Walking up the stairs and you come to the bar area and you see there are a few seating areas but you don’t get to appreciate the size and number of covers (over 300) till you walk around. This place is huge but it is all partitioned with screens so you never feel isolated or that you are in a big function type space and keeping a nice authentic experience wherever you are seated.
The authenticity is further enhanced by the traditional seating section which I think is great. Here you have to take your shoes off and seat on the floor but made more comfortable with a sunken area so very pleasant and a coy pond to really make you feel you are away and transported to the Far East.
I am also informed the chefs are from various areas of Thailand so allowing for regional dishes to be both truly authentic but also allowing for fusion dishes between different areas of Thailand to be created.
The staff are so welcoming and warm and even on a cold day you feel warm from the moment you enter.
The drinks
Let’s begin our journey with the vast drinks selection. A full menu of cocktails and mock-tails that even a nightclub would struggle to make and all made in house from fresh ingredients. Including the mixers which are all hand made. I don’t think anyone would leave dissatisfied or disappointed from the offering here for sure. Always so happy to see uniqueness and variety in a drinks menu that also caters for non-drinkers.
The food
The menu is authentic and you will struggle to choose which dishes to order as you will want to try them all, so I would advise you go with friends so you can order more. The servers are really nice and so is management so down to earth and were happy to help and guide.
Starters
Thai Prawn Cakes served with a sweet chilli sauce - Really soft and the home made chilli sauce shines through.
Even the prawn crackers are served with one of the most amazing and freshly made home made pickles I have ever had. I am not a pickle person but Yum Yum has converted me.
Soup
Tom yum goong [House special hot & sour soup with prawns, mushrooms & Thai herbs] - A nice clear soup with a kick and served with prawns and nice chunky mushrooms. Had a fresh and zesty lemon taste that really refreshes and cleansed the pallet. A great starter for these colder months.
Main Courses
Lamb Mussaman - Another house special similar to Beef red curry but more of a kick and more complex taste structure which is richer and creamier in taste. The lamb just melts and a dish you have to try. I can’t wait to have this again.
Som Tam [Spicy grated Papaya & Carrot salad with palm sugar, Thai herbs and peanuts] - served cold but fresh with just the right amount of spice and crunch. Really refreshing salad to start and compliment the other flavours of the main dishes.
Beef Red curry - Beef red curry an amazing creamy coconut and spicy taste. Not too spicy and beef perfectly cooked. If you want more spice go for the Lamb Mussaman.
Thai Noodle soup with Duck [Choice of pad Thai or Ho-fun noodles in beef stock with slow cooked beef or Duck, spring onions, bean sprouts, celery, spring onions, coriander and chilli] - A more subtle dish for those who like it mild and not spicy. We had the duck and was again cooked to perfection.
Stir-fried Morning Glory - Morning glory crunchy and with the right amount of fresh garlic.
Dessert
Banana Fritter with coconut ice cream [Fresh homemade coated banana fritters served with Coconut ice cream and golden syrup] - I am no fan of coconut other than in perfumes (love the smell as I do with coffee but I don’t drink coffee) but in some cases it’s just right amount of flavour and in this case it was perfect and compliments the banana fritter so worth a try.
Thai Coconut Roll [Warm coconut filled pancake served with coconut ice cream and honey] - One of Yum Yum’s signature dishes. As this is served with the same excellent coconut ice cream I prefer this dish as the pancake was freshly made.
Conclusion
The sign of a good place is in the memories it creates and I can still see the place and taste the food so this does go into my top 10 places and finding good Thai restaurants which are not a chain is harder to find these days so I am glad this came along.
Portion sizes are all sharing portions. So be ready for a doggy bag or two.
This restaurant was ok but not the best, I ordered coconut rice and a beef stir fry. The coconut rice was way too overpowering for me I had to return it and exchange it for an egg fried rice. The scenery however was amazing. To see more about this restaurant visit my blog. Www.temitastes.com
Great food, beautiful ambience, a real gem in such an unlikely neighbourhood. I had the Pad Ke-Mao which was nice and spicy, loved the flavours and lucky for us it was happy hour so two Mocktails for the price of one; winning!
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