Pinto Garden’s Teerawong ‘Yo’ Nanthavatsiri Wants You to Order Tom Yum Paella
To-Go Takes is Resy’s regular feature wherein we quiz the folks behind some of our favorite restaurants about all things related to takeout.
In this edition, we speak to Teerawong “Yo” Nanthavatsiri, the executive chef and owner of the seasonally driven Thai restaurant, Pinto Garden, currently open for outdoor dining, pickup, and delivery. Below, he shares some of his favorite takeout tips, tricks, cocktails, and regular stops.
Restaurant: Pinto Garden
Name + Title: Teerawong “Yo” Nanthavatsiri, Executive Chef & Owner
Resy: What’s your favorite dish from Pinto Garden’s takeout menu?
Nanthavatsiri: Our new addition this season, the tom yum paella. It’s a Thai take on the Spanish paella made with saffron Matiz España Bomba paella rice with shrimps, mussels, chorizo, and spicy Thai herbs like lemongrass, galangal, kaffir lime leaf, and cilantro.
Where are you getting takeout from and what are you ordering?
My all time favorite Thai takeout food is from Wondee Siam and Somtum Der. Just like Pinto Garden, they are Thai Select certified restaurants, meaning they were certified by the Thai government for authenticity. I used to go there with my Thai friends after work or on my day off.
— Wondee Siam: Mieng ka na — it’s like a lettuce wrap with ground peanut, mini lime wedges, shallots, fresh chili, ginger, and dry shredded pork served with fresh Chinese broccoli.
— Somtum Der: Fried chicken. It reminds me of street food in Bangkok.
Best tip to amp up your takeout?
Order dishes that you can reheat easily, like soup, curry, or fried rice. Noodles would be a dish to avoid. Always try new dishes!
What’s your favorite place for cocktails to go?
My favorite cocktail to take out in my neighborhood is the classic negroni, from Bar Pisellino.
What single restaurant dish would you walk miles for?
I would say the roast duck flambé from The Beatrice Inn.
What restaurant do you wish was open?
TAK Room. I miss how TAK Room put so much energy, details, and creativity from chef [Thomas Keller] and the front of the house. I miss hospitality and high-quality food. I was so sad to hear that it closed.
What do you miss the most about restaurants?
I miss the energy and celebration of human interaction.
Pinto Garden is open for outdoor dining seven days a week for lunch, brunch, and dinner. Order Pinto Garden takeout and delivery here, here, and here. You can also order a Resy at Home Special for pickup from Pinto Garden, featuring chef Yo’s Tom Yum Paella, here.
Check out Pinto in Brooklyn Heights, too.
