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

Kim's Korean Restaurant, Bournemouth

I cannot find this restaurant on the web. But I know it exists, because I ate there. It sits in a row of shops near the train station and opposite a Staples and a Halfords. It is hedged in by a roundabout on one end and traffic lights on the other: cars scream past as I try to cross the road.

Inside, is a peaceful, tastefully decorated haven where the smells of cooking entice me further in. There is a large table to my left, at which a Korean family are having their meal. I take this as a good recommendation for the restaurant.

I am alone. There are a few smaller tables at which I can sit, but I hover. The decor makes me think the restaurant is a bit fancier than I expected. There are deep red wood, high backed chairs and stone tables. It is all very impressive, even if the restaurant itself is quite small (could seat perhaps 20 comfortably, 30 at a stretch).

A young woman welcomes me and gestures for me to take a seat wherever I will. I choose beside the door, and near to the family so that I can spy on them. I do like to observe other eaters. I feel it is necessary to look occupied, so I pull out my diary and begin to write in it.

The lower half of every window and the pane of glass in the door is covered with ideograph-printed rice paper. This provides me and my fellow diners with some welcome privacy from the busy street out front.

The young woman returns and asks me if I would like anything to drink. I ask her what tea she would recommend and she suggests Barley Tea, telling me that this is what Koreans in Korea always drink. I appreciate the qualifier. I order the barley tea and it arrives promptly in a lovely large teapot, with a cup and saucer.

I am still reading through the menu - I know what I want to eat but I would like to study the menu thoroughly, checking for other items I might eat in future. The decor and service has impressed me and, provided the food is tasty, I will return.

The barley tea is lovely: mild flavoured and refreshing, with a hint of muskiness.

The menu is extensive: it has all the dishes I would expect in a Korean restaurant menu and I see that it also does Korean BBQ. I take note so that I may drag friends there for a Korean BBQ dinner party. I love communal eating, and communal cooking.

I have barely closed the menu when the attentive young woman returns. She asks if I have eaten Korean food before or if I would like some assistance choosing. I wave her help away with an impatient "yes, yes" and proceed to order hae mul dol sot bi bim bap - seafood and rice in a stone bowl. On reflection, I decide her asking whether I wanted assistance was a lovely gesture, rather than being condescending, or worse, sycophantic. Nevertheless, she explains what the dish is to me. I listen attentively, feeling a bit guilty about my earlier impatience.

She returns to lay my table with silver chopsticks, spoon and fork. As she walks off I realise that I did not ask for a side of kim chi. I prevaricate about whether to call her back, and decide not to. If the dish does not come with kim chi, I can ask for some when the dish does arrive.

In quite a short period of time, a steaming bowl of bi bim bap arrives. There is lovely fluffy rice, sliced zucchini/courgette, and sea food, all topped with a fried egg. The mussels and prawns are tiny - but I hail from Australia so my judgement is skewed. The stone bowl is beautiful, deep grey in colour. As well as a bowl of chilli, three further side plates accompany my meal: kim chi, pickled bean sprouts, and boiled potato in soy sauce. I wait for the bowl to cool a little, and I pick at the kim chi while I am doing so. It is excellent kim chi, although I do not think it is home made.

An older woman comes to my table and smiles at me. She points at the chilli sauce and says: Hot. Do you eat? I smile and say yes. Then she picks up my chilli sauce and dumps the lot into my bi bim bap, picks up my spoon and fork and mixes everything together. I try not to look disappointed - I know she is trying to be helpful - but I was looking forward to doing that myself, when the bowl had cooled sufficiently that I would not burn my wrist if I was clumsy. There, she says when she is done. Now enjoy. And she smiles such a lovely smile that I forgive her.

My bi bim bap is delicious. Perhaps sea food was not the wisest choice, although Bournemouth is by the sea, the sea food (hae mul) in the dish was probably from much further afield. Nevertheless, it is tasty. The rice is perfect and each of my side dishes are great; I particularly enjoy the potatoes in soy sauce (so much so I ask how it is made: the potatoes are boiled first, and then stewed with a little bit of soy sauce).

Beside me, the Korean family is happily digging into delicious looking dishes, with gusto and laughter. One of them must be a special guest of the family: he seems to do most of the talking and entertaining. The children seem to be enjoying their meals too. I have no success trying to espy what their dishes are; the group table is on a slightly upraised platform. From the laughter, and the clickety-clack of chopsticks on bowls and plates, I know it is good.

I shall be eating here again.

*****
On St Paul's Road
Across the way from Staples and Halford's
Near the train station
Bournemouth

The Bridge Patisserie, Winchester

There is a delightful cafe in Winchester: the Bridge Patisserie.

On a gorgeous summer day, laden with groceries from a visit to the Hampshire Farmers' Market, I meander towards this cafe, stopping at Char Tea (and coffee) shop - which has not been open for any of the other Sundays that I have visited Winchester. I buy some jasmine leaf tea, and make a note of all the other wondrous teas that I have to buy. To my delight, the Bridge Patisserie does teas from Char Tea Shop.

There are two rooms to the Bridge Patisserie: the first that I see is a long take-away counter, enticing cakes on the outside window and sandwiches and baguettes inside, bar-stools and posters cover one wall and another wall is painted a deep blue; the second room is high ceilinged and bright, with simple tables and chairs and one delightful red sofa beside a red-floral-patterned-wallpapered wall. Unfortunately, the red sofa is occupied, so we take our seat at a table.

On each table were some origami flowers:-


On all walls there are French theatre prints, looking very art-deco.

I have boring black tea, and my companions have coffee. The coffee is Mozzo; I have had it elsewhere and know it to be excellent. One of my companions has coffee taste similar to mine (black, strong, no sugar) and he approves. My tea is fine, but you'd be hard pressed to do black tea badly. None of us have cake or food; I had a delicious mushroom buttie from Peter Mushrooms at the market, so I am much too full for anything else.

I will be back, however, to sample the cakes and the baguettes.


The Bridge Patisserie
20 Bridge St
Winchester
SO23 9BH

01962 890767

Just Another Food Blog

I am new to the South of England and this is my food blog, intended for reviewing eating out (and probably eating in via take-outs) in the South of England as there seems to be no one providing me with the information I want to know!

I have a few places to catch up on for starters.

I prefer casual, to fine dining (as I am frequently in t-shirts and jeans), and tend towards Asian cuisines.

Enjoy.