When you enter the Cilantro Thai & Sushi restaurant, it is a sensory experience.

The aroma of delicacies, white light and the buzz of dinner conversations together create a warm atmosphere.

For the first time in a long time, my wife Susie and I spent a Saturday night in downtown Akron. I recommended coriander because I really miss the food. 

Before the pandemic, I ordered dozens of takeaways there, and enjoyed Thai fried pho, Singapore noodles, vegetarian duck and basil, cashew stir-fry, tofu rama and various sushi rolls. I have never been disappointed. However, I have never eaten in it.

More: Local Flavor: Enjoy a meal at Wil's Grille in Coventry

The owner, Charlie Somtrakool, a Thai, opened this elegant restaurant in 2009 at 326 S. Main St. next to Canal Park. Piato used to live in this place before chef Roger Thomas moved to the Sheraton Suite in Cuyahoga Falls. Prior to this, the building operated as City Loan Co., First Federal Savings & Loan Association and Charter One for more than 70 years.

You will never know that it used to be a bank. When a hostess led us through the long and narrow dining room, we passed a front dining area, sushi bar, cocktail bar and bustling kitchen, and then reached our high dining table in the spacious back room.

Cilantro has a trendy and vibrant atmosphere. The hardwood floor has an inlaid star pattern. Modern decor includes origami-style chandeliers and green cloth chairs with wooden arms and legs. The white tablecloth is covered with white butcher paper. Silverware is wrapped in orange cloth napkins.

"The palette of sage and orange is really beautiful," Susie commented.

The contactless menu viewed with a smartphone provides a wide variety of Thai and Japanese dishes. The menu is divided into "Starters", "Classic Thai", "House Specials", "From the Sea", "Sushi", "Japanese Flavors" and "Desserts".

Vegetarians, carnivores and carnivores have many choices, and many dishes can provide gluten-free food on request. If we start from the top and go all the way downhill, it may take decades to try everything.

We indulged there, so indulged we did it.

First, we ordered Cilantro's tortillas ($7), golden fried sweet corn fritters, served with fresh cucumber slices and sweet chili sauce and ground peanuts. The light, airy fritters are delicious, but the chili sauce—sweet, rich, nutty—really adds another dimension.

"The more sauce you spread, the better," Susie said.

I totally agree. Soon, we were out of sauces and fritters, and crave more.

Next is a bowl of coconut milk soup ($7), made with freshly squeezed lime juice, coconut milk soup, mushroom slices and cherry tomatoes. When choosing chicken or soft tofu, I chose the former. Rich, hot, creamy and smooth, very pleasant. The restaurant can bottle this and ask Campbell and Proso to ask for money. If you go to coriander, you must try it.

For the main course, I ordered tofu rama ($15.95), which is my favorite in the takeaway era. It features fried tofu seasoned with broccoli, carrots, baby corn and cabbage with ginger and curry powder, served with Thai peanut sauce and white rice.

How do I begin to describe peanut butter? sweet. tasty. Heavenly. It clings to other ingredients and strengthens them. The coriander sauce adds a rich flavor that many restaurants lack.

Soon, I washed the dishes. (If you don’t like tofu, don’t worry: you can choose chicken.)

For her main course, Susie ordered Thai Basil Chicken Fried Rice ($15.95), which is made with fried rice, eggs, basil, red peppers, green peppers, white onions and green onions. Fresh and full of energy, this is a colorful dish with generous portions.

"It's good," Susie said. "This is a perfect match with basil and chili."

Diners control the spice level of coriander. In the range of 1 to 5, my wife and I both chose 2, which is considered medium. We are very happy with our choice. If we climb higher, we may need a fire extinguisher.

"My tongue must have a tingling sensation, but I will definitely get the same spiciness next time," Susie said.

With so much heat, we cool down and eat dessert. We placed an order for fried bananas and ice cream ($8). The fried slices are wrapped in wontons, topped with honey and sesame seeds, and served with coconut ice cream. The crunchy wrapper provides an unusual texture for the dessert, but as we chew, it tastes better and better. Filled with shredded coconut, the ice cream is exotic and sweet.

If I don’t mention our server, Michelle, I’m dereliction of duty. She was pleasant, attentive, answered all our questions and came back often to make sure everything satisfies us.

We were full when we left. It feels good to indulge. Including drinks and taxes, our bill is $70.21, excluding tips. 

We had dinner at Cilantro Thai & Sushi restaurant. After years of downtown construction and pandemic lockdown, it is great to see so many people eating out.

Cilantro is the ideal place for Akron Municipal Theater performances, Canal Park ball games or Lock 3 events. 

Thai. you will like it.

You can contact Mark J. Price at mprice@thebeaconjournal.com.

Location: Cilantro Thai & Sushi Restaurant

Address: 326 S. Main St., Akron

Lunch time: Monday to Friday from 11 am to 2:30 pm

Dinner time: Monday to Thursday from 5pm to 9:30pm, Friday from 5pm to 10pm, Saturday from 4:30pm to 10pm

Service options: dine-in, roadside pickup, delivery

Alcohol: beer, wine and specialty cocktails

For more information: call 330-434-2876, email dine@cilantrothai.com or visit https://cilantrothai.com

More: Staff Profile: Meet Mark J. Price of Beacon Journal

More: Arthur Treacher's, last remaining at Cuyahoga Falls, traveling along the memory trail

More: Local flavor: Ido Bar & Grill is delicious