Really good! Being completely honest I wasn't expecting a whole lot, but was pleasantly surprised. The spring rolls were amazing! Never had a fresher one. Prices were slightly steep but overall very good! Good place! Check it out.
(5)
Martha C.
My husband and Daughter love the Spicy Chicken... Great Northern Thailand flavor.. I love the massuman....taste just like I was back in there.. Delish!!!
(4)
Shelby S.
After having Little Saigon pad thai in Brunswick, I was very nervous to try anymore Pad Thai in central Maine because I was that disappointed. My boyfriend assured me this was the best pad thai in the L/A area, especially for the price. So I ordered for take-out and I was honestly pretty impressed. I have definitely had better but for what I have had here and for the price it was delicious. Also if you like super spicy food, I thought 5 stars was decent. Definitely could have been spicier but it was probably the perfect amount to not overpower the pad thai peanut flavor.
(4)
Jenn J.
Always yummy pad thai and friendly people. I always get my pad thai here if I am in the L/A area. Nice for takeout and nice to sit down- all around good stuff.
(5)
Christina B.
This is my go-to spot for Thai food in the L/A area. The food is decent, they offer eat in or take out, and are always fast and friendly. I wouldn't say this is the best Thai I've ever had, but as good as can be found in central Maine.
(4)
Kerrie F.
This place was great. I ordered takeout the spicy pad Thai and the yellow curry. It was amazing. The staff was extremely friendly. Played a rousing game of I spy with the owners 5 year old son. He was adorable and a very good host. I can't wait to go back! I have been back many times since writing this post and the food is always amazing!
(5)
Sebastian U.
Its nice inside, food is generally mediocre. Pad Thai is dissapointing, Curry's are OK.
(3)
Ann K.
My boyfriend and I always get the same thing: the Chicken Pad Thai and an order of crisply chicken wings. So yum! The Pad Thai is always amazing and it always tastes the same so I'm guaranteed the same experience with that dish. The crispy chicken wings are just that: crispy! I would recommend this place for Thai in the Lewiston Auburn area.
(4)
Joe S.
I love the pad Thai..when the order is right. I placed a pick up order. First their machine was down so I had to stop to get cash, no big deal. Then they call back to check on one of the dishes to make sure it was right - which scared me about the rest. When I got home one of the orders was sure enough incorrect. I called to see if I could come back and exchange it and they said no I ordered it incorrectly and it wasn't their fault. They had confirmed it with the person who picked it up. Unfortunately that wasn't the person who ordered. Either way I feel this wasn't good service and ruined the meal for my company and I. Not good customer service at all. Good excuse for me to go try Thai Dish in Auburn now.
(1)
Ben A.
If I were to review this establishment a year ago, my review would have been four stars. I am not sure what has happened to this place, but over the last year the quality has definitely slipped. First of all, the food. I ordered a curry with tofu. My tofu was fried so much that the inside essentially cooked right out of it and it was like eating a shell. The curry itself was more of a soup - it lacked the traditional consistency and volume that a curry dish should have. There was no point in using the rice because I don't feel rice adds a lot to a curry soup. The person I was with ordered a glass of a specific brand of Chardonnay. They said they had it, and returned with a glass of Woodbridge Cabernet Sauvignon. If you don't have it, be honest and don't bring back not only the wrong kind of wine but a brand that is marginal at best. This person lives in the area and goes to Pepper and Spice on a regular basis and said that their dishes tend to be very inconsistent in terms of quality. Some days it is very good, other days it is poor. Perhaps I was there on a bad day. Prices are low, and I'm not sure they should be so low. I would rather they raised their prices and raised the quality of the food as well. Lewiston needed a good Thai restaurant, and this was it for a while. I'm not sure what happened but they need to fix some things.
(2)
Richard A.
Our favorite place for Thai when we come to Lewiston. The ambiance is very tranquil and orderly. Staff is always gracious. Prices are very reasonable. Last night my wife and I went there with our daughter and her boyfriend. We had Odd Couple (chicken and beef), a Squid curry, Drunken Noodles, Imperial Noodles, veggie tempura and crispy veggie spring rolls and drinks, all for under $60. Portions were ample and all was very tasty.
(5)
Jessica Y.
