Thai Legend

After a particularly long and unsuccessful shopping trip in Leicester, I couldn’t bring myself to cook dinner. I contemplated some takeaway stodge but instead found myself craving something ‘healthy’ and something…. out of town. So after a quick conflab, my friend and I jumped in the car and headed out to Quorn in search of something…Asian.

 Along the high street we came across Thai Legend. I wasn’t quite sure I wanted to eat there at first. The outside looked a bit scruffy and I couldn’t really see inside the restaurant to suss it out properly. However, while my brain was busy trying to sort out this most challenging of foodie dilemmas, my legs (probably under the influence of my stomach) took control of the situation and guided me into the restaurant and towards my table.

Once inside, I felt reassured ‘my legs’ had made a good choice. The restaurant was busy and the red and white décor was clean and modern. At our table I was delighted to find a basket of Chinese and Thai prawn crackers already there waiting for us (free food always a good way to start a meal). The menu was vast and included a wide range of starters, soups, salads, curries, stir fry’s, rice and noodle dishes as well as ‘Chef Recommends’ dishes.

It took some time to decide on what we wanted to eat, two baskets of prawn crackers in fact. However we eventually agreed on a Som Tam, Knao Niew and Pla Nung Si-Ew (which is salad, sticky rice and fish to you and I).

The waitress was particularly helpful when it came to ordering our food. With Thai food, choosing the right combination of dishes is important so I was eager to run our selection past her first. She was very accommodating, agreeing with our choice of dishes (and giving reasons why) and suggesting some starters which would go with the main course (on our request). Having already consumed a significant amount of prawn crackers we stuck with ordering main courses only but with the option of ordering extra (if we felt we didn’t have enough) once our food arrived.

There was no need to order extra. Despite my uncontrollable urge to eat everything on the menu, the food that was served was more than adequate in size. It was more than adequate in just about everything actually. The dishes were colourful, vibrant, fragrant and inviting. The flavours were fresh, exotic, new and interesting.  The Sea Bass (served in a delicate oyster sauce, with slices of pepper, mushroom, chilli and ginger) was tasty, light, and perfectly cooked. The salad of shredded vegetables, tomatoes, garlic (lots of), crunchy nuts and chilli (which punched you in the face with every spoonful but in the nicest possible way) was dressed in a perfectly balanced hot, sweet and sour vinegarette. Divine.

Not only was the food and the service exceptional, the meal was also excellent value. Our dinner, including two bottles of ice cold Thai lager cost less than £15 per person. Not bad for an authentic Thai meal, made to order, using fresh and exotic ingredients, servicd by friendly, informative, attentive staff and all enjoyed in a sophisticated and yet soothing environment.

Definitely one to recommend.

Restaurant                           4/5

Food                                      5/5
Service                                  5/5
Value for money                 5/5

Total                                      19/20