lunch) it was nothing short of phenomenal. That being said The service was excellent and they tried their best to accomodate our token vegetarian (even gave her an extra veggie spring roll to help fill her up).

Review by emmitotter on January 13, 2005

Went to Tenpenh for restaurant week and it was great! The spring rolls were awesome. I had the Chilean sea bass which was also great and another in my party had the duck which was really good. For dessert try the Thai coffee tart that comes with a little bit of hot chocolate that was great. I would go back again in a heartbeat.

Review by ashleyrosen on September 28, 2004

Service was kind of slow today but otherwise it was great.

Review by hahn74 on August 31, 2004

Review by n0r1 on August 6, 2004

As a vegan, I had no choice but the spring rolls (stunningly delicious and beautiful, but too oily) as an appetizer and the vegetable tempura (too oily, but with a good sauce) as a entree. Disappointing! For an Asian-influenced restaurant, you'd think there would be fewer meat-centric dishes on the menu. Not so; this is still America, and we don't like our fruits & veggies (or at least noodles!) here.

The sorbets for dessert were home-made and exquisite, though. And one of my companions moaned over her pecan-crusted halibut with port-ginger sauce.

Advice to vegetarians: unless you like it heavy, it's just not worth the money.

Review by SueM on July 12, 2004

The service was fantastic. The food was incredible; it looked as wonderful as it tasted. Be prepared to splurge. My only complaint was that it was hard to hear people at my table.

Review by hmalcomson on June 30, 2004

My husband and I ate here for our 2nd wedding anniversary. Everything was wonderful! The Asian flare really gives all of the dishes a unique taste. From appetizers to wine to dinner to dessert TenPenh is FABULOUS :)

Review by bermanmatt on May 15, 2004

Ten Penh serves delicious, albeit pricy, Asian fusion fare, in a wonderfully attractive setting. I have now eaten at Ten Penh enough to have tasted many of the main courses and several of the appetizers, and some of them truly hum with flavor. The whole roasted catfish (a lunch menu item, which is usually replaced at night by a whole roasted flounder special) is stunning. The wok-seared lobster is, rightfully, the house specialty. The red curry with shrimp and pineapple though, is too sweet, and lacks the punch of enough curry. Of the appetizers, I recommend the glazed short ribs.

Overall, Ten Penh is one of my favorite restaurants in the city. While my last trip there was not as exciting as usual, it is still a restaurant the screams out for special occasions.

Review by limogesj on April 23, 2004

The ambience of the restuarant is very modern. Open kitchen is interesting. Very good wine list. A little on the expensive side, but not over the top. Asian flair to food is very good.

Review by mthornhill on April 12, 2004

Striking Asian fusion - I was taken the moment I stepped in, although late midday meal hunger may have had something to do with it.

Passionfruit tea served with sugar solution as well as the usual substitutes made for instant solubility, edamame while waiting was a nice touch.

Special soup of the day had me clamoring for a pencil to write down those flavors - coconut milk, thai basil, lemon grass, lime leaves, a heady broth for the steamed butternut squash and shrimp lurking in the bottom of my Asian earthenware...Certainly one I'll try to reproduce at home.

Thai beef salad was good, but paled in comparison to the calamari - fiery and tangy, on a bed of greens and endive. Wasabi mashed potatoes were wonderful. House-made sorbets capped off the meal nicely, coconut-lime with a fleeting cocoa, banana pineapple with a much better taste than color (pallid tannish-yellow), and mango that looked and tasted just as would be expected.

The small portions (for an American stomach) and the high prices may be a little off-putting to some, but a great occasion restaurant - colleague send-off at lunch, pre-show at dinner. All in all, the little touches polished off a wonderful meal - calligraphy print napkins under my soup, hot towels with edamame pre-meal, the decor, and the lovely complimentary ginger shortbread biscuits at the end of the meal. This is fusion done well.

Review by clfost on January 28, 2004

TenPenh was a visual feast for all of the senses. Plump and moist short ribs appetizer was cooled down by a julienned cucumber side. All entrees were presented with a modern Asian flair, but hardly what you'd get at a Hunan Dynasty. Spiced lobster and flaky seabass (that's a good thing) were both hot, fresh and seasoned perfectly. What struck me as particular was the Crispy Fried Spinach - a seemingly meticulous side dish to prepare. I have never had such sinfully delightly spinach - light, crisp, ever so wonderfully greasy. Lastly, as many restaurants are offering an "alternative" variety of tastes to sorbets, I experienced sorbet Mecca with a sweet banana-honey flavor and a pungent and refreshing coconut sorbet. A perfect end to a tantalizing and what can almost be coined as a sexy meal.

Review by ddunlap on December 22, 2003

Wonderful dining experience. Waitstaff was attentive without being overly agressive. They gave good advice about what appetizers and entrees to order.


Everyone in our party was happy with their selections. We would definitely go back to explore other dishes.

The Spicy Tuna Tempura Roll is highly recommended.