5 /5 Damien Kempt: I had dined at the Soho branch of Speedboat Bar and I wanted to visit their other restaurant in Notting Hill. I finally did and had a great experience.
The restaurant itself has a really fun and interesting atmosphere, as it really feels like you are in a bar in Thailand with the decor and even the music. I did smile at the playlist including Eurodisco from the 80s, because I know that genre was very popular in Southeast Asia.
All of the staff were very friendly and helpful, allowing me to sit at a booth table due to my mobility issues, which meant I was very comfortable during my meal. Even the manager chatted to me briefly as I was leaving about my meal.
I ended up ordering the Crispy Egg Noodles, Crispy Pork & Black Pepper Curry and Pineapple Pie with Taro Ice Cream. I also had a Vodka Farang to drink.
The first person who served me was very helpful and explained the Crispy Egg Noodle were considered "rustic" and that some customers did not like them. I have to respectfully disagree. I thought they were delicious and the combination of the noodles, gravy and meats worked so well. I do recommend letting the noodles soften a bit in the gravy before eating.
The Crispy Pork & Black Pepper Curry was equally as good. The pork was cooked so well and really did have a pleasing crispy texture on the outside but was not chewy or overcooked. It was very spicy and although that suits my taste, it may be too hot for some people.
The Pineapple Pie with Taro Ice Cream was a great way to end the meal. I liked that the ice cream was not too sweet and so it complimented the natural sweetness of the pineapple. The pie itself was also baked well, soft and flaky.
I would say that this is real Thai food and the flavours and level of spice is more authentic than you will find at the various chains of Thai restaurants in London. Personally, I thoroughly enjoyed my meal for those reasons.
I will be back to this branch of Speedboat Bar the next time I fancy Thai food and can definitely recommend it based on the great food and customer service.