It is 7:30 on a mid-winter Tuesday night, and downtown Ketchum is as quiet as the flakes of falling snow, which shimmer in the street lights. I enter the new Asian fusion inspired restaurant, Red Door, located in the atrium area of the 511 building on Leadville Ave, expecting it to be relatively empty. I am, however, pleasantly surprised to see that well over two-thirds of the tables are full, and there are only a few open spaces at the expansive bar that must seat close to 20 people. Good thing my dad made a reservation.
Inside, I spot my family seated at a table bordered on one side by a long booth, and on the other by two high-backed black leather chairs. The restaurant has a modern, sophisticated feel. The curving mahogany bar was constructed specifically for Red Door and giant, circular lamps line the high ceiling and light the interior. The lamps, with glistening chandelier crystals dangling inside, resemble jellyfish. Bamboo plants border mahogany paneled walls and large black and white Jackson Pollock-esque paintings complete the décor.
Tonight I am here with my mom, dad and brother, for no reason in particular except to try out the new restaurant. Not to be confused with the Red Door Design House in Hailey, Red Door restaurant opened on the 29th of November, and business has been very good so far, commented Lynn Doan, one of the owners. A family owned restaurant, chefs Vinh, Huy and Noah Doan collaborate to bring a creative, appetizing menu to life.
After settling in and admiring our surroundings we order the Goi Cuon ($7.50) appetizer, fresh spring rolls filled with lettuce, cilantro, bean sprouts, vermicelli noodles, cucumber, mint, and shrimp, wrapped in rice paper and served with a house hoisin sauce. While we wait for the spring rolls, I order a glass of J Lohr Cabernet Sauvignon. It is large, flavorful wine that pairs remarkably well with the cold winter night and refined elegance of Red Door. Our spring rolls arrive, and with the first bite I know the restaurant will live up to our expectations. Refreshingly light, the bean sprouts add a pleasing crunch, and the slightly sweet hoisin sauce highlights the mint in the roll.
For our main courses, my brother, sticking to a safe favorite, orders a side of white rice and the Chicken Satay ($9), grilled marinated chicken skewers served with peanut sauce, pickled cucumbers and onions. Having heard excellent reviews on the soup, my dad selects the Tom Kah Ksi Thai hot and sour soup ($14), served with straw mushrooms, lemongrass, Thai chilies, galanca, limejuice, kaffir leaves and coconut milk. My mom chooses her favorite as well, Pad Thai ($15), which consists of rice noodles stir-fried with bean sprouts, green onions, eggs and a special house tamarind sauce with shrimp. Indecisive, I finally settle on something completely new, choosing a dish highly-recommended by Lynn Doan, the Red Door Noodles ($18). This dish is composed of stir-fried vegetables with shrimp, chicken, and beef over crispy rice noodles.
When our food is served, my stomach growls as tempting smells fill my nose. Fresh off the grill, my brother’s Chicken Satay skewers pair flawlessly with a sweet peanut sauce. My dad’s soup is served in a large, white ceramic bowl and is chock-full of tasty vegetables. Moderately spicy, the coconut milk broth completes the dish. My mom’s Pad Thai is gratifying as well. Not too sweet, the tamarind sauce has a refreshingly unique zing, and the shrimp is cooked to perfection. After sampling a little of everyone’s dinner, I am secretly happy to discover that I like my own dish the best. The rice noodles are indeed crispy, as their name implies, and are fun to eat. The stir-fried vegetables contain hints of sesame, soy, and ginger and I enjoy a medley of shrimp, chicken and beef! On top of all that, the broth of my dish is incredible, and I am left only with the wish that I had a side of white rice to use as an excuse to soak up the remaining flavor.
The portion size of each dish is spot-on, and the service is great. We leave our plates are completely clean, “I take it you didn’t like anything,” our waiter jokes. Red Door’s Asian fused cuisine is innovative and unique in flavor and presentation. It is a welcome addition to Ketchum’s restaurant scene. Red Door is open for dinner Monday through Thursday from 5-9pm and Friday and Saturday from 5-10pm. All around, you are in for a memorable dining experience if you choose a night out at the Red Door; come hungry, and don’t be afraid to try something new!
