92-95 Isabella Street,
Waterloo,
London,
SE1 8DA
(020) 7928 5111
The ViewLondon Review
Bar? Check. Dance floor? Check. Restaurant? Check, check. Thai Silk offers it all and does a good job of getting the balance right.
The Venue
Thai Silk is handily located a 2 minute stroll from Southwark tube station, set off the road on quiet, pedestrian-only Isabella Street. It’s a location that adds a pleasant calm to Thai Silk’s large outdoor area, complete with huge parasols, plenty of tables and lots of foliage, hiding the cold grey streets of London.
Inside, the venue is almost cavernous in size, divided in half into a bar and club area (complete with a large dance floor) and the main dining room, divided by a brick archway that hints at the heritage of the building. The restaurant area is decadent with a deep red colour scheme punctuated by dark woods. Red lampshades overhead continue the theme and the highlight of the decor is a large piece of red and gold Buddha artwork that dominates the back wall. The only negative is a randomly placed large-screen TV showing music videos on mute – a strange addition that almost detracts from the well thought out aesthetic of Thai Silk.
The Atmosphere
There’s a good mixture of people at Thai Silk, thanks mainly to the multi-functional nature of the venue. Dressed to the nines party-goers dominate the bar and club area whilst office workers take up most of the bar area, enjoying after work drinks. The restaurant attracts a mixture of couples, families and groups of friends. The ambience is welcoming and comforting, a feeling perpetuated by the friendly staff who know the menu well and are happy to offer recommendations and advice. Service is quick and efficient and restaurant etiquette is well observed.
The Food
The food at Thai Silk is excellent and the prices reasonable. The menu spans chef’s recommendations, vegetarian, meat and fish dishes. Set menus (priced at £16.95 - £24.95 per person) are good value for money and the a la carte is divided into starters, soups, Thai grills, Thai curries, spicy and non-spicy stir fries, noodles, seafood, salad and rice dishes at an average of £6-£7 for a main dish.
For a starter, the Thai Silk hors d’oeuvres (£12.95) is a good choice if you want to try a selection of the starter dishes on offer, including: tender, perfectly cooked chicken satay with a rich peanut dipping sauce; well spiced spring rolls with a crisp, thin batter and generous vegetable filling; perfectly seasoned, slightly spicy fish cakes; crisp butterfly wontons; and a sweet sticky rice that tastes almost like popcorn. The only criticism is the portion size is on the small side with just two examples of each dish included, which is a shame when it tastes so good and will leave you wanting more.
Main courses live up to the promise of the starters. Highly recommended is the special pad Thai (£10.95) with wok fried Thai noodles, egg and king prawns. The egg adds a pleasant depth to the dish and makes it filling and the prawns are succulent, plump and lend their flavour throughout the dish, although you only get a couple included. Alternatively, try the panaeng gae (£12.95), which comprises delicious, tender braised lamb that pulls away from the bone at the lightest touch of a fork in a rich, creamy red curry sauce with coconut milk. Enjoyed with a side of fragrant, fluffy Thai rice (£2.20) it’s a delicious dish. A side of stir fried broccoli with ginger in an oyster sauce (£5.50) is also recommended for its delicate balance of flavours and crunchy consistency.
For dessert, a selection of Thai puddings are tempting and well priced at £3.20 to £4.20 with a selection of hot drinks and aperitifs. Highly recommended is the Thai pancake filled with a creamy green pandan custard and rich vanilla ice cream. It’s surprisingly light given the sweet, creamy flavours.
The Drink
There’s a good selection of drinks at Thai Silk. The wine list encompasses a handful of rose and sparkling varieties with around ten whites and as many reds, well priced at £12.95 to £39.95 a bottle. The house white (Torrontes 2009 Vinas Riojas from Argentina) is an excellent example of a house wine being drinkable and easy on the palate, surprisingly complementing the spicy Thai food well.
There’s also a lengthy cocktail menu with all of the classics available for £5.50 and a list of Thai Silk signature cocktails as well as shooters. If beer is more your thing, the rare Chang beer is available here - a Thai beer that’s a pleasant, sweeter alternative to the usual Pilsners, priced at £3.20 a bottle. Kronenbourg and Fosters finish of the bottle selection whilst Japanese Kirin Ichiban is available on tap.
The Last Word
Thai Silk is a great option if you’re looking for well priced, good Thai food in a beautiful setting with the option of cocktails and dancing after dinner.
Thai Silk has been reviewed by 2 users