RED BANK: TAXMAN SEIZES THAI RESTAURANT

Muang Thai 3Muang Thai owner Jack Pongnoo, seated, with Muang Thai staffers last August. Below, the sticker slapped on the restaurant door by state tax officials Thursday. (Photo above by Robert Kern, below by Boris Kofman. Click to enlarge)

By JOHN T. WARD

Fans of Red Bank’s well-regarded Muang Thai appear to have lost a dining option.

rb muang thai 061214The state of New Jersey seized the restaurant’s assets Thursday over unpaid taxes, according to a bright orange sticker slapped on the door.

The sticker cites owner-chef Chanarong Pongnoo, who’s known as Jack, and a business entity as the defendants in court cases in which the state won judgments leading to the seizure.

redbankgreen learned of the action after business hours and could not reach state taxation department officials for further information. Pongaroo could not be located for comment.

Muang Thai opened just 15 months ago in the intimate space at 7 East Front Street – at the corner of Wharf Avenue – taking over space last occupied by La Petit France. The restaurant’s popularity grew swiftly, and when Flowers on Front vacated the shop next door for a new home on Maple Avenue two months ago, Muang Thai expanded into that space.