Thai Funchal & Grill — Restaurant in Funchal

I rarely write negative reviews, but I feel it's necessary in this case. This is a small restaurant with just 8-10 tables, all full, and only two servers. Upon arrival, we were completely ignored until I finally managed to catch the attention of a server, who curtly told us to wait. Ten minutes later, we were seated with no menus and no apology for the delay. Another 10 minutes passed—still no menus, and not even an offer of drinks while we waited. When the menus finally arrived, I asked if we could order immediately, as we didn't want to wait another 20 minutes for the server to return. The response? A blunt "no"—apparently, there's a process.

We ended up waiting another 20 minutes just to place our order. While the food was good and we have no complaints there, our drinks (two simple bottles of beer) didn't arrive until after the food was served. The real issue here is the complete lack of empathy, poor management, and, frankly, a lack of common sense from the servers.

Having worked in hospitality for many years—both in high-end and casual settings—I know what it takes to run a restaurant. Basic customer service isn’t complicated: when your establishment is full and people are waiting, acknowledge them. A simple greeting and a smile go a long way. Offer a drink while they browse the menu; this alone buys you 15 minutes of goodwill instead of leaving your customers parched and frustrated.

Common sense dictates that if people are seated and waiting, you offer them drinks, especially when the wait for service is long. This restaurant may have decent food, but it’s the inattentiveness, lack of basic hospitality, and absence of common sense that will leave a lasting impression—and not a good one.

Quick tip: if you do want to try this place, do so on Uber eats as they prioritise take...

We had a wonderful dinner here tonight. We were a group of 6, two of which weren't super enthusiastic about having a Thai dinner. But they, along with everyone else, absolutely loved it! Thai Dippin is a gem of a restaurant in Madeira. The food, including chicken satay and vegetable tempura starters, and the green curries, chicken pad thsi, onion stir fry and others, were all outstanding. The food was very fresh and the flavor profiles were amazing.

Additionally, the owner was absolutely lovely. He definitely knows his restaurant and menu and was a delight to converse with. He mentioned they are moving to a bigger space early next year so they can expand their menu offerings and we wish them the best of luck.

Honestly, if you are looking for an amazing Thai dinner with awesome service, Thai Dippin is highly, highly...

No idea how this place has the ratings it does. Sure, the food isn’t terrible, but let’s be clear, it’s not Thai food! If you’ve actually been to Thailand or know what Thai cuisine is supposed to taste like, you’ll spot the issues immediately. The Pad Thai came without tofu, bean sprouts, chili powder, or chives; basic components, completely missing. The Pad Krapow was bland, lacking any of the signature aroma, and drowned in a heavy sauce that has nothing to do with the original dish. I even had to order a fried egg on the side because there was no option for it on the menu.

If you’re looking for real, authentic Thai flavours, this isn’t the place. It’s not that the food was awful, it just completely...