Siam Orchid Organic Fine Dining, Palo Alto

Siam Orchid weaves fresh organic ingredients into upscale Thai dishes, served in a bright and airy dining room. Rolled lavender napkins and crisp white tablecloths greet patrons as they slide into a high-backed seat and begin perusing a menu of aromatic dishes. Each dish is based on traditional Thai classics, such as the pad thai with river shrimp or complex curries with stewed organic beef, slow-braised New Zealand rack of lamb, or organic sliced chicken breast. Homegrown kaffir lime leaves star in a curried dish of fried prawns, and shrimp, and a crispy taro nest cradles a medley of crispy chicken breast, vegetables, and spicy brown sauce.

The restaurant’s respect for the environment shines in their choice of eco-conscious ingredients, while their décor evokes the natural world with tall arrangements of branches and sprays of flowers painted on violet walls. Gold-striped curtains part over wide picture windows to allow views of the street and of petite tables that sit outside.