Absolute Thai
- Food served: Mon–Sat noon-2.30pm, 4.30–10pm. Closed Sun.
- Pre-theatre times: Daily 5–7.30pm
- Private dining: Up to 25 covers
- Also offers: Children's portions, Children's high chairs, Wheelchair access, Pre-theatre menu
- Music on stereo: nothing
- Capacity: 22
- Largest group: 25
- Open since: 2009
- Average price:
£7.50 (set lunch)
£19 (evening meal) - Pre-theatre price: £12.50
- BYOB: £2.50 wine, 50p beer corkage
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The 2011/12 edition of The List's Eating & Drinking Guide is out now – only £5.95 (+p&p).
This review is taken from the current (2011) edition.
Tucked behind the King's Theatre, Absolute Thai is a hidden gem. Admittedly, first impressions may be a little less generous – the aesthetic is certainly skewed more towards unpretentious café than exclusive dining. However, this friendly, family-run restaurant attracts a rush of well-heeled theatregoers in the early evening, which lends it a rather raffish, cultured air, and ensures it remains busy even throughout a mid-week evening with an assortment of regulars and takeaway purchases. If the surroundings give rise to any nerves, the arrival of the starters will quickly calm them – the chicken satay arrives skewered, simply presented with a well judged combination of sticky charcoal and tender flesh; the sauce rich and smooth, but not without some fiery bite. The green curry monkfish is a rich concoction of tender fish and creamy sauce, but is slightly outdone by a vegetable red curry of squash, cashew nut, aubergine and coconut that manages to balance a tropical sweetness with earthy, herby undertones and a rich, warming heat. Desserts are pretty limited, but the banana crêpe is highly recommended.
- High point: This could very easily become your local
- Low point: Thin paper napkins and shabby tables are not very chic
Reviews of Absolute Thai (22 Valleyfield Street, Edinburgh)
- 2. lyn lowenstein, Edinburgh – 19 January 2012, 4:57pm
Absolute ThaiReport -
We have eaten here on numerous occasions and every meal we have had has been absolutely delicious. I am a local resident, and I would never choose to eat at any of the other thai restaurants nearby as this is a real gem, and I enjoy the unpretentious family run atmosphere, and the casual service that comes with that! In my opinion the decor is pleasing too, with simple wooden chairs and tables and cosy lighting. This is a neighbourhood restaurant, and maybe diners coming from afar will be disappointed if they are looking for fancy service and cloth napkins, but if they are after exceptionally good food, and a simple cosy environment, and a budget eatery where they can bring their own bottle this place will not disappoint!
- 1. Y.B, Edinburgh – 4 December 2011, 8:16pm
Absolute ThaiReport -
We had a lovely meal here on Thursday night. The food was delicious. We shared the starter platter which had thai fishcakes, chicken satay, prawns, spring rolls and dim sum. It was nice to have a selection. For main course I had chicken penang curry which was very tasty and had lots of chicken.
It is byo which is good value.
The thing that let this restaurant down was the service. I had booked a table by email because I could not get through on the phone. When we arrived they didn't have a note of our booking, but did give us a table. The 2 men serving were very unfriendly and very inattentive. We had to ask for everything. And when we had finished it took about half an hour before we had to say that we had finished (though it was very obvious we had!) before our plates were cleared. And we weren't offered any desserts, coffees or anything else.
There are other thai restaurants in Edinburgh where the food is just as nice but has much better service.
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