Pik Nik’s temporary closure during the pandemic eventually turned permanent. (Mike Platania photo)
Nearly four years after closing their Fan restaurant Pik Nik, the Kiatsuranon clan is reviving the space with a new concept.
The prolific local restaurant family will soon open Thai Boat at 2301 W. Main St. It’ll be the latest addition to the Kiatsuranons’ portfolio, joining Mom’s Siam and My Noodle Bar in the city, and YaYa’s Cookbook and MPM Tiki Bar in Short Pump.
The space at the corner of Main and Addison streets has been vacant since the pandemic, when the Kiatsuranons closed Pik Nik, a restaurant they’d had for about three years.
Joe Kiatsuranon, who owns the restaurants with his brother Sonny and mother Sukanya Pala-art, said the timing is right to bring the vacant Pik Nik space back to life.
“Pik Nik closed during COVID. We took a break and now we have more energy,” Joe Kiatsuranon said.
He said Thai small plates and street food, such as Yen Ta Fo, a pink noodle soup dish, will feature heavily on Thai Boat’s menu. Kiatsuranon said Thai Boat also may include some favorites from the family’s other restaurants.
One point of emphasis will be cost. Kiatsuranon said they’re planning for all of Thai Boat’s dishes to be $15 or less.
“We want to make sure people can afford to come out to eat,” he said.
They’re currently renovating the roughly 1,400-square-foot leased space, which includes a patio. Kiatsuranon said they hope to have Thai Boat open in early 2025.
Changes also are coming to the space across South Addison Street from Thai Boat. Barrio Taqueria & Tequila will soon close at 2229 W. Main St. and to make way for Memi’s, a new Egyptian restaurant. Brickwood Barbecue also recently opened in the former F.W. Sullivan’s space a block to the west.
There is a lot of Thai north of the river. If a Thai restaurant owner wants less competition come on over to Manchester!
It’s a saturated market, for sure. I wish they would resurrect Temple in one of their spaces – that Laotian menu was incredible, and so unique to the area.
I miss temple, too! I actually talked to a friend about how temple left a void in our food scene-although I didn’t care for the interior much (it wasn’t comfortable/cozy with the seating).
That space always had issues getting the good staff, hope they can get it right this time