Baan Tha

Baan Tha is situated in one of the 15th century timber-framed properties at one end of the stone bridge in the quaint medieval village of Yalding. The dining room is replete with heavy beams, a stripped wood floor and the odd decorative nod towards something Asian.

The food is cooked traditionally without using MSG, leaving the flavours and the quality ingredients to speak for themselves. We've been here many times, and on our last visit we had grilled prawns with a peanut satay sauce, and some dumplings stuffed with pork and prawns. The grilled prawns were huge and succulent, the little dumplings incredibly flavoursome and juicy.

As a main we shared one of their specials, a crispy fried seabass in a tamarind sauce, and a Massamun duck curry. The seabass was delicious, the tamarind sauce rich and unctuous but not too overpowering. The Massamun curry was subtle and well balanced, with the flavour of the sliced duck being allowed to come through.

The service is very friendly, and being a family-run restaurant you always feel well looked after. The two female chefs in the kitchen weren’t at all flustered by a full restaurant on a busy Saturday night. It’s so popular that people were prepared to wait for ten minutes in the doorway for a free table.

The restaurant has a relaxed and buzzing atmosphere. Jazz from Jamie Cullen plays quietly over the sound system, the lighting is slightly dimmed and in all it’s a wonderful place to wile-away the evening. On cold nights they have the large inglenook fireplace ablaze with glowing logs.

This is a must-stop destination for anyone passing through or living in the North Downs, especially lovers of Thai food. Be sure to book ahead for weekend sittings, as it’s a deservedly popular destination.
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Jonesy @ The Arbuturian - View all reviews by this user
9 Overall rating
Food 9 | Service 9 | Atmosphere 9 | Value for money 9
Tuesday, March 17, 2009