Sara Shah & Yamini Walia give you the lowdown on Eat Thai a modern Thai eatery in Bandra
You will rarely hear bad things about Thai cuisine. And, a lazy lunch at one of Bandra’s cosiest Thai eateries seems like the perfect way to spend a slow, monotonous Thursday afternoon. So, we headed to Eat Thai, a self-proclaimed haven for contemporary pan-Asian cuisine. Conceptualised by restaurateurs Ashish Sajnani and Juspreet Singh Walia, the interiors are quirky and cosy, and exude an old world-charm that you will reminiscence about for days to come.
Eat Thai has an outdoor seating arrangement as well, which is a plus for those who like the fresh air and enjoy watching the hustle-bustle of everyday life. However, we suggest heading indoors and taking in their amazing interiors — the exposed bricks, filament bulb chandeliers and pipes lining the ceilings offer a feel that is synonymous with a typical café or deli in, perhaps, New York. With graffiti-style artwork on the walls and an almost cool, mysterious vibe about the place, we’d say that it is the perfect place for a date or a romantic meal.
The menu boasts of mouth-watering Asian dishes that scream comfort food. We started with their Geang Jeud-je soup (Rs 225) with Kai (which translates to chicken) — a delicious, clear soup with chopped vegetables, roasted sticky rice and chicken. If you can relate to the feeling of piping hot, delicious soup, trickling down your throat on days when you’re feeling under the weather, we’re sure that you will love this soup. The sticky rice added just the right amount of crunch to it and you could feel the subtle, yet delicious punch of pepper.
We tried two of their salads next — Larb Kai (Rs 275) and their signature, Yum Quinoa (Rs 300). The former comprised of minced chicken with shallots, lime, crushed rice and mint leaves, while the latter included quinoa, tomatoes, red cabbage and cashew nuts as their signature dressing. If we had to pick one word to describe both the salads, we’d say that they were refreshing. In fact, they were probably the freshest dish we’d had in a long time. And, we’re not talking just in terms of the quality of the ingredients, but also the taste of all the elements, which worked together to leave behind a refreshing, zesty tang on our tongues.
Fully satisfied with our salads, and confident that what we ordered next would be just as good, we picked the Satay Kai (Rs 375) or chicken satay and the Phad Pik Kai Sriracha (Rs 395), their signature starter. We were disappointed to find that the satays weren’t as good as we expected them to be, but the Phad Pik Kai, which is basically stuffed chicken wings tossed in honey sriracha, were delicious! And so, with high hopes, we moved on to mains.
Our main course included the Pla Neung Som (Rs 595), a dish of steamed fillet Bekti steak with fresh herbs and the Khao Phad Je with kai (Rs 350). While we were impressed by their soups, salads and starters, their mains were a bit disappointing. The fish steak was cooked well, but the taste didn’t quite hit the mark and the Khao Phad Je, (fried rice) was overwhelmingly spicy. So much so that we had to put down our forks midway to take huge gulps of water. But, no love was lost as we had heard good things about Eat Thai’s desserts, which we had plenty of space for, thanks to the light-on-the-stomach food at Eat Thai.
So, we ordered their Kanom Cake (Rs 275) and their Kanom Dok (Rs 250). The names are a mouthful, but they simply translate to chocolate cake and panna cotta! Both are must-try desserts. The chocolate cake was moist, warm and gooey, but you won’t feel as guilty about chowing it down, because it is gluten free. Even their pannacotta was delicious. Served with a variety of fruits, it had the perfect consistency.
We’d describe our meal as comforting. Barring a few dishes, the food is great and their desserts deserve a special mention. What’s even better is that you won’t be left with stuffed tummies that make you feel drowsy, because everything on their menu is light and refreshing. You will want to go back again. We know we do!
Where Pali Hill, Bandra West 8/9, Gasper Enclave, Pali Naka Bandra (w)
Contact 26459775
Meal for two Rs 1,300
Alcohol No