Sawadee, that Thai place on Hope

I just got back from Sawadee on Hope Street on College Hill. As with many great American Thai establishments, the place is a dive. There is a pervasive mildew smell emanating from some funky HVAC going on in the front of the place (probably bad humidity). The waiting area for the small 10 top is actually the stoop in front, which in this case was huddling in the pouring rain. But I couldn't care less. The BYOB policy rocks and so do the Curry Puffs. The menu is fairly traditional Thai but the specials are what you come for. As you can see from my post-order Chinese Broccoli with Crispy Pork

the specials are imprinted under the table glass on tacky placards. I think its fantastically unique. You can only see the pork specials of the night but the waitress also pointed out the mango specials under my left elbow, as well as the roast chicken special under my right. The food is satisfying without the extra helping of oyster sauce that you come to expect from low rent Thai. Needless to say the Crispy Pork was superbly crispy and the broccoli fresh. The real reason I came though was the house's Tom Yum soup. While it may seem to be a ubiquitous dish, there is an actual art to this ultra tangy soup and Sawadee has nailed it. Sure it smells like your grandmother's basement and sure the waitress are trying to shuffle you out. But I couldn't have cared less And better yet! I had a $10 coupon from Rhode Island Monthly.