I have gone to Pepper & Spice hundreds of times and have always had a great experience. They are by far one of the best Thai restaurants in the state. The last time I dined with them was last Wednesday and I did take out as I normally do on my days off. I ordered the platter and a bowl of rainbow soup. The platter was delicious and came with an array of appetizer options that I love including crab rangoons and the golden triangles (a MUST try). It also comes with three options of dipping sauces to correspond with the appetizer samples. DELICIOUS! The rainbow soup was great - full of very tender chicken and tasty glass noodles. Another favorite of mine is the Crispy Chicken and the Plum Chicken. Both are great however I like to get the Crispy Chicken when I dine in because it can lose it's cripsiness in the container (even though they do put vents for the steam). My only suggestion is that they get sankaya (Thai pumpkin custard) on the dessert menu. I have only had it once and it was at a restaurant in upstate New York and it was served with sticky rice. I have never found it anywhere since. I would totally eat it every day! Lol. As a note, I do not find anything underspiced. There is a difference between the pad thai and the spicy pad thai. The regular pad thai is supposed to taste sweet and is best with tofu or vegetables. The sweetness you are tasting is fish sauce. This has been the standard for a lot of Thai places I have been including the former Thai Jarearn on College & Sabattus. I have found this same situation at Thai restaurants in Boston as well. You just have to pay attention to the menu. And, you can specify the degree of spice you would like on most dishes.
(5)
Lucas H.
Never had a bad experience here! They've got normal prices for entrees, but you get the equivalent of two meals with your purchase! Always enough left over for me to have another meal later on! Also it looks real nice inside. Best place in Lewiston/Auburn for Pad Thai!
(4)
Kevin S.
When dining out on the Lewiston area I've learned to lower my expectations. Given that, we visited Pepper and Spice on a Saturday hoping not to be poisoned. I must admit that the dingy appearance and filthy carpet gave me pause for concern. We cautiously ordered the golden triangle appetizer which was fresh and crispy. Then we dove headlong into Pad Thai and the Massaman Curry, both vegetable and tofu. We were pleasantly surprised by the quality of the food. Both dishes were fresh and tasty. The service was fast and attentive with my water glass never running low. The prices cant be beat as our bill for the above was less than $30 including a glass of wine. My advice to the owner would be raise your prices by 5% and spend the money on a good carpet cleaning and window washing which would go a long way to making this place at least a four star operation.
(3)
Janna L.
I love my Thai food - and this is my place of choice in the Lewiston area. Can't beat the prices for the quantity of the food - I love the currys, the pad-thai, noms.. Give me all of it! This place may actually be my favorite hometown restaurant haha
(4)
Steff D.
Pepper & Spice is your quintessential Thai restaurant in a predominantly French-Canadian area of the state. In which I mean to say: I couldn't tell you if it's authentic or gimmicky Thai food, just whether or not it's good or bad food in general. The food here is average, but it's consistent. I've never had a bad meal here. I've never had an exceptional meal here either. The staff is VERY friendly and VERY accommodating to your needs (Vegan? No problem! Gluten-free? No problem!). The tofu is ALWAYS cooked properly, the sauces are always seasoned just right, and the Thai Iced Tea's are out of this friggen world (I would go here JUST to get one of these if I were you). If you're in the area and you're craving super basic Thai food (pad thai or tempura flavors), come here. You'll leave with a full belly and get exactly what you think you're going to get for a Thai restaurant in a predominantly French-Canadian area of the state.
(3)
Jim C.
I love thai, and this place delivers the goods like a smooth criminal! When we first arrived we were seated immediately by a friendly hostess. The seating is nicely spaced and inviting. The decor and soft music playing in the background makes for a relaxing and personable event. Upon arrival of the feast, I was taken back by the fresh ingredients and vibrant colors. I needed to pinch myself to see if this spectacle really was taking place in Lewiston of all places! Overall, great atmosphere and fantastic dishes with FRESH ingredients. Pepper and Spice is one more positive step in Lewiston! A+
(5)
Jim W.
I'll go 3 stars here. I had Pad Thai & Satay and it was pretty good. I had it take-out so I can't really comment on the service here. The atmosphere could use a little spice though. And maybe pepper too.
(3)
Wes M.
