Sacramento's Thai World is a Much Sadder Place without Amarin Thai!

So as many of you have no doubt heard Amarin Thai Restaurant in downtown Sacramento is no longer with us, another causality in the fallout of the recession. This loss, which was horrible when I first found out, but continues to get worse as I attempt to fill that Thai void with another 'acceptable' restaurant, and I am coming up really short! One of the best things about Amarin was their large use of fresh herbs like mint, basil, and spinach in almost all of their dishes! They also had a huge vegetarian and vegan selection, which for our ever-growing alternative eating community is a big deal. In attempting to find my 'new' Thai restaurant I looked through the options here in Sac and in Davis, and found them wanting. Two main appetizers that I loved and that are very traditional in a Thai restaurant are beef satay (served with cucumber salad and peanut sauce), and fresh spring rolls (made with mint and tofu, served with red sriracha sauce). These are the two things, in addition to a great entree selection are what I'm looking for in that 'new' restaurant! Now don't get me wrong, I don't need some beautiful golden-tipped restaurant, those who knew Amarin and loved it, knew that this was a hole-in-the-wall type place, no real ambiance or fan fair but cheap, great food obviously without comparison.

So here's the list of the few restaurants I've researched and tasted at and their mini-reviews:

1. Thai Basil: Known as the 'best' Thai in Sacramento...hmmm, and although their entree selection looks more than decent, it's expensive, and they don't make my two pre-requisite items! (but they do make spicy Thai soup with mushrooms and coconut milk that looks great (but so does La Bou -and theirs is really good!))
2. Sophia's Thai Kitchen - Now the best thing about Sophia's in Davis is the drinks, now don't get me wrong the food isn't bad, but they serve the best poured drinks in the Davis area and beyond. Lots of fresh herbs and full pours, I highly recommend the Coconut Mojito made with coconut puree and coconut and light rum, finished with mint! Very good, and their food selection wasn't bad either, great lettuce wraps and hmmm ok satay, but NO cucumber salad (this is huge! that wonderful vinegar taste is essential)! We didn't try their traditional stuff as they looked to be all normal if not boring Thai fare, and as I experimented with their coconut milk in a drink (horrible idea) I can attest to the fact that it's not only from a can, I don't think it's anywhere near fresh! Scary!
3. Thai Bistro - in the same night we tried to find those flavors that I was all excited about and this place did NOT fulfill! We tried their Australian Lamb satay with peanut sauce (not quite the right consistency) and cucumber salad (and actual bowl salad, more cucumber than vinegar (no-go)) and something called Yum Duck? BEWARE of the Yum Duck! Now it looked wonderful on the menu, crispy duck, mint, tomato with a lime dressing. Well not only was the dish served as a salad not a hot dish (red flag) and then the duck was more limp and fleshy than crispy! Upon smell I was a little wary, and the first bite was straight up CAT FOOD! It was beyond edible! I was worried about food poisoning at this point, word to the wise if meat is gray in color, limp in texture, game-y in smell and causes a gag reflex in eating - STOP CHEWING! Feeling horrible (no doubt violating multiple Thai etiquette codes) I sent the food back, not willing to feel bad vs. getting sick, and we moved on to dessert quite quickly! (the owner looked all disappointed, and we claimed it was because it was a salad instead of being inedible) - But higher point in the eating was the Fried Banana Honey with Ice Cream (Amarin did this great), if you haven't tried this dish you should, good eats, hard to mess up and always satisfying.
   

So in a final ode to Amarin I pulled a couple of good time's quotes from Yelp of other great experiences:
"I used to sleep well, but now I wake up in cold sweats yearning for Amarin Thai. Oh! # 38, how I wish I could of pronounced your name to give you the respect you deserved. Sautéed spinach, drizzled with the greatest 'nut sauce on earth, topped with your choice of meat (chicken). Why must the gods ruin such a good thing? And for dessert, sweet sticky rice with mango, why where you soo good and oh so creamy. I can still remember the first time I ordered thee, we were destined to be one." Andrew B, Sacramento, CA

"This place is off the HOOK! I went to this place three times already with two of them being in the last weekend." Michael L, Anaheim, CA

"#40 with chicken, AMAZING. I love this place, the only problem is.... it's 2 blocks from me, so I'm about to get my 3rd order from there this week." samantha s, Sacramento, CA

I think that my only hope post-Amarin is Lemongrass over near Fair Oaks, her food is outstanding, she makes my two pre-requisite items, and their is never any fear at the quality of her cooking! Downside - pretty darn expensive!!

If anyone can help me solve this Thai dilemma let me know!! There is a distinct Thai Void in the Downtown!