I would give this restaurant no stars. The hygiene standards are terrible and the quality of meat questionable. The plastic table covers are greasy, the floor is filthy and the place is smelly. Those that have given this place the image of being a 'quirky' place with an 'eccentric' owner are reinforcing poor hygiene and appalling behaviour for the benefit of a cheap meal and BYOB . The lady is loud and swears. It is not the kind of place you would want to take children to. She displays no consistency or professionalism as a restaurant owner and her rude remarks could spoil your evening. It is shocking that a reataurant like this is allowed to operate in an affluent part of London.

If I could give this place zero stars I would. The restaurant is fitly and the food is unsanitary. It smells of spilled beer and spoiled meat. There's no way anyone could pay me to eat there much less would I ever pay for a meal there again. No thanks. Mudmee is a great thai place right around the corner, I would much rather go there!

I went to this restaurant with my girlfriend for a dinner on a weekend. And we both were very shocked with what we heard among the staff. If only those people who frequent this restaurant understand Thai, we're pretty sure they'll never go back to this place ever again. My girlfriend and myself are both Caucasian but lived in Bangkok for 18 years and speak the language fluently. It was our very first time to try not to engage on the same level linguistically with the staff. But we were in for a surprise. We ended up not eating or finishing our main course as we couldn't simply wait to leave. The staff were so irresponsible and couldn't care less about the health of their customers. We heard them saying 'It doesn't matter if it's a spoiled meat, it's cooked well enough and spiced up enough that these drunk people couldn't care less!' They were really having a two-faced service with their customers. As at the kitchen we can hear them not caring about their customers health, whilst at the restaurant floor they were all smiley and friendly. It was so packed then and very noisy that my girlfriend and myself didn't want to make a scene by telling everyone. And so we left. To all people who frequent this place, do you realise that you've probably have been eating rotten meat spiced up with their favorite Thai spices and served with faked or nervous smiles?

Is this a restaurant.... a massive YES!
An excellent night out, great food, brilliant service, friendly atmosphere and good value.
Bring your own drink, you cant really go too wrong.
Remember not to ask for mangos in winter... summer only desert.
This is our second time and we are already looking forward to our third.
Cafe 209 is a must!

Is this a restaurant...a massive YES. An excellent night out for all, great food, great prices, bring your own wine and good banter guaranteed. Fast service, friendly service, brilliant genuine Thai food and a good atmosphere. Do remember if you want mangos... they are only available in the Summer!!! Our second time back and already looking forward to the third! A must!

This restaurant? A massive NO!!!! I came in with a friend to try it out and noticed we were the only people and so I asked ' Hello! Are you guys open?' The lady whom I believe is the owner, simply barked us back 'Why does it say close on the door?'

Woah, we were simply taken aback by her upfront-ness rude behavior.

Then we gave her the benefit of the doubt and stayed and sat as she came towards us placing two sticky and dirty menus.

With an accompanied massive sigh. As if to say she's doing us a favor. Then we felt it was really unpleasant and she is quite unfriendly. And so we changed our mind.

We stood up as my friend said 'Sorry we changed our minds.' She then again barked us back 'You always change your mind!'

This is a woman whom we never met and the place we never been once before. But guess how she followed that sentence with? 'F*** ***!'

shocked and I came back from the opened door saying 'What did you just say?'

Again, she simply replied and repeated 'F*** ***!' I then replied to her 'Who are you to talk to me like that?'

But then realised I was talking to a mad person. Although, I was really shocked and upset by her rudness.

We were laughing of shock and disbelief on outside, whilst a family was reading their menu by the window.

Surely, the kids heard her saying those profanity words to us. How delightful. Strange it's still running though.

If only people would know. By the way, by saying 'barking', I really mean it, as if she was answering someone back in the middle of an argument.

Eating at Café 209 is a truly bizarre experience. The proprietor is like Nancy Lam – totally off-the-wall. Good Thai food though - Café 209 is well worth a visit.