I have eaten here a half dozen times over the last few years. It just seems to get worse. Had Goong Ob won Sen. Terrible. No taste. Air conditioning was inadequate. This is the last time I will visit this establishment. I suggest going to Auburn for Thai food. Avoid this place.
(1)
Matt D.
I had a gift certificate, so I got a takeout "buffet". I got the appetizer platter, the chicken yellow curry, and the crispy seaman. Yes, I said crispy seaman. That was hard to ask for. The food was great. Rice was soft and fluffy, apps were as Expected. Curry was the best I've had, and the seafood was perfect. In the past I have had the crispy chicken...avoid this one. Would of been 4 stars if based on past visits, but this one was perfect.
(5)
Marc G.
After visiting here often, I've decided that it's a guilty pleasure of sorts. The Pad Thai is out of this world and tastes amazing, even though it's too oily for my taste sometimes. The spice and sweetness of the dishes all mesh together wonderfully. However, the place itself is a little dirty on the inside. The service is prompt and friendly. Would be a gem if they cleaned up their act and tried to get more on the healthy side.
(4)
Toni C.
my first experience with Thai food. it was excellent! the staff was friendly and helpful. making plans to go again :) along with the great food, the restaurant has a quiet atmosphere which is great for conversation
(4)
Ashleigh M.
This place is fantastic. I feel like the people of Lewiston may just not know what good thai food is based off of the reviews they have gotten thus far, no offense. Seriously great thai food in a very unexpected location. I've had both the vegetarian spicy pad thai and now the vegetables and tofu panang curry. Both are awesome. I'd even venture to say better than a lot of the thai food I get back in Boston. Definitely worth checking out!
(5)
Sarah M.
My mom and I resorted to Thai since the other place we tried to go for dinner was closed and this one was right down the street from our hotel. We each had the Tom Ka Gai soup which I thought was really good and cheaper than I can normally find. It was only $2.95 for a really decent size full of chicken and mushrooms. The only problem was it was so hot my taste buds were burnt off for almost a week, and this was after getting our food to go, and stopping at Rite Aid on the way home. We also got the Pad Thai since this was my mom's second time eating Thai, she was not adventurous to try anything else. I have to agree with Andrew it wasn't that great. There were no limes, no tofu, and definitely no spice. It actually hardly had any sauce at all. But it was definitely edible. Not bad for Thai in Maine I'm thinking. Pad Thai, 2 soups $14.85. Not bad.
(3)
Bea K.
Really good. Had the massaman curry with chicken and husband had spicy pad Thai. Both were great. Right level of spice and flavors were just right. Had take out so can't comment on service
(4)
A. W.
I know this is Maine, but unspiced Pad Thai (with a separate option of "Spicy Pad Thai" I didn't know to look for), WTF? What did I get? We're talking noodles with sugar and....I don't think it even had tamarind it was so colorless and sweet. Certainly no chili. Possibly no fish sauce. Ridiculous. All of which was a surprise as I'd had a decent if mediocre mild Pad Thai from them at a Bates event. The Panang Curry Tofu I ordered was okay, in line with what one typically gets when on orders that dish in this country, though I prefer a different take on the dish. For the same style Thai, I prefer Thai Jarearn Express, at the intersection of College and Sabattus, which is also less expensive (plus they have Korean food).
(2)
Bruce L.
Pepper and Spice (formerly, "The Thai Elephant") has gone through many changes over the past few years and as a result the food quality and overall experience has been directly affected. Earlier this year the owner did some renovations and made some changes in the kitchen, New cooks in the kitchen and a new attitude throughout. They now have the best duck in town, an amazing Massaman Curry, superb Drunken Noodle and much more. They do a great job of making it extra spicy for me, I'm half Thai and grew up on this stuff. There is still room for improvement as with any restaurant but I always get exactly what I want. It's as close to my mother's cooking as I've been able to find outside of Boston. If you want the full experience you really need to dine in and try new dishes and step away from the "gateway" dishes and really expand your palette, you won't be disappointed. Before you post a review of ANY restaurant, make sure you try it more than once, everyone has bad days. If your from out of town, then obviously that's not always an option and the exception to the rule.
