Naka Thai — Restaurant in Colchester

The service here was absolutely first-class. From the moment we arrived, staff were attentive, friendly, and efficient without ever feeling intrusive. The venue itself is stylish and welcoming, with a warm atmosphere that immediately set the tone for an enjoyable evening. Everything felt well thought-out and to a very high standard.

The food was excellent. The menu is impressively varied, with something to suit every palate, including plenty of vegetarian and vegan options. I particularly liked that most dishes can be tailored with a choice of meats or vegetables, making it flexible for different preferences. The menu was also clear and detailed, which made choosing much easier than in many other places. When the food arrived, it was beautifully presented, generous in portion, and packed with flavour. Everyone at our table really enjoyed their meal, myself included.

The only downside to the evening was the price. For seven of us, the total bill came to £220, including drinks – the majority of which were soft drinks rather than alcohol. Out of the group, only four had starters, and no one ordered dessert, tea, or coffee afterwards. A couple of people even just had a small starter as their main. With that in mind, the final bill did feel steep. Having eaten at many Asian restaurants in and around Colchester, I would say this one sits firmly at the higher end of the price scale.

Would I return? I think so. The food quality and service were both outstanding, and the overall experience was excellent. However, I’d be more likely to keep it for a special occasion rather than a regular meal out, purely because...

We have been loyal customers of Naka Thai for a number of years but this evening they have fallen far below our expectations.

At 8pm I ordered via Just Eat. The order was accepted by the restaurant with an estimated 30 minute delivery time, perfect!

At around 8:30pm I received a text message to say the order was delayed by roughly 30 minutes. Not a problem, these things happen and it’s great to see they were busy.

At around 9pm our order was cooked and on it’s way, a 10 minute drive away from the restaurant.

At 9:30pm we hadn’t received our food so I called the restaurant and spoke with staff who assured me it was on its way and would be another 3-5 minutes.

At 9:40pm I called again. They chased the delivery driver and I was told he was 5 minutes away.

At 09:50pm our food was still no where to be seen, nearly an hour after it left the restaurant.

Not wanting cold food I asked for my order to be cancelled and the money refunded. They persisted that I wait for the food, however after further debate it was eventually cancelled and refunded.

Zero resolution from staff, despite it being two hours after we ordered. Needless to say we will never order again. Not how I expect customers to be treated, particularly those who have always been...

The food was amazing. The (Prawn) Pa Nang Curry and the (Prawn) Pad Thai were some of the best I've ever had, including that in Thailand. The Prawn Tom Yum Soup was okay. All the dishes were a little on the spicy side but still absolutely amazing. The chef also came out and greeted us which was very nice. One thing I didn't like, however, was the lack of attention we received once we got our food. I waited 10 minutes for someone to come so I could ask for a water. Then eventually I had to get up to ask for it. They got it for me, then went back to ignoring us for closer to 20 minutes before coming back in. Also a couple walked in and waited for 3 minutes befire even being seen. Like I said, food was absolutely amazing but they absolutely need to be docked for the complete lack of attention for their guests. I would still reccomend this place for the great food but be prepared to wait a long time for service. I'd like to add that both the chef and waitress were amazingly nice people so making this a 3 star review hurts a lot, but I need them to understand that they can't keep customers sitting in the front room without paying attention to them for 30 minutes. But again,...