4 /5 Robert Juane: My friend recently moved to Southampton and as she was very fond of Thai food, we decided to meet up at Leelawadee which was just down the road from where she lived. Upon entering, we were immediately welcomed by staff and were sat down. I was very much impressed by the creatively folded serviettes topping each of our plates.
For the mains, I had the duck curry which I found to be quite delicious. The coconut milk based gravy had a perfect blend of spices which created a wonderful concotion of flavours that was accentuated with a slight, subtle creamy sweetness. The curry was perfect once paired with a bowl of coconut rice one can order as a side.
However the papaya green salad was undoubtedly I was most keen on. Beautifully presented, the mixture of freshly cut papaya, carrots, tomatoes, corriander, chili and a spritz of lime made a savoury, sweet, tarty dish packed with a punch (servers will ask you preferred level of spice). Also, my friend offered me some spring rolls she ordered and I found them to be quite tasty as well. It wasnt oily although fried and but was overall light and refreshing.
Although the food was delicious, I found the servings did not reflect the price. This I felt most especially with the coconut rice which was £3+ for an amount you could fit in your palm. There are other Thai restaurants around which are cheaper with similar caliber.
But all in all Leelawadee is a restaurant thats surely worth a visit. Staff were friendly, the service was quick and efficient and my friend and I enjoyed our dining experience whilst having a lovely catch up.
