Organization
Apsara
Apsara is a Cambodian and pan-Asian restaurant on Public Street in Providence, Rhode Island, founded in 1986 by Thao Te and Chhun Seng Lim.[1] It serves home-style dishes from Cambodia, Thailand, Vietnam and China, which the restaurant calls unique but very traditional.[1][2] The restaurant is named for the apsara, a celestial dancer in Khmer tradition.[1]
History
Apsara began in 1986 as a catering business at 310B Broad Street in Providence.[1][3] While taking classes at night school, Thao Te noticed that many single Asians in the community were too busy to cook Asian meals at home. For a small fee she cooked for them from Monday to Friday.[1] As she prepared those dinners, other people knocked on the door wanting to try the food, and she decided to open to the public. At first there was no menu: customers were served whatever she had cooked that day.[1] The restaurant credits word of mouth, and its generous portions, for bringing in new customers.[1] It later moved to 716 Public Street.[3]
Food
The menu runs from appetizers and soups to meat and vegetable dishes, and many dishes are very hot and spicy. Staff help diners choose combinations to suit their tastes, and the restaurant recommends ordering a mix of flavors, from sweet and sour to mild and spicy.[2] Its dishes include meekathang. Among the appetizers are fried fish cakes of fish blended with lemongrass and spices, served with pickled salad and chili garlic sauce; Mee Kraw Lar, steamed rice noodles in a soy sauce with spices on bean sprouts; and Natang, crispy rice patties with a Thai ground pork and coconut milk sauce.[4] A sampler brings together beef teriyaki, egg rolls, chicken wings, spare ribs and Hae Kainge.[4]
Visiting
It offers in-store pickup.[3]