Experinece Thailiand in Oxford (The Bangkok House (Oxford))

Member Name: mtpatton

Product:	The Bangkok House (Oxford)
Date:	18/04/09 (177 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: amazing food, good service, Great decor

Disadvantages: havent found one yet

Having just returned from my around the world trip, I was happy to re-visit this gem of a restaurant in Oxford. Bangkok house is my favourite Thai restaurant and only a few places in Thailand delivered food as good as this.

We decided to go to the restaurant for lunch today. The reason we did this was simple - the restaurant has for the past 2 years offered a one plate lunch meal menu for £5.

However, having not been here since been back in the UK I decided to go for the set menu of a starter and main for £9.95. So here is my experience.

Location

The restaurant is located in the historic university city of Oxford. The restaurant is located slightly out of the hustle and bustle of the city centre, just next to the canal and within a couple of minute walk to the castle site and the Universities. Immediately across the road is the comedy club Jongeluers and this restaurant is a great place to go before going to the comedy.

Décor

Inside this place is a truly Thai experience. All of the tables are carved wooden delights, we little scenes in the middle of them. The tables have glass placed upon them and therefore you can admire the table whilst eating. This sounds something small, but it really adds to the atmosphere. The restaurant also has tables that can sit six people and these tables instead of having individual chairs have benches which have traditional pyramid shaped cushions.

Also within the back of the restaurant the sides are shaped like a traditional Thai roof down the walls, which again adds to the atmosphere created. Further additions to this are various sculptures within the restaurant.

By the bar you can also buy small cutlery pieces which are the same as the ones which the staff use within the restaurant. For example you can buy the small dishes used to server the various sauces in.

The Food

When you are shown to a table, a bowl of prawn crackers is placed on your table instantly. The evening prawn crackers are nicer as these are Thai spiced, however the ones you at given at lunch time are plain prawn crackers. Normally you can choose to upgrade for £1 which is worth it.

As I said I went for the 2 course set menu. Today I opted for Thai fishcakes for the starter. These are the nicest Thai fishcakes I have had, and I always seem to get these. Within the fishcakes it is a nicely spiced combination of flaours and you do get the occasional piece of spring onion. The fishcakes come served with a cucumber sauce which I always leave as I don't like cucumbers but my girlfriend always enjoys this.

My girlfriend ordered a mixed satay to start with. The mixed satay comes with three chicken and 3 beef satay. Getting this dish for a starter is quite an experience as this are served pre-cooked, but come with a burner for you to further cook the satay. This is great as when cooking them it leaves a char grilled effect on the satay. The satay are brilliant and the meat is really tender and the marinade that is on the meat really adds an immense amount of flavour. These come with a peanut dipping as well as a Thai chilli sauce. These are not on the lunch time menu but you can also ask for anything off the evening menu as well and as we know the menu pretty well we knew to ask for them.

My main course I opted for a Thai green curry. As part of the set menu this comes with a big bowl of rice and a side portion of vegetables in soy sauce. The curry itself is filled with chicken, Thai aubergines, Peas and pieces of chilli. The sauce for this curry is beautiful in taste and the biggest compliment I can give it is that the curry gives just about the right amount of spice to it. Its certainly not to spicy, but it leaves a nice warming feeling on the back of your throat. Having not had this dish for the best part of a year I was delighted that the dish had not changed at all and tasted better then when I had it before.

Pad Thai is another traditional Thai noodle dish and this is my girlfriends favourite dish, so she happily decided upon this for her main meal. Pad Thai is a noodle dish that can be served with chicken, prawns or pork, but we normally get the chicken option. In this dish is loads of noodles as well as Pak Choi and bean sprouts. The dish also comes with a portion of peanuts on the side to mix into the dish and then squeezing a lime over the top of the dish which really adds a nice flavour to it. I know some people find this dish to sweet, but we find it perfect.

This was washed down by the usual cokes and the bill came in total £24.05, which included a standard 5% service charge.

The menu for the evenings is far larger then the lunch time menu, many of the meals that can be ordered for lunch appear on the evening menu, but the price is usually about £8-10 instead of £5. However it is worth paying for even at a slightly higher price.

Staff and service

We have been to this place loads and have always found the staff very helpful and always help you get what you need.

The service is always extremely quick. After ordering your drinks normally arrive within a minute of so and the food normally takes around 10-15mins. Also with the service you are also offered sauces and additional condiments if you require them.

Conclusion

This is a great restaurant which is personally my favourite in Oxford. I have been back to this place many, many times and have recommended it to many friends who have all really enjoyed the experience and all love the satay for the starters

Summary: the best thai food I have eaten, and I have been to Thailand........