
Courtesy of Tipsy Thaiger
Atlantans have come to expect certain staples at Thai restaurants—comforting items like pad Thai, panang curry, and basil chicken. After working at Tamarind Seed and 26 Thai, Birdie Niyomkun wanted her own restaurant, a place where she could be creative and showcase her heritage. (Born and raised in Thailand, Niyomkun moved to the United States about 10 years ago.) When Tipsy Thaiger opens in Roswell Town Square in May, Atlantans will be able to get those Thai staples for lunch, while also trying Gab-Glaam (Thai bar food) in the evening.
“The dishes come from family recipes,” Niyomkun says. “I want people to come together and order a bunch to enjoy. The dishes will complement each other.”
Gab-Glaam offerings will include papaya salad, grilled chicken, and crying tiger beef brisket. The menu will also feature Gab-Kao (larger dinner meals), such as grilled whole fish with vegetables and rice and pork belly kang hung lay (Northern-style curry made with tamarind, ginger, and red-curry powder). In addition to the aforementioned Thai staples served at lunch, there will be boat noodles (rice noodles with braised-beef meatballs in a rich beef broth) as a tribute to Niyomkun’s father, who used to run a noodle shop.
As the name suggests, Tipsy Thaiger will place an equal focus on its bar program, with 10 craft cocktails infused with Thai flavors—think tamarind, lemongrass, jasmine tea, and pandan. Savory cocktails, including one inspired by pad Thai, offer a unique spin. Look for a curated wine list with natural and low-intervention wines that pair well with Thai flavors. There will be a wide range of varietals, from sparkling wine and rose to orange, red, white, and rice wine (sake). Local beers will come from the tap while Thai beers are served in bottles.
“We want this to be a place where people come to wind down,” says Niyomkun, who partnered with Candi Lee and Phudith Pattharakositkul on the restaurant. “It’ll be warm, welcoming, and a little playful. I think it’ll be a good addition to the thriving food scene in Roswell.”
Housed in the former Public House space on the lower level of the 1854 building, Tipsy Thaiger will maintain the character of the building (brick walls) and add handmade goods and fabrics from Thailand for decoration. “We want it to feel like a step back in time with old family photos,” Niyomkun says. An open-air patio is also in the works.
Until it opens, Tipsy Thaiger will continue to pop-up weekly at Variant Brewing and Proper Hop Taphouse.