Takes Reservations : No Delivery : Yes Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Lunch, Dinner Parking : Private Lot Bike Parking : No Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : Yes Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Casual Noise Level : Quiet Alcohol : Full Bar Outdoor Seating : No Wi-Fi : No Has TV : Yes Waiter Service : Yes Caters : No
Jeremiah K.
Really good! Being completely honest I wasn't expecting a whole lot, but was pleasantly surprised. The spring rolls were amazing! Never had a fresher one. Prices were slightly steep but overall very good! Good place! Check it out.
(5)Martha C.
My husband and Daughter love the Spicy Chicken... Great Northern Thailand flavor.. I love the massuman....taste just like I was back in there.. Delish!!!
(4)Shelby S.
After having Little Saigon pad thai in Brunswick, I was very nervous to try anymore Pad Thai in central Maine because I was that disappointed. My boyfriend assured me this was the best pad thai in the L/A area, especially for the price. So I ordered for take-out and I was honestly pretty impressed. I have definitely had better but for what I have had here and for the price it was delicious. Also if you like super spicy food, I thought 5 stars was decent. Definitely could have been spicier but it was probably the perfect amount to not overpower the pad thai peanut flavor.
(4)Jenn J.
Always yummy pad thai and friendly people. I always get my pad thai here if I am in the L/A area. Nice for takeout and nice to sit down- all around good stuff.
(5)Christina B.
This is my go-to spot for Thai food in the L/A area. The food is decent, they offer eat in or take out, and are always fast and friendly. I wouldn't say this is the best Thai I've ever had, but as good as can be found in central Maine.
(4)Kerrie F.
This place was great. I ordered takeout the spicy pad Thai and the yellow curry. It was amazing. The staff was extremely friendly. Played a rousing game of I spy with the owners 5 year old son. He was adorable and a very good host. I can't wait to go back! I have been back many times since writing this post and the food is always amazing!
(5)Sebastian U.
Its nice inside, food is generally mediocre. Pad Thai is dissapointing, Curry's are OK.
(3)Ann K.
My boyfriend and I always get the same thing: the Chicken Pad Thai and an order of crisply chicken wings. So yum! The Pad Thai is always amazing and it always tastes the same so I'm guaranteed the same experience with that dish. The crispy chicken wings are just that: crispy! I would recommend this place for Thai in the Lewiston Auburn area.
(4)Joe S.
I love the pad Thai..when the order is right. I placed a pick up order. First their machine was down so I had to stop to get cash, no big deal. Then they call back to check on one of the dishes to make sure it was right - which scared me about the rest. When I got home one of the orders was sure enough incorrect. I called to see if I could come back and exchange it and they said no I ordered it incorrectly and it wasn't their fault. They had confirmed it with the person who picked it up. Unfortunately that wasn't the person who ordered. Either way I feel this wasn't good service and ruined the meal for my company and I. Not good customer service at all. Good excuse for me to go try Thai Dish in Auburn now.
(1)Ben A.
If I were to review this establishment a year ago, my review would have been four stars. I am not sure what has happened to this place, but over the last year the quality has definitely slipped. First of all, the food. I ordered a curry with tofu. My tofu was fried so much that the inside essentially cooked right out of it and it was like eating a shell. The curry itself was more of a soup - it lacked the traditional consistency and volume that a curry dish should have. There was no point in using the rice because I don't feel rice adds a lot to a curry soup. The person I was with ordered a glass of a specific brand of Chardonnay. They said they had it, and returned with a glass of Woodbridge Cabernet Sauvignon. If you don't have it, be honest and don't bring back not only the wrong kind of wine but a brand that is marginal at best. This person lives in the area and goes to Pepper and Spice on a regular basis and said that their dishes tend to be very inconsistent in terms of quality. Some days it is very good, other days it is poor. Perhaps I was there on a bad day. Prices are low, and I'm not sure they should be so low. I would rather they raised their prices and raised the quality of the food as well. Lewiston needed a good Thai restaurant, and this was it for a while. I'm not sure what happened but they need to fix some things.
(2)Richard A.
Our favorite place for Thai when we come to Lewiston. The ambiance is very tranquil and orderly. Staff is always gracious. Prices are very reasonable. Last night my wife and I went there with our daughter and her boyfriend. We had Odd Couple (chicken and beef), a Squid curry, Drunken Noodles, Imperial Noodles, veggie tempura and crispy veggie spring rolls and drinks, all for under $60. Portions were ample and all was very tasty.
