Thai Square doesn’t just dip its toe into the world of Thai dining, it wholeheartedly dives in, with themed decor, authentic food and even cocktails.

The Venue
This Thai Square is a very well thought out venue. It’s divided into two parts – one for takeaway orders and ‘dash and grab’ meals, and the other for more intimate affairs. And it’s this area that really showcases what the restaurant has to offer. The decor is vibrant, with woods, blacks and reds mixing with gold accents for a proper Thai feel, all lifted by flashes of foliage. The wooden tables and chairs are well kept and things are given a casual edge thanks to some exposed brickwork. Decorative flourishes include statuettes, Buddha idols and huge ornate vases that match the intricate imagery and gold leaf prints. It’s decadent without being try hard.

The Atmosphere
The location of this Thai Square is between the City and east London proper, and it’s well pitched to appeal to both sides of the coin. The service is excellent with lots of staff to ensure everyone is well looked after (as business types demand), while it’s laid back enough not to intimidate.

The Food
The food here represents excellent value for money; you’re looking at £20-£40 a head depending on how much you want to eat, though they do also have some great set menu prices if you want to budget.

The mixed starter is a good way to go, beautifully presented on a stand with huge leaves. An array of tempura, dumplings and chicken satay begin to showcase just what the kitchen can do and, judging from the excellent flavours and seasoning, they can do a lot.

The ‘chef recommended’ dishes are definitely also worth trying, with the Dover sole steamed with fresh ginger, spring onion and dark soy particularly good. This simple dish, best enjoyed with the light, fluffy steamed rice, is perfectly cooked so the meaty, delicate flesh of the fish peels effortlessly away from the bone. The flavours are incredibly simple and highlight the flavour of the fish rather than disguising it.

And this is just one of a long list of dishes that really explores what Thai cooking has to offer – bold spices, strong flavours, fresh ingredients. Even the desserts are excellent with lychees served in a bold syrup proving to be a real hit, avoiding being sickly and instead cleansing the palate after a heavy meal.

The Drink
Whilst many restaurants like this ignore the drinks list, this place has done an incredible job with their cocktail selection, taking Thai flavours and infusing them with alcohol. The perfect example of this is the Tom Yum Soup (£6.95), an unusual but incredibly well balanced sweet drink with vodka, lychee liqueur, lemongrass, lime and chilli. The heat of the chilli stops it from being saccharine whilst the balance of all those ingredients from the East makes it feel authentically Thai.

Also excellent is the Sunset at Chaophraya (vodka, Southern Comfort, Galliano and orange - £6.95), which is beautifully presented and packs quite a kick but has a pleasant, sweetly citrus aftertaste. Alternatively, the Pink in City cocktail is girly, and sweet with Archers, strawberry liqueur, Jameson and lime. The Metropolis (£8.50) is a great example of a champagne cocktail done well, with the sweetness of strawberries mixing with the hit of vodka and champagne.

The Last Word
This Thai Square could have easily cut corners to offer yet more bog-standard Thai grub, but instead they have pushed the boundaries and ensured this is one spot you’ll want to go back to.

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