Turnham Green Thai

I've finally had it with this place. The older waiter/manager - same guy there all the time - has struggled to be civil on every one of my visits - and there've been a few. It is clearly a struggle for him to be friendly or pleasant - and this tends to leave you - well me, anyway - feeling slightly uncomfortable. The last time I was there with a friend, he came to our table at about 10:45 and asked us to drink up and leave. Ignoring the table of ten people happily carrying on with their drinks on the other side of the room. His manner was extraordinarily rude. When my companion responded that we'd leave when the other party left, he retreated to the kitchen area (about five feet away, for those that haven't been) shooting looks at us that would not only have killed but tortured and maimed, and began communicating his dissatisfaction to the younger employee on duty. I really don't come to a restaurant, however cheap, to experience this. I have vowed that the next time I am skint and can only afford to go to a BYO restaurant, I will either find an alternative, sparse as they are, or buy myself a bottle of wine at a supermarket, go home and get my boyfriend to do the cooking instead (which, incidentally, would be of better quality). Why go in the first place, you may ask - well, low cost, genial atmosphere, being out without spending a fortune is often more fun than eating at home - but not at this price.
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Overall rating
Food 4 | Service 1 | Atmosphere 5 | Value for money 4
Monday, September 15, 2008

Having viewed all the positive comments about this cafe on various sites, I thought I wold give it a go with my wife on Friday. We were warmly welcomed by the staff and led to our table. The menu looked simple and we ordered our food. I had soup, salad, rice and beef with chili and basil. Unfortunately when the food came it was not that great. The soup was warm and the chicken in it was tough. The beef salad had cold and warm slices of beef, and the vegetables in my wife's pad thai were clearly from a shop bought packet.

I was thoroughly dissapointed with the quality of the food, and I will not be going back there again.
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Todd
Overall rating
Food 3 | Service 7 | Atmosphere 5 | Value for money 3
Sunday, February 24, 2008

Dined here early December with my 3 teenage daughters. All the write ups I had previously read proved to be true, excellent service, menu and price. Only small seating area and we were grateful we had got in early as soon filled up.
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Alexandra
Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 10
Monday, January 08, 2007

You can't beat a bring-your-own restaurant and this little gem is the perfect cheap-eat for tantalising thai, wine and a good natter.

Working down the road from what appears to be a greasy spoon cafe by day, some friends and I decided to sample this cosy thai cafe before a spot of local comedy.

The staff were very sweet. Dimly lit, with the clatter of the chef knocking up our thai delights, and finger-licking nosh served piping hot from the kitchen, this cafe will certainly be frequented by those in the know.
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Jenn - View all reviews by this user
Overall rating
Food 8 | Service 9 | Atmosphere 9 | Value for money 10
Sunday, December 03, 2006

I had heard this was 'the best kept secret' when it comes to Thai food, but still couldn't bring myself to go in until last Saturday. It looks a little run down from the outside..as someone said earlier 'a greasy spoon'.

But once you're inside seated at a table, it's so atmospheric and reminiscent of a little Thai restaurant in Thailand. All the staff are Thai and the food is 100% authentic too. We realised that it's b.y.o so I nipped up to the bottle store on the corner of the High Street and we had a few too many glasses of vino to accompany our Pad Thai and Beef with chilli.

Excellent food. Our food took long to come out, but time slows down in there and one gets this 'I'm on holiday, maan!' feeling.

Don't hesitate. Go!
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Lee
Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 8 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 10
Wednesday, August 23, 2006

Doesn't look like a thai place and thus is a best kept secret if chiswick because the food is authentic and fantastic. One of the few places that is BYO (bring your own drink) and this adds to the best value for money evening out you will ever have in London. The tables and chairs give a traditional english cafe feel (which is exactly what it is in the daytime) and the place is quite small too. Service is ruthlessly efficient. One other thing is that they don't accept cards (cash only) but it costs that little anyway that you'll not be breaking the bank to pay for it. Expect to pay about £10-12/head excluding dinks.
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Tony
Overall rating
Food 8 | Service 7 | Atmosphere 5 | Value for money 10
Thursday, August 10, 2006

The best thai I have ever had, this is authentic home made food. My boyfriend and I were introduced to this restaurant by two friends only one month ago and since than we have been back three times, once for our anniversary.

The place is simple but its simplicity makes the place. I love it!
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Chiara S A - View all reviews by this user
Overall rating
Food 9 | Service 7 | Atmosphere 8 | Value for money 9
Friday, March 10, 2006

By day this cafe on Turnham Green Terrace is a normal greasy-spoon caff - by night it is transformed into fantastic Thai restaurant.

The fact that you have to 'bring your own' (or run across to the convenience store opposite) adds to the charm. The service is friendly and efficient but most importantly the food is excellent.
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Martin Williams
Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 8 | Atmosphere 8 | Value for money 10
Tuesday, February 14, 2006