[Trayderjoe]

Prior to Covid, I had dined at Thai Ruby (Sumter Landing) twice and was disappointed each time. My comment at that time was that they served the blandest Thai food I had ever eaten.

I decided to give it another try this week to see if there might have been any changes and was pleased to see a 180-degree turnaround in the taste of their food. I was told that they had a different chef since my previous visits, so they must have been listening to their feedback. Honestly, I believe that Ayuttaya Thai Cuisine in Ocala is better in terms of menu and depth of flavor, but Thai Ruby has improved such that I will only go to Ayuttaya now when I am in the Ocala area.

The service at Thai Ruby was excellent, and the meal spaced out so that I could enjoy one course without having the next course delivered too soon. I elected to start with the medium spice level, as I have found each Thai restaurant I have dined in, can vary on the heat level, so I start conservatively (I cannot eat Thai hot). I started with the Tom Kha Gai soup and the Thai Iced Tea being happily surprised with both. I would order both again, but at what they define as "hot" and see if the extra spices add to the flavor profile of the soup-which is what I would expect.

My entree was the Massaman Curry, and my surprise continued as the flavor was far and away better than my previous visits. I ended with Thai Ruby Ice cream (homemade coconut ice cream) which was very creamy.

I informed the manager that on my next visit, I will try their Red Curry, which is my favorite curry and will also try the Tom Kha Gai at the hot spice level as a comparison to the medium spice level. In short, yes, I am going back. If you have not been there in a while, and had experienced the same issues I had, it might be worth it to give it another try and see if you like the changes as well.

[Ecuadog]

Thanks for the good info.

[charlie1]

I always ask for the spice tray and spice to my liking! never disappointed - I do like it quite spicy!

[Joecooool418]

Originally Posted by Trayderjoe

Prior to Covid, I had dined at Thai Ruby (Sumter Landing) twice and was disappointed each time. My comment at that time was that they served the blandest Thai food I had ever eaten.

I decided to give it another try this week to see if there might have been any changes and was pleased to see a 180-degree turnaround in the taste of their food. I was told that they had a different chef since my previous visits, so they must have been listening to their feedback. Honestly, I believe that Ayuttaya Thai Cuisine in Ocala is better in terms of menu and depth of flavor, but Thai Ruby has improved such that I will only go to Ayuttaya now when I am in the Ocala area.

The service at Thai Ruby was excellent, and the meal spaced out so that I could enjoy one course without having the next course delivered too soon. I elected to start with the medium spice level, as I have found each Thai restaurant I have dined in, can vary on the heat level, so I start conservatively (I cannot eat Thai hot). I started with the Tom Kha Gai soup and the Thai Iced Tea being happily surprised with both. I would order both again, but at what they define as "hot" and see if the extra spices add to the flavor profile of the soup-which is what I would expect.

My entree was the Massaman Curry, and my surprise continued as the flavor was far and away better than my previous visits. I ended with Thai Ruby Ice cream (homemade coconut ice cream) which was very creamy.

I informed the manager that on my next visit, I will try their Red Curry, which is my favorite curry and will also try the Tom Kha Gai at the hot spice level as a comparison to the medium spice level. In short, yes, I am going back. If you have not been there in a while, and had experienced the same issues I had, it might be worth it to give it another try and see if you like the changes as well.

I always order my Thai food "Thai hot".

They won't make it at Thai Ruby. They bring out the hot sauces and you do it yourself. They told me that they took back too many meals and wouldn't serve Thai hot anymore.

[dougjb]

That was a spectacular review!

My hats go off to you for providing all of us with an objective balanced restaurant review. You included your own preferences and weighed them against what you received.

I would hope that future restaurant reviewers would follow your lead and provide more than just a love it/hate it comment. Those comments are useless. Yours on the other hand has inspired me to go try Thai Ruby myself.

Thank you once again for your review!

[Taltarzac725]

Originally Posted by Trayderjoe

Prior to Covid, I had dined at Thai Ruby (Sumter Landing) twice and was disappointed each time. My comment at that time was that they served the blandest Thai food I had ever eaten.

I decided to give it another try this week to see if there might have been any changes and was pleased to see a 180-degree turnaround in the taste of their food. I was told that they had a different chef since my previous visits, so they must have been listening to their feedback. Honestly, I believe that Ayuttaya Thai Cuisine in Ocala is better in terms of menu and depth of flavor, but Thai Ruby has improved such that I will only go to Ayuttaya now when I am in the Ocala area.

