Bangkok at Beltline
100 South Central Expressway, Suite 108 • Richardson, TX 75080
469-930-9755 • bangkokbeltline.com
Sky Promanna’s story is one of grit, dedication, and hard work. She began working at Bangkok at Beltline, a Thai restaurant in the Dallas suburb of Richardson, helping out the original owner until she became the manager. Sky was eventually offered the opportunity to purchase the business and excitedly did so, as she loved everything about the place. The restaurant has served a Thai twist on afternoon tea since 2015, and the eager entrepreneur had no question in her mind that it needed to continue in this new era.
Red upholstered booths, warm accents, and striking Asian art bedeck the room to properly define a sense of place in this intriguing environment. Although not a traditional English-style affair, this wonderfully different teatime experience is a unique marriage of Thai and British inspiration. A charming elephant teapot is promptly brought to the table to solidify the Thai influence, while the enticing fare arrives on a three-tiered stand. “We try to get customers to know more about Thai food and Thai culture,” Sky explains. “Many people know Thai food but don’t know it like this or [haven’t seen it] served this way.”
For a modest price of $40 to $45 per guest, attendees on Saturdays can be sure that they will receive both a feast for their eyes and their palate. Though Sky changes the menu seasonally to keep customers coming back for more, the first tier on the stand will typically consist of something savory, like comforting noodle curry tucked inside a croissant or puff and/or chicken sauté in a sandwich. The next tier will feature a scrumptious English-style scone, Thai rice crackers with peanut sauce and shrimp, and either dried or fresh fruit. On the final tier, four seasonal desserts will appear. In the rotation could be a decadent red velvet cake with raspberry sauce, macarons, and some sort of tart, such as lemon, chocolate, or coconut. One of the most unique and beloved items on the menu is a sumptuous coconut cake with sticky rice and Thai custard wrapped like a pound cake.
The cohesiveness of the theme does not end with the décor and food. The tea beverage itself also incorporates Asian influence into its offerings. A tea that best balances the fare is strategically paired with each tier. Savories are accompanied by a Thai green tea, scones go well with a chrysanthemum tea, and the desserts are especially yummy when served with Thai tea (a concoction of black tea, condensed milk, and sugar) from Thailand.
Bangkok at Beltline prides itself on bringing something unusual to the Dallas area to appropriately suit the diversity of the metropolis. “People from all different cultures come and try our experience,” Sky states. “People from different parts of the world try afternoon tea here.” New ways to have tea are exceptionally exhilarating for tea fanatics, and combining delightful Thai food with English elegance seems to be the best of both worlds. To get a superb taste of multiple countries at once, one doesn’t need to travel far past the North Central Expressway, thanks to Sky Promanna’s ingenuity.
Bangkok at Beltline’s tea service is served on Saturdays starting at noon. Reservations are recommended.