(5)Jessica Y.
I have gone to Pepper & Spice hundreds of times and have always had a great experience. They are by far one of the best Thai restaurants in the state. The last time I dined with them was last Wednesday and I did take out as I normally do on my days off. I ordered the platter and a bowl of rainbow soup. The platter was delicious and came with an array of appetizer options that I love including crab rangoons and the golden triangles (a MUST try). It also comes with three options of dipping sauces to correspond with the appetizer samples. DELICIOUS! The rainbow soup was great - full of very tender chicken and tasty glass noodles. Another favorite of mine is the Crispy Chicken and the Plum Chicken. Both are great however I like to get the Crispy Chicken when I dine in because it can lose it's cripsiness in the container (even though they do put vents for the steam). My only suggestion is that they get sankaya (Thai pumpkin custard) on the dessert menu. I have only had it once and it was at a restaurant in upstate New York and it was served with sticky rice. I have never found it anywhere since. I would totally eat it every day! Lol. As a note, I do not find anything underspiced. There is a difference between the pad thai and the spicy pad thai. The regular pad thai is supposed to taste sweet and is best with tofu or vegetables. The sweetness you are tasting is fish sauce. This has been the standard for a lot of Thai places I have been including the former Thai Jarearn on College & Sabattus. I have found this same situation at Thai restaurants in Boston as well. You just have to pay attention to the menu. And, you can specify the degree of spice you would like on most dishes.
(5)Lucas H.
Never had a bad experience here! They've got normal prices for entrees, but you get the equivalent of two meals with your purchase! Always enough left over for me to have another meal later on! Also it looks real nice inside. Best place in Lewiston/Auburn for Pad Thai!
(4)Kevin S.
When dining out on the Lewiston area I've learned to lower my expectations. Given that, we visited Pepper and Spice on a Saturday hoping not to be poisoned. I must admit that the dingy appearance and filthy carpet gave me pause for concern. We cautiously ordered the golden triangle appetizer which was fresh and crispy. Then we dove headlong into Pad Thai and the Massaman Curry, both vegetable and tofu. We were pleasantly surprised by the quality of the food. Both dishes were fresh and tasty. The service was fast and attentive with my water glass never running low. The prices cant be beat as our bill for the above was less than $30 including a glass of wine. My advice to the owner would be raise your prices by 5% and spend the money on a good carpet cleaning and window washing which would go a long way to making this place at least a four star operation.
(3)Janna L.
I love my Thai food - and this is my place of choice in the Lewiston area. Can't beat the prices for the quantity of the food - I love the currys, the pad-thai, noms.. Give me all of it! This place may actually be my favorite hometown restaurant haha
(4)Steff D.
Pepper & Spice is your quintessential Thai restaurant in a predominantly French-Canadian area of the state. In which I mean to say: I couldn't tell you if it's authentic or gimmicky Thai food, just whether or not it's good or bad food in general. The food here is average, but it's consistent. I've never had a bad meal here. I've never had an exceptional meal here either. The staff is VERY friendly and VERY accommodating to your needs (Vegan? No problem! Gluten-free? No problem!). The tofu is ALWAYS cooked properly, the sauces are always seasoned just right, and the Thai Iced Tea's are out of this friggen world (I would go here JUST to get one of these if I were you). If you're in the area and you're craving super basic Thai food (pad thai or tempura flavors), come here. You'll leave with a full belly and get exactly what you think you're going to get for a Thai restaurant in a predominantly French-Canadian area of the state.
(3)Jim C.
I love thai, and this place delivers the goods like a smooth criminal! When we first arrived we were seated immediately by a friendly hostess. The seating is nicely spaced and inviting. The decor and soft music playing in the background makes for a relaxing and personable event. Upon arrival of the feast, I was taken back by the fresh ingredients and vibrant colors. I needed to pinch myself to see if this spectacle really was taking place in Lewiston of all places! Overall, great atmosphere and fantastic dishes with FRESH ingredients. Pepper and Spice is one more positive step in Lewiston! A+
(5)Jim W.
I'll go 3 stars here. I had Pad Thai & Satay and it was pretty good. I had it take-out so I can't really comment on the service here. The atmosphere could use a little spice though. And maybe pepper too.
