Sara's Thai, Southampton

The décor at Sara’s is odd. The evening I and my co-diner went, Sara’s window was filled with beautiful pink lilies: a enormous batch of new ones in a huge vase, and a smaller vase beside that of dying ones. Fine so far. The tablecloths were white linen, and the chairs had a burgundy bow tie. Also fine. I looked for a picture of the King of Thailand - usually an indicator that the restaurant is owned by people from Thailand - and found it. Good. We were gestured towards a table along one wall, near the door and looking out the window. On that wall were pictures of women, in various states of undress, bordering on the pornographic (although perhaps, it was merely to be ‘exotic’). I raised eyebrows and sat with my back to the wall.

Other than the décor (a sneak preview of which you can see on their website), the service and food at Sara’s are very good.

I ate there a little while ago now, so I have forgotten precisely what we ate. I do however recall our flaming seafood dish: one of Sara’s specialties. The dish was brought out in a foil animal shape, set alight: very dramatic. Its effect was altered somewhat by the waitress’ laughing explanation that the animal shape was a chicken. I suggested, given the dish was seafood, that the shape could be a flaming dragon: much more effective than a flaming chicken.

Decor does not deter us. We’ll be back.

*****

Sara’s Thai Cuisine
273 Portswood Road,
Southampton,
Hampshire
SO17 2LD
Tel. 02380 676063

http://www.sarasthaicuisine.co.uk/menu.php

Mamora, Southampton

Unless this place changes managership and chef, we will never eat here again.

I love Moroccan / North African cuisine: the spices and flavours used - cumin, coriander, cinnamon, honey, lemon - and the slow cooking appeal to me. I was therefore quite excited to see there was a Moroccan restaurant in Southampton, and its decor was quite pleasing as well: cushions scattered about the place, lamps here and there, dark wood tables.

Four of us went to Mamora to dine on a rainy Sunday evening. Initially, we were the only ones in the restaurant. I and my co-diner were the last two to arrive. The first two of our party had beers in front of them. We sat and chatted, and were ignored by the one waitress who kept disappearing into the kitchen to chat with whoever was back there. I kept trying to get the waitress' attention so that we, too, could have a beverage in front of us while catching up and perusing the menu.

After about 15-20 minutes, the waitress wandered over and asked if we were ready to order. I said "Not yet, but we would like to order drinks." Before I got to the "but" the waitress walked off. We had to raise our voices to call her back. And she did not even apologise.

Our drinks then took another 15-20 minutes to arrive, making us wonder how long it takes to grab a beer from the fridge, and pour a coke into a glass. (Well, 15-20 minutes at Mamora).

The menu was decidedly disappointing. There were the usual selection of entrees: pita bread and dips (hommous, an eggplant and capsicum/pepper dip etc). The mains were divided into kebabs, tajines and run-of-the-mill mains (baked chicken / roast lamb / steak). Under each category there were three or four dishes, which mostly sounded the same. I had the lamb kebab with couscous; each of my fellow diners had a different tajine.

All of our meals were fine - but were not worth the price we paid for them.

Service was practically non-existent. If there was more service, I would be able to elaborate on why and how it was so appalling. And if I were a generous person, I would call the service lackadaisical. Another guest of the restaurant left and called out: "Thanks for the worst dinner, ever." The waitress, and a young man who had come out of the kitchen and was loafing about beside the bar with the waitress, just laughed.

Exceptionally disappointing.

*****

Mamora

4A Bedford Pl

Southampton,
SO15 2BY

023 80333363

Kairali, Southampton

This is a fabulous South Indian restaurant in Highfield, near the University of Southampton campus.

I am writing this review some time after we ate there, so please forgive me if it's a bit vague on details.

The restaurant has a pleasant ambience: it is quite small but is plainly and tastefully decorated. On the Tuesday evening that we attended, there were a few other full tables, with laughing university folk, partaking of their meals. Lovely spice smells wafted from the kitchen. I liked the diverse clothes of my fellow diners: some in jeans and t-shirts (me, my co-diner), some in suits and ties (first table), some in even more casual gear than me and my co-diner (table beside us) and one young lady in extremely short denim skirt, frilly top and boots. She looks like she is going to a costume party, and she teeters past me twice, I think to correct her make-up. While we are eating, quite a few folk come in to collect their take-away orders. They are friendly with the staff - another positive sign.

For our meal, with have an okra curry that uses a tomato and coriander base, and (I think) a mixed vegetable curry. Both were excellent and the basmati rice was perfectly done. The flavours are spice-laden, but subtle. There is not too much oil, or butter, or salt. It is one of the better Indian cuisines that I have ever eaten.

This one is a keeper.

******
Kairala
180 Burgess Rd

Southampton,
SO16 3HH

023 80678067