176 Drury Lane,
Covent Garden,
London,
WC2B 5QF
(020) 7405 5551
The ViewLondon Review
Thai food on the cheap in Central London.The VenueTaking over the space once occupied by the infamous Drury Lane Diner, the former Chinese restaurant has been transformed to a low key Thai place. It’s a small space, with dark wood tables and chairs packed tightly together. The walls are painted light pink and realistic looking orchids sit at each table.
The AtmosphereIf you want a chance at getting a table for lunch during the week, come as early as you can because by 1pm the place is pretty much filled. The main customers are local office workers attracted by the good location and low prices. Unfortunately, when the restaurant is crowded it becomes hard to find a way to get around – the tables are practically on top of each other and to get to the door at the front you have to pick your way around tables towards the back of the restaurant.
The FoodThere are no prices for specific dishes on the menu, just a one or two course choice – one course costs £5.95 and two cost £7.95. From the starters, the tom kha gai soup is a good choice, a thin but creamy coconut-based soup with little bubbles of chilli oil, tender chicken and plump mushrooms, and from the mains, the classic pad thai with pork is also a good option. The portion is generous and the sauce is tasty, if a bit too sweet, with lots of chunks of meaty pork mixed throughout.
The DrinkA wine list isn’t available, but the restaurant serves sodas for £1 and beers (Budweiser, Becks and Singha) for £3. Glasses of wine are also on the menu for £3, but strangely it doesn’t say what type of wine it is, only whether it’s red or white.
The Last WordA good choice for a quick lunch that won’t break the bank.