Norbiton and Dragon is not the kind of place you would stumble upon. Located on the corner of a quiet road in Kingston, this pub come bar come restaurant has more to offer than you would first think.

The Venue
On entering the Norbiton and Dragon, you’ll see a large bar area and a spacious dining area that’s divided into two sections. A glass roof covers one half and would be lovely and bright on summer days, whilst the other section presents itself as more of an evening dining area. An intricate and decorative Thai mural adorns the wall, with sculptures of Buddhas and other religious iconography.

The seating is inviting, with silk and leather cushions in tones of brown and red, creating a sense of warmth and opulence. Fresh orchids decorate the tables and dimmed spotlights on the ceiling offer a relaxing atmosphere. The table and floors are wooden and latticed windows reveal a decked garden area.

The Atmosphere
The clientele are largely couples enjoying a romantic meal, but there is a bar area with a fireplace that seems to attract small groups of friends. Overall, the tone is relatively laid back and relaxed. Unfortunately, the background music was practically inaudible and sounds completely non-Thai, and therefore doesn’t really add to the otherwise authentic atmosphere.

The Food
The menu boasts a vast variety of Asian dishes, including classic noodle dishes, dim sum, and various curries and stir-fries. Starters include the Udang Sarong, Indonesian tiger prawns neatly wrapped in a rice filo pastry and accompanied by a carrot and cabbage side salad and a sweet chilli dip. The salad is delectably fresh and raw with a crunchy texture and the prawns make for a light and pleasant starter.

Another recommended starter is the Hoy Mang Poo dragon, stir-fried greenlip mussels with spring onion, fresh chillies and basil leaves which come served on a large lettuce leaf. It’s meaty, spicy and bursting with flavour, cooked in a tasty soy sauce. The red chillies give the dish an added kick and a zesty aftertaste. The portions are generous and this would be a good dish to share.

For mains, try the classic Pad Thai Goong, rice noodles with stir-fried tiger prawns, turnip, egg and beansprouts, garnished with ground peanuts. This dish offers an abundance of flavours, all beautifully subtle and equally balanced. The tiger prawns are cooked to perfection, and are both meaty and succulent, delightfully complementing the entire dish.

Another main is the Sizzling Weeping Tiger, a sirloin steak cooked in rice wine and served with a hot and sour chilli dip on the side. The rice wine has an interesting and unique taste that makes a change from usual steak sauces, but apart from that, there is nothing special about this dish and, for the price, you’re best to overlook this option.

The dessert options are sparse and unfortunately the popular ones tend to sell out quickly. Choose the mango and passion fruit sorbet for a sweet and refreshing taste, accompanied with cream and a slice of cherry. The Lotee Sai Mapraw (Pandan flavoured pancakes filled with coconut and palm sugar) is an unusual dish; as a result of the Pandan, the pancakes are green in colour and a little stodgy; not the most inspiring dessert. Overall, the prices at Norbiton and Dragon are reasonable and you’re likely to spend no more than £25 per head.

The Drink
The wine menu is extensive and there are wines on offer that will no doubt be tempting to try out, but avoid the Terre Forti which is the house wine. Italian, red and rich in body, it promises to be more than it is, as it has a somewhat lacklustre aftertaste.

There are also appetizing liquor coffees on offer, from Russian coffee to Gaelic coffee. The Thai coffee is highly recommended, named Mekong, a Thai whisky, with a spicy scent of cinnamon or nutmeg. Ideal as a winter beverage, it has a strong, sweet and distinctive taste and is a warm and satisfying end to an evening.

The Last Word
Norbiton and Dragon has a lot to offer, it’s a pub and bar with an inviting inner dining area. Its strengths lie in the furnishings, decor, friendly service and fireplace which are all reasons why a visit here would be well worth it.

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