From the Patara restaurant group, Suda claims to be a Siamese rice bar with the first som tam bar in Britain. But is it really as authentic as it sounds, or does it just fall short?

The Venue
Suda is one beautiful venue. Located in St Martin’s Courtyard, the decked flooring and foliage that covers the area around its sleek glass exterior create a visual aesthetic that you can’t help but be intrigued by. It certainly looks upmarket, anyway. Inside, the venue is spread across two floors with around 120 covers and looks spacious and appealing thanks to its dark, sleek and atmospheric colour scheme. The black tables have a mottled effect, and sit in neat little rows, whilst the lighting is moody without being too dark. However, if you want to really make the most out of Suda, book a table upstairs where the huge glass wall offers great views over the pretty courtyard – you’ll barely be able to tear your eyes away.

The Atmosphere
Suda has the buzz of a new restaurant that's being discovered by foodies from around town. The sound of people chattering excitedly fills the space and it will certainly get quite busy as word of mouth starts to spread. You will also hear the audible gasps of your neighbouring diners as some of the beautifully presented food arrives at their tables. The staff are efficient and although not overly friendly, they will happily take the time to answer your questions on the menu – and you may have quite a lot of them.

The Food
The menu at Suda is lengthy and gets the mouth watering before you’ve even ordered your first dish. Opt for a couple of small plates and a main each and you can easily eat here for £20-£40 a head - and you'll be pleasantly full at the end of it.

To be wowed, go for the Suda crab and prawn fire cracker (£5.95). Beautifully presented with two glasses sitting in a black display unit, this is one of the dishes that get the oohs and aahs. And it tastes as good as it looks, with four crisp rolls filled with perfectly seasoned, sweet crab meat and prawns sat in a sweet chilli dip. The chicken satay (£4.95) is also pretty good. It arrives as four large pieces of tender chicken covered in a sweet, almost sickly satay sauce. It’s sinfully delicious, although it would be nice if the sauce was served on the side so you could choose how many calories you're up for covering it in.

For mains, try the kao soi gai (£8.50), a yellow curry noodle served with chicken or beef. The large portion comes with wonderfully crisp noodles and a well spiced curry sauce that's thick enough to hold the dish together, yet doesn't overpower the delicate flavours. They're very generous with the tender slivers of chicken too, so it's very filling and really satisfying.

The Drink
The drinks list at Suda is, frankly, incredible. They have a huge choice of freshly made smoothies and juices (well priced at the £3-£4 mark) and an above-average choice of soft drinks and hot drinks, including a large number of teas to aid digestion. They also offer a small selection of wine and have cleverly gone for bolder bottles to work with the strong flavours of the food, including a Thai shiraz. You may be better off sticking to the Thai-influenced cocktails, however, such as an unusual lemongrass bellini for just £7.50. Beer rounds off the selection with Singha and Chang working well with the Thai spices.

The Last Word
St Martin’s Courtyard may not be the most obvious place for an authentic Thai restaurant, and Suda itself may be a little too sleek for some, but there’s no denying that this is an excellent restaurant that represents great value for money.

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