Banana Tree Chelmsford — Restaurant in Chelmsford

So. Where do I even begin??? Firstly, let’s acknowledge the food. Wow. Round of applause for this culinary cruise, and for this tasty tangy trip! I personally devoured the Singapore Laksa and oh my oh my how my taste buds danced tonight. The spice from the chilli, the richness of the broth, the balanced texture of the noodles, and the heartiness of the chicken. 3 things to say: M m mmm. Not a day, nay, a second goes by without my heart and thoughts on this dish, not many things make such an impression on my soul, but this…THIS…takes the cake fr. “Wait! What about the starters?” You inquire, the spring rolls crispy, the dumplings delectable, oh I was in for the most marvellous meal of my life. Now onto the service, praise be! praise be! how comforted and at home I felt due to the friendly and inviting tone of the waiters. They were all of the above: polite, well-mannered, warm, and from what I could tell, passionate for their craft. Their kindness spoke to me like no other. At first the long duration of time to earn the staff’s attention felt odd, however it was a stroke of genius I realised as this was conducted on purpose in order for me to truly take in and absorb my environment, in which I was to partake in feasting and drinking to my heart’s delight. This brings me on to the atmosphere. How vibrant yet chill, how adventurous yet cozy, how striking and beautiful. The lighting was immaculate and warm such that every little tension in my body eased away in order to prepare me for the night ahead. The wood of the table was very much brown and wood-like. An open bar such that I could view the riveting process of mixing, stirring, and pouring drinks piqued my interest. I was entertained as hell to say the least. In conclusion, I’d like to extend my personal thanks to Banana tree, and especially its Chelmsford branch! I will most definitely be coming back. And a special thanks to Guri who’s name was proudly plastered on the card I was given! See...

Our first venture out into the semi-free world took us to Banana Tree Chelmsford who clearly had it all together with observing the latest COVID guidelines. All staff keeping their distance from you and wearing your mask, while ensuring you are safe and clean. We were encouraged to sanitise and requested to scan the NHS COVID QR Code before entering the premises once we had confirmed our reservation.

Our table had clearly been recently cleaned and we were given paper drinks menus to double up as a placemat, which also contained a QR Code to an online menu to use on your phone. This is a fantastic idea to save waste and protect the table surface.

Starters Thai Calamari: The calamari was an interesting shape, almost like a fat french fry, but that didn’t diminish the taste accompanied by a flavourful tamarind sauce.

Chicken Satay Skewers: just yes! Chunks of chicken and a satay sauce with actual chunks of peanuts in it! Almost unheard of in restaurants!

Mains Yum Thai Salad Crispy Duck: Lovely salad and nicely cooked chunks of duck and an excellent spicy Thai sauce which really set the salad off.

The Legendary Rendang Beef: The menu states this has been slow cooked for 4 hours and it shows. The beef just so tender and almost fell apart as you tucked in. The curry was full of flavour with just the right amount of heat. For me it was a little on the spicy side, but bearable... well until I put my mask on to leave and breathed hot spicy air into my eyes - top tip put the fire out before the mask goes on!

Sides Sweet corn Fritter Balls - I don't know who came up with this but they deserve a knighthood or something. Just wow! Beautiful chunks of fried goodness.

This experience has certainly helped ease our minds that dine in is back and safe and we’re looking forward to booking our next cheeky lunch or dinner date.

That first pint out of lockdown was unreal, slide...

I recently had the pleasure of dining at Banana Tree in Chelmsford for lunchwith my family (inc 2 teenage children) and it was an excellent experience. Our servers, Jay and Stefania, were outstanding in their attentiveness and hospitality, ensuring we had everything we needed throughout our meal.

We sampled dishes from the lunch menu, including Pad Thai, Thai Green Curry, and Singapore Laksa. Each dish was a delight, bursting with authentic flavors and fresh ingredients that transported our taste buds straight to Southeast Asia. The Pad Thai was perfectly balanced, with just the right amount of sweetness and tang. The Thai Green Curry had a wonderful creamy texture and a perfect hint of spice, while the Singapore Laksa was rich and fragrant, a real standout.

My husband got called away last minute but we were able to put his dinner in a takeaway box and they were really helpful and understanding.

The atmosphere at Banana Tree was inviting and lively, making it a great spot for a casual lunch. Overall, we had a fantastic dining experience, and I would highly recommend Banana Tree to anyone looking for delicious Southeast Asian cuisine...