The sister venue to Central London’s Thai Express, Bangkok Boulevard is more about casual, relaxed dining than its lunchtime rush counterpart.

The Venue
Located on Battersea’s popular Lavender Hill, about a 10 minute walk from Clapham Junction, Bangkok Boulevard is a sleek and welcoming restaurant. A tranquil water feature built into a glass window greets diners on their way in to the restaurant whilst brown leather seating lines the stylish dark crimson walls. Out front, outdoor dining is available on the small terrace overlooking the street.

The Atmosphere
While this restaurant looks sleek, its atmosphere is a lot more chilled then you might expect from its sophisticated style. Pop music plays quietly in the background (think Michael Jackson) however it’s often drowned out with pleasant hum of the diners chatting. A popular choice with locals, the clientele is a mix of couples, friends and lone diners popping in for a bite.

The Food
Bangkok Boulevard serves up an aromatic feast of tasty Thai food. The menu is divided into several sections including curry, wok, char grilled, specialties, rice and noodles and there are three set menus to choose from too, starting at £13.95 per person and including a vegetarian option.

All the staples you would expect from a Thai restaurant are on the starters menu – chicken satay, fishcakes, spring rolls and prawn toast – and are priced at around £4.50. The steamed pork and prawn dumplings are a good choice. Served in a bamboo basket, the four moneybag-like parcels are sprinkled with roasted garlic and come with a lovely, thick, sweet soy sauce for dipping. For a great choice, try the crispy aromatic duck. These make-them-yourself pancakes come with slices of spring onion, cucumber, plum sauce and delicious pieces of tender shredded duck, topped with a delightfully crispy skin. There are six pancakes, so this dish is great for sharing.

For mains, you can’t go wrong with the restaurant’s specialties. The Lost in BLVD is a delicious, fall-off the-bone shank of lamb served in massaman curry. The tomato-based sauce is quite mild, allowing the rich flavour of the lamb to shine through, rather than be overshadowed. For something with a bit more bite, try the Dragon Dance. Grilled jumbo river prawns that are deliciously juicy, they are beautifully presented, butterflied on a platter with the spicy red curry sauce delicately drizzled with yoghurt. Mains are priced between £5.50 and £10. The coconut rice is a superb side dish to accompany the curries. It has a sticky consistency with a sweet coconut flavour. The side dish of broccoli and mushroom served in oyster sauce is perfectly steamed but unfortunately too salty.

The desserts are mainly of the ice cream variety. The pineapple ice cream is a surprisingly heavy choice. Served inside a piece of pineapple, it is very rich, creamy and a bit too sweet. The banana fritters come in a lovely light and crunchy batter. Served with thick vanilla ice cream, the dessert has a lovely hot-and-cold sensation. Desserts are priced at around £3.

The Drink
The wine list is modest, offering a choice of well-priced bottles (£13 to £30) from both the old and new world. Try the Venetian pinot grigio at £15 a bottle. Served super-chilled, it is light, crisp and the perfect accompaniment to the curry dishes. Beers are a bit more local with Tiger, Chang and Singha on offer. For those who fancy something a bit more special, there’s a selection of tall, short and Champagne cocktails.

The Last Word
Top Thai food that won’t break the bank. While it’s mostly locals that frequent Bangkok Boulevard, it’s certainly worth venturing to for a fantastic meal out.

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