Sunday

Review: Royal Thai Pier, Southampton


Last week, I was kindly invited to the Royal Thai Pier in Southampton for dinner. I'm a huge fan of pretty much all Asian cuisine, so it was lovely to fill up on delicious food while overlooking the Southampton waterfront.
The Royal Thai Pier is located in a beautiful Victorian pavilion, which was built in 1894 and was then the gateway to the pier. Unfortunately, after several fires in the 80s and 90s, the pier itself is no longer standing, but it's still wonderful to eat in such a historic building. 

We were seated in the Waterfront Room, which is a lovely bright and airy space with large windows making up three of the walls. 

The Waterfront Room leads out onto a terrace with a great view of industrial Southampton. Our meal was perfectly timed to watch the sun set beautifully over the mouth of the river. 

All staff were friendly and efficient, with quick service, and were attentive to customers, asking if we needed more drinks when our glasses emptied. When we decided to add some rice to our order, it was brought out quickly so there was no waiting around. 
To start, Rich and I ordered a different starter and divided it in two so we each sample both dishes. The khanom jeeb dumplings had a wonderful soft texture and the chicken was perfectly complemented by the subtle prawn flavour. 
 For our second starter we chose the satays made with tender, juicy chicken that was very gently spiced. The peanut sauce had an almost sweet taste which harmonised perfectly with the usual nutty flavour.
After much deliberation, I settled on the chicken phad khee mow- rice noodles stir fried with chillis and vegetables. It was delicious! The chicken pieces were large and chunky, and just as succulent as that in the satays, and the spice had a citrus twist to it. Although the chillis were very hot, the palate-calming noodles were the perfect antidote. I enjoy spicy food, so it was fine by me, but be warned if you're not a fan of spice! 
 
Rich plumped for the goong phaow prawns with egg fried rice which, after tasting, I can confirm were deliciously plump and grilled to perfection.  
On the way out, we admired the photographs on the wall that document the history of the pavilion. They showed that it was a concert hall, a dancing hall and even a place where World War II troops gathered. It's fantastic to dine somewhere that takes such pride in its architectural heritage.

I had a wonderful meal at the Royal Thai Pier. The staff were lovely, the venue was gorgeous and, of course, the food was delicious. I would definitely recommend it. 

6 comments :

  1. the food looks extremely delicious and the place looks really nice!
    http://www.jaseyjade.blogspot.com

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  2. Mmm, that food looks delicious! Made me slightly hungry reading about it! :)

    Lyndsay | Fizzy Peaches

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  3. Ahh I love Thai food! Never heard of this place but it looks amazing! x

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  4. Oooh this place looks yummmm <3 fancy something spicy now! x
    amber love

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  5. Why haven't I been here yet?! This looks lovely!

    Emma x
    BEAUTY AND RAGS

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