Restaurant to try: @busabaeathai Piccadily, London (and a lesson about leaf-eating)

One of my best friends, Sam, is getting married next year. She is like a younger sister to me (although technically she is my Chinese auntie...long story).

Sam lives way up north and I'm on the south coast so we don't really get to meet up that often. We decided to meet up in London for the day to start planning her hen do and generally talk wedding stuff. It all started at Busaba Eathai, in Piccadily, London...

Sam had been to this London chain before and raved about the food, so suggested it for lunch. It was pretty empty when we turned up, even though it was half 12 on a Saturday, though I guess London city won't have woken up properly yet. There's an instant calming atmosphere as soon as you walk in, with the incense burning, low lit lighting and hushed tones.

The restaurant is huge with large square tables that seat up to about 10 people. As the place fills up, diners are seated with other diners in a friendly casual manner. So perhaps not the best place to go in the evening for an intimate date (unless you don't mind sharing it with a bunch of strangers). There is window seating around two walls of the restaurant though, which is where Sam and I were seated.

The menu is nicely varied with noodles, rice dishes, curries, stir-fries and salads and very decently priced too. Sam and I decided to share a couple of sides for starters, with a main (each of course) to follow.

We were surprised but secretly happy to see all 4 dishes arrive at once. It hadn't occurred to either of us to specify the sides to come first. It was probably a good thing though because this is a place that is very generous with their portions...

Thai Calamari

Pandan Chicken

Yes folks, these were just the sides. I think if Sam and I had just chomped our way through these first, there's no way we would have had room for mains as well. The Thai calamari was gorgeously soft and moreish, with a light ginger and peppery kick.

The Pandan chicken was er, a bit confusing for us both. Well, it was Sam who put a question mark over it, which completely threw me:

Sam: Are you supposed to eat the leaves as well?
Me: No, of course not!
Sam: Really, are you sure? It looks like you could eat them...
Me: Hmm, well...
Sam: (nibbles on a bit of leaf) Yeh, see, it tastes ok!
Me: (timidly nibbles a bit of leaf also) Hm, ok, I guess...try a bit with the chicken as well.
Sam: (bites right into a chicken parcel, leaf n all)...Eugh, um, yeh, no it doesn't work!

Luckily, the main was much more straightforward to eat. I love the way Thai noodle dishes are presented, with all the ingredients layered separately. You do well to eat with your eyes here.

Sen chan pad Thai

This pad Thai dish has prawns, peanuts, green mango and slivers of crabmeat. Once you've admired the beauty of the dish, you have to mix it all up to appreciate all these different flavours together. It's so good! I unwittingly managed to up my spice intake too, as I didn't realise it was going to be covered in chilli flakes (despite there being a 's' spicy symbol in the menu). Hurrah, I'm growing!

Sam and I felt like sleepy lions by the end of the meal – satisfied with full bellies, and musing over the idea of eating here again very soon.

Just don't eat the Pandan leaves ;-)

Busaba Eathai
35 Panton Street
London
SW1Y 4EA
020 7930 0088
www.busaba.com

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