Sukhothai; a Meal With a Difference!!

Category: Under £20

If you read all the reviews in H2B you'll probably notice that I do the ones where the food is more traditional, plain and simple!! So when I was asked to review Sukhothai I was a little apprehensive…. What is Thai food?

On entering the restaurant we were pleasantly greeted by a waitress dressed in a traditional Thai costume. The restaurant was buzzing, only a couple of tables empty, ours being one of them. We were seated and our drinks order taken and then left to peruse the menu…. and what a menu!! Our drinks arrived, I'd drawn the short straw so I was driving, but Ian tried a traditional Thai Beer (Lager).

We chose similar starters, Satay Gai (Chicken) and Satay Gung (King Prawns) both were grilled and served with salad dressing and peanut dipping sauce…. so far so good, ample portions and very tasty. Then came the mains, Ian had ordered Phed Pad Broccoli, (stir fried duck with broccoli and carrots) whilst I was a little more adventurous, liking shellfish I ordered Pad Nam Mun Hoi. Stir fried mixed seafood with carrots, mushrooms and onions in oyster sauce. Ian's Duck arrived first and looked really tempting, then my seafood dish, what a delight. To complement the meals we ordered coconut rice and egg fried rice. The duck, cooked to perfection, the vegetables crunched not overcooked. My dish, what could I say, King Prawns, Greenlip Mussels and Squid lightly stir fried with mushrooms, onions and carrots my taste buds were in overdrive. Halfway through the meal a waiter brought us another dish, saying it was the 'house speciality' and only served at Sukhothai, a dish of Haddock deep fried in Chilli Oil with vegetables… panic attack, neither Ian nor I really like 'hot' spicy food, but being polite we thanked the waiter as he placed the dish on the table and walked away… ok I said, we have to try it, so forks at the ready we both picked out some haddock at the same time. What a surprise, my interpretation of 'chilli' in food is 'aaahhhh water'…. but no, this had a delicate flavour not too hot but yet enough to give a taste with a gentle kick. We were both surprised to have enjoyed this dish.

That was it, the challenge was on, could I manage dessert? This is where I usually give in and go straight to coffee but no, after a second look at the menu Ian decided to have Coconut Ice cream, I on the other hand, chose Fried Ice Cream. How surprised I was, the ice cream had been dipped in what I could only say was doughnut batter then quickly deep fried til golden, served with syrup, chocolate sauce and cream… another treat.

If I had one criticism it would be the noise, the restaurant was so busy, which is good, but the noise, you couldn't hear the person in front of you for all the other diners chatting… which left me with a slight headache… but a small price to pay for an otherwise excellent meal.

Reviewed by Adrienne Roberts.

Review Summary

Atmosphere ♦♦♦
Food ♦♦♦♦
Service ♦♦♦♦
Value ♦♦♦♦

Contact Details

Sukhothai
8 Regent Street
Chapel Allerton
Leeds
LS29 7BT
T: 0113 237 0141
www.thaifood4u.co.uk