(3)Wes M.
I have eaten here a half dozen times over the last few years. It just seems to get worse. Had Goong Ob won Sen. Terrible. No taste. Air conditioning was inadequate. This is the last time I will visit this establishment. I suggest going to Auburn for Thai food. Avoid this place.
(1)Matt D.
I had a gift certificate, so I got a takeout "buffet". I got the appetizer platter, the chicken yellow curry, and the crispy seaman. Yes, I said crispy seaman. That was hard to ask for. The food was great. Rice was soft and fluffy, apps were as Expected. Curry was the best I've had, and the seafood was perfect. In the past I have had the crispy chicken...avoid this one. Would of been 4 stars if based on past visits, but this one was perfect.
(5)Marc G.
After visiting here often, I've decided that it's a guilty pleasure of sorts. The Pad Thai is out of this world and tastes amazing, even though it's too oily for my taste sometimes. The spice and sweetness of the dishes all mesh together wonderfully. However, the place itself is a little dirty on the inside. The service is prompt and friendly. Would be a gem if they cleaned up their act and tried to get more on the healthy side.
(4)Toni C.
my first experience with Thai food. it was excellent! the staff was friendly and helpful. making plans to go again :) along with the great food, the restaurant has a quiet atmosphere which is great for conversation
(4)Ashleigh M.
This place is fantastic. I feel like the people of Lewiston may just not know what good thai food is based off of the reviews they have gotten thus far, no offense. Seriously great thai food in a very unexpected location. I've had both the vegetarian spicy pad thai and now the vegetables and tofu panang curry. Both are awesome. I'd even venture to say better than a lot of the thai food I get back in Boston. Definitely worth checking out!
(5)Sarah M.
My mom and I resorted to Thai since the other place we tried to go for dinner was closed and this one was right down the street from our hotel. We each had the Tom Ka Gai soup which I thought was really good and cheaper than I can normally find. It was only $2.95 for a really decent size full of chicken and mushrooms. The only problem was it was so hot my taste buds were burnt off for almost a week, and this was after getting our food to go, and stopping at Rite Aid on the way home. We also got the Pad Thai since this was my mom's second time eating Thai, she was not adventurous to try anything else. I have to agree with Andrew it wasn't that great. There were no limes, no tofu, and definitely no spice. It actually hardly had any sauce at all. But it was definitely edible. Not bad for Thai in Maine I'm thinking. Pad Thai, 2 soups $14.85. Not bad.
(3)Bea K.
Really good. Had the massaman curry with chicken and husband had spicy pad Thai. Both were great. Right level of spice and flavors were just right. Had take out so can't comment on service
(4)A. W.
I know this is Maine, but unspiced Pad Thai (with a separate option of "Spicy Pad Thai" I didn't know to look for), WTF? What did I get? We're talking noodles with sugar and....I don't think it even had tamarind it was so colorless and sweet. Certainly no chili. Possibly no fish sauce. Ridiculous. All of which was a surprise as I'd had a decent if mediocre mild Pad Thai from them at a Bates event. The Panang Curry Tofu I ordered was okay, in line with what one typically gets when on orders that dish in this country, though I prefer a different take on the dish. For the same style Thai, I prefer Thai Jarearn Express, at the intersection of College and Sabattus, which is also less expensive (plus they have Korean food).
(2)Bruce L.
Pepper and Spice (formerly, "The Thai Elephant") has gone through many changes over the past few years and as a result the food quality and overall experience has been directly affected. Earlier this year the owner did some renovations and made some changes in the kitchen, New cooks in the kitchen and a new attitude throughout. They now have the best duck in town, an amazing Massaman Curry, superb Drunken Noodle and much more. They do a great job of making it extra spicy for me, I'm half Thai and grew up on this stuff. There is still room for improvement as with any restaurant but I always get exactly what I want. It's as close to my mother's cooking as I've been able to find outside of Boston. If you want the full experience you really need to dine in and try new dishes and step away from the "gateway" dishes and really expand your palette, you won't be disappointed. Before you post a review of ANY restaurant, make sure you try it more than once, everyone has bad days. If your from out of town, then obviously that's not always an option and the exception to the rule.
(4)