Satara Thai and Boutique Wine Lounge

ADDRESS: 8350 W. Paradise Lane, Peoria.

PHONE NUMBER: 623-979-9696.

HOURS: Kitchen is open from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. and 5 to 9 p.m. Monday through Friday, 1 to 9 p.m. Saturday and noon to 8 p.m. Sunday. The wine lounge is open 4 p.m. to midnight Monday through Thursday, 4 p.m. to 2 a.m. Friday and Saturday.

OWNER: Jon Graham; John Decker, general manager.

CUISINE: Authentic Thai and boutique wine lounge.

SEATS: 48 in the main dining room, 20 in semi-private/private dining room, 20 on outdoor patio and 25-30 in the lounge.

OPEN SINCE: Aug. 30.

WEB SITE: Under construction.

SPECIALTY OF THE HOUSE: Crab and cream cheese Rangoon; pla rad prik - deep-fried freshwater panga with Thai chili peppers, onion, bell pepper, Thai basil and Thai herb sauce.

POPULAR LUNCH ENTRÉE: Curry dishes; papaya salad.

POPULAR DINNER ENTRÉE: Phad kemaow (noodle dish) with chicken, beef or pork and peppers; vegetarian dishes also are available.

POPULAR DESSERT: Sweet mango with sticky rice; warm chocolate lava cake with freshly made ice cream - "It's not a Thai dish, but it's my personal favorite," Graham said.

AVAILABLE FOR: Dine in, take out, catering, private parties. Reservations may be requested for all areas of the restaurant.

PRICE RANGE: $7 to $12 for lunch, $10 to $18 for dinner.

WHAT ELSE YOU SHOULD KNOW:   Satara features live music beginning at 7:30 Friday and Saturday nights. Select premium spirits, high-end tequila, vodka and draft beer are available. "The beer we have, you don't typically find on draft; they're very distinct," Graham said. The restaurant carries about 90 different wines from around the world. Guests may purchase wine lockers to store their favorites. "We carry very low-production wines, and we run out of certain wines within two to three months," Graham said. "With the lockers, they purchase case or combination, and as long as they replenish it every six months, it belongs to them."

UNIQUE TIDBITS: The dining room and lounge feature original artwork, much of which is from Africa. The restaurant grows its own Thai vegetables in the garden on the patio. Cigars are for sale and may be smoked on the patio. The semi-private/private dining room has a flat-screen television with laptop computer hookup. Wine flights and wine dinners also are available. "The ambience is fine dining, but in a casual atmosphere," Graham said. "It's not what people usually think of when they think of Thai food; it's relaxed and can take hours," Decker said. "It's a chance to enjoy the ambience and the company."

FUTURE PLANS: The owners would ultimately like to expand the business outside of Arizona, Graham said, as well as build an outdoor stage for live entertainment.

Do you know of a great restaurant in the West Valley you'd like to see in our Dining Out feature? Call Brittany Woodruff, 623-876-2527, or e-mail bwoodruff@yourwestvalley.com.