Thai Elephant Restaurant — Restaurant in England

Been here several times over the last year or so.

4.5-5* Service 4*

But overall experience had to be no more than 2*.

Why? Absolutely freezing and they refuse to do anything about it. It's probably a listed building so they are limited in terms of glazing but they seem to hate to put the heating on. The very first time we went over a year ago it was so cold and none of the many radiators were on and they eventually put the wall heater on when we asked. Several times since then we've been for the food and it's been cold (rads ice cold again) but we'd prepared with thermals and jumpers and keeping our coats on.

This was the last time for us though. This time the excuse was the boiler having packed up the day before, but we know it's been like this over a year as rads are always off. And they didn't put the wall heater on (claiming it was just Aircon when last year it blew out heat for us) , just a small air blower when asked.

We've now learned they either can't or won't heat the place and this is such a shame as it ruins what should be a nice experience and not particularly cheap.

The food is good so I may go there again in the summer as I have nothing against them. I would just never recommend it any time when it's not warm though as noone should be made to feel freezing sitting there with coats, scarves etc indoors in this day and age. I'd rather have had beans on toast at home. Comfort...

The place looked pretty amusing but turned out to be just a sh*thole. Group of 5 on a Saturday evening. The staff hadn't bothered to clear their own post and rucksacks which were still draped over the largest table in the centre of the restaurant at 10pm. There must have been people in earlier that evening because their washing-up was piled along the floor of the hallway. The starter platters tasted like something Kerry Katona would serve at Christmas. My main (fish) was pretty good (though very very spicy) and service throughout the meal was begrudging. Had we been charged £20 per head for this meal it might have been a pretty quirky and fondly remembered evening. They stung us for £35 a head which just felt like an insult.

[the surprise was that we had been charged for £45 for starters when all five of us had just shared 1 plate of defrosted prawns wrapped in filo cardboard]

We complained at the unreasonably high bill (something we have never done before) and it was explained that the dishes are expensive because the ingredients are flown in from Thailand!

The one guy who was front of house eventually gave us £10 off our £180 bill after about 10 minutes of discussion and handwringingly complained that even this discount would be taken out of his pay by the owner.

Really do...

This review is for a home delivery, first the food tasted nice. Not the best but not the worst either.

However, for £75 for 4 people the portions were very small. 7 dishes in total, with one costing £14. Each dish was using the smaller of the plastic take away tub's and only one was full.... The mussels (that's right.. All shells).

I understand costs are increasing, but half empty containers at any price is not acceptable. The crispy duck had 6 little slices and a the rest was fried rice noodles (or something like that). Was a shame and now I'm ready for a my...