The service at Thai Ruby was excellent, and the meal spaced out so that I could enjoy one course without having the next course delivered too soon. I elected to start with the medium spice level, as I have found each Thai restaurant I have dined in, can vary on the heat level, so I start conservatively (I cannot eat Thai hot). I started with the Tom Kha Gai soup and the Thai Iced Tea being happily surprised with both. I would order both again, but at what they define as "hot" and see if the extra spices add to the flavor profile of the soup-which is what I would expect.

My entree was the Massaman Curry, and my surprise continued as the flavor was far and away better than my previous visits. I ended with Thai Ruby Ice cream (homemade coconut ice cream) which was very creamy.

I informed the manager that on my next visit, I will try their Red Curry, which is my favorite curry and will also try the Tom Kha Gai at the hot spice level as a comparison to the medium spice level. In short, yes, I am going back. If you have not been there in a while, and had experienced the same issues I had, it might be worth it to give it another try and see if you like the changes as well.

Thai Ruby is one of favorite restaurants in the Villages.

[tophcfa]

Originally Posted by Trayderjoe

Prior to Covid, I had dined at Thai Ruby (Sumter Landing) twice and was disappointed each time. My comment at that time was that they served the blandest Thai food I had ever eaten.

I decided to give it another try this week to see if there might have been any changes and was pleased to see a 180-degree turnaround in the taste of their food. I was told that they had a different chef since my previous visits, so they must have been listening to their feedback. Honestly, I believe that Ayuttaya Thai Cuisine in Ocala is better in terms of menu and depth of flavor, but Thai Ruby has improved such that I will only go to Ayuttaya now when I am in the Ocala area.

The service at Thai Ruby was excellent, and the meal spaced out so that I could enjoy one course without having the next course delivered too soon. I elected to start with the medium spice level, as I have found each Thai restaurant I have dined in, can vary on the heat level, so I start conservatively (I cannot eat Thai hot). I started with the Tom Kha Gai soup and the Thai Iced Tea being happily surprised with both. I would order both again, but at what they define as "hot" and see if the extra spices add to the flavor profile of the soup-which is what I would expect.

My entree was the Massaman Curry, and my surprise continued as the flavor was far and away better than my previous visits. I ended with Thai Ruby Ice cream (homemade coconut ice cream) which was very creamy.

I informed the manager that on my next visit, I will try their Red Curry, which is my favorite curry and will also try the Tom Kha Gai at the hot spice level as a comparison to the medium spice level. In short, yes, I am going back. If you have not been there in a while, and had experienced the same issues I had, it might be worth it to give it another try and see if you like the changes as well.

Great news, thanks. We very much enjoy Thai food and have given that place multiple tries over the years before finally giving up on them. I’ve never tasted such bland food. Hopefully the new chef makes Thai food the way we are accustomed to at other Tahi restaurants. We will definitely be giving it another chance based on the review.

[Dotneko]

Thai Ruby is our go to restaurant at LSL!

[cwmmfink]

I love Thai Ruby red curry! American hot, not Thai hot!

[Polarlys]

Went to a Thai restaurant in Baltimore once and my daughter warned me to tell them "NO SPICE" that even mild was too HOT. I'm a wimp and will continue to add my own at Thai restaurants. We also enjoy Thai Ruby.

[Djean1981]

The peanut chicken is great!

[Snakster66]

Last time I went there I got violently ill; I'll spare you the details. We used to go there fairly regularly, but it is permanently off my list.

My experience, ymmv.

[Ljmiller]

Very good to hear. I lived in Thailand for three years during the Vietnam War. I’ve come to know what to expect in Thai food and have found several restaurants over the years that live up to what I was accustomed to while in Thailand. I tried Thai Ruby over the years (last was about three years ago) and felt they did not live up to what I was used to. Of course it’s a matter of taste and experience but I just felt they fell short of what good Thai food should be. Based on this review I look forward to trying again and hope that I’m and pleasantly surprised. As I recall from my previous visits there the owners were from Udon Thani which is where I lived. Northern Thailand has Laotian flavors within their foods which I really enjoyed from my work in Laos at the time. Thank you for the review and restoring hope that there is a good chance of enjoying Thai Ruby on my next try.

[Veracity]

I am not a fan of Thai food, but I am a fan of this review. Great job.

[richdell]

We were also disappointed in Thai Ruby. I guess it's time to try it again.