It is not often that I get invited to two restaurants in a week, let alone two Thai restaurants. Both different styles, in different areas of the city, on different price scales and appealing to different audiences. But what is their food like? After all Thai is Thai, no matter who you are trying to pitch it at.
So here we go… Chaophraya Vs Thaikhun… the gloves are off. Today Chaophraya…
The decor in Chaophraya screams luxury, with marble figures and sunken feature dining tables it is the perfect environment for a corporate dinner or a romantic date of an evening. We were invited to dine as they have a new menu promising a sophisticated take on Thai cuisine inspired by tastes from across the Thai regions.
Not one to like to miss out on anything I took my time over the menu with a Rubies and Diamonds cocktail. I had heard good things about this little beauty from the launch and I wasn’t disappointed. Pama pomegranate liqueur, cranberry juice and Pinot Grigio shouldn’t really work but the tart cranberry takes an edge off the dryness of the wine. A definite winner and one I will go back for.
The Thai Chicken Tacos are a delightful twist on the Mexican classic with lightly fragrant red curried chicken served atop rice flour tacos. The tacos have a soft chewiness that is completely different in texture to what I am used to but beautiful. The Soft Shell Crab and Squid Tempura is a large portion for a starter with a quivering tower of tempura on a decorative shell with salad. The batter could have been seasoned a little better but it was crisp and the seafood fresh and soft. The Thai Crackers are a favourite of mine, harder and more crunchy than the Chinese version, they have a light heat to compliment whichever starter you decide to choose.
If you are looking for a show stopper you can’t go far wrong with the Yellow Fish Curry which is served inside a whole seabass. The flavours are good with creaminess from the sauce and a light heat that doesn’t overpower the gentle flavours of the fish. It is a fairly small dish though and for £18 I do think it is a bit excessive. The Massaman Lamb Curry is a Thai favourite of mine so a definite order for me. This version has a light sauce thanks to the use of coconut milk rather than cream. The lamb was soft and slowly cooked allowing it to soak up all the flavours and spices really well. We decided to try the Crab Meat Fried Rice for something a little different and at £7.50 it was also a pricier option. Unfortunately the crab flavour was lacking and this was more a richer version of egg fried rice. I would have liked to see more chunks of crab and for there to be a stronger flavour of crab present.
For the first time in a while we had space for dessert and I was genuinely gutted that Chaophraya had sold out of the Chocolate Bombe with its toasted sesame popcorn centre. I had to go for the Coconut Panna Cotta which arrived like a trio of desserts. The panna cotta had the slightest hint of coconut possible to compliment the light set cream yet the freshness was the element that stood out. The lime and lemongrass sorbet was very tart with little sugar so a perfect palate cleanser although I don’t think it really ‘went’ with the panna cotta as an accompaniment.
The White Chocolate Box wasn’t mine but I was jealous and ended up eating half of it anyway. The creamy white chocolate mousse with tart berries seems quite a summery dish for this time of year but it was lovely and small enough to enjoy as an end to the meal rather than a hefty pudding.
In summary I really enjoyed Chaophraya although it is somewhere to get dressed up and enjoy a proper night out. It isn’t cheap and I don’t think all the dishes are worth their price but the stars are worth the splurge. Give the Massaman a go, and please for the love of God, have the Chocolate Bombe and tell me how it is?
Stay tuned for part two… Two Thai or not two Thai with Thaikhun.
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