 They’ve always been popular. And now they’re spreading around the world at an endemic pace. In fact, you’ve probably got one just down the road from where you live. But by what yardstick do you measure your average Thai restaurant?
Well I suppose the ideal way of finding one is by going to the Thai restaurant on Samui that’s considered to be right there at the top. And that’s Sala Thai in the stunning new Bo Phut Resort & Spa.
Dining at Sala Thai is more than just an opportunity to enjoy Thai cuisine at its very best. It’s also a chance to savour the complete Thai dining experience – in exquisite surroundings. And that starts from the moment you pass through the resort’s entrance…
Take a second to admire the beautiful architecture of the stand-alone lobby before you go through it. It’s a perfect blend of classical and contemporary Thai styling, with its ornate overlapping roofs and tall supporting pillars. And by appreciating this beauty, you’ll get an idea of what’s to come in the resort as a whole.
Follow the flame-torch lit pathway, and within 20 yards your heart will miss a beat as you spot Sala Thai reflecting across a huge lotus-pond, complete with fountain. Again, its classical architecture will cast its spell of magic over you, and absorb you even more into the total Thai experience. (It’s as far away as you could possibly get from your local Thai restaurant on the busy main road in Ealing Broadway!)
As you approach Sala Thai, charming staff will be there to greet you in their traditional Thai-silk uniforms. And you get to choose where to sit. Shall it be one of the tables inside the smart wood-paneled interior with its air-conditioning, outside on the covered inner-terrace, or out on the spacious outer-terrace alongside the pond? If it’s a clear night, then the latter is always the most popular choice. With the stars and moon above, the sounds of splashing water and Thai musicians playing their classical instruments, and discreet candle-light, things don’t get more romantic than this.
Then there’s the food. And two things you’ll notice when the menu arrives. Firstly, there’s a lot of choice, with all of the Thai dishes you’ve ever heard of on offer alongside many more that you haven’t. And, secondly, the prices are a lot lower than you’d expect from a 5-star resort’s signature restaurant. Which makes it about half the cost of what you’d be paying in Ealing Broadway!
“…and dining at Sala Thai is a chance to
savour the complete Thai dining
experience – in exquisite surroundings.”
And while you’re making your choices and having a drink, you’ll be given a complimentary taster to get your taste buds limbering up. If you’re used to Thai food, you’ll probably go straight to the à la carte section. But if you’re a novice you might want to consider one of the two set-meals for two or more people. Each offers an interesting selection of several dishes plus rice and a dessert, and here is one of them to show you what I mean: Pha Goong – spicy fresh prawn salad with fresh herbs; Moo Sadung – blanched sliced pork topped with chili sauce; Tom Yam Goong Narng – Thai spicy-sour prawn soup with lemongrass; Chu Che Pla Ka Pong – stir-fried thick red curry-paste with white snapper; Gai Phad Med Ma Muang Him Ma Parn – stir-fried chicken with cashew nuts and dried chili; Nor Mai Farang, Goong, Hed Hom Phad Nam Mun Hoy – stir-fried asparagus, shrimp and shitake mushrooms with oyster sauce, and Steamed Coconut Custard in a small pumpkin for dessert.
And the food is truly excellent as, I suppose, it should be considering it’s all prepared under the direct instructions of a Thai super-chef. He’s come down from Bangkok where he’s recently been at a leading restaurant. And they are world-renowned for their Thai cuisine too.
There’re Thai restaurants, and then there are real Thai restaurants. And Sala Thai is one of the finest real Thai restaurants you’ll ever have the chance of eating in. After dining here, your local Thai restaurant will never feel the same again! | 
