The Spice Merchant — Restaurant in Hart

Review of The Spice Merchant (As a Regular Customer)

As a regular customer at The Spice Merchant, I can confidently say that this place has become a staple in my culinary adventures. From the moment you step inside, you’re greeted by an inviting atmosphere filled with the rich aromas of spices and herbs that immediately whet your appetite.

The selection of spices, sauces, and specialty ingredients is truly impressive. Whether you’re a seasoned cook or just starting out, The Spice Merchant has everything you need to elevate your dishes. I love how they offer a wide variety of spices from around the world, allowing me to experiment with different cuisines and flavors. The quality of the products is consistently top-notch, which is something I really appreciate.

What sets The Spice Merchant apart is the knowledgeable and friendly staff. They are always ready to offer recommendations, share cooking tips, or help you find that elusive ingredient you’ve been searching for. Their passion for food and cooking is evident, and it makes every visit a pleasure. I often leave with new ideas for meals and a few extra spices I didn’t know I needed!

Additionally, I appreciate the regular events and workshops that The Spice Merchant hosts. These are not only fun but also a great way to learn more about various spices and how to use them effectively in cooking. It’s a wonderful opportunity to meet fellow food enthusiasts and expand my culinary skills.

Overall, I highly recommend The Spice Merchant to anyone looking to enhance their cooking experience. Whether you’re in search of a specific spice, looking for inspiration, or just want to explore new flavors, this is the place to go. With its fantastic selection, friendly staff, and welcoming atmosphere, it’s no wonder I keep...

This was our first time here. Although I had mentioned when booking that it was our first time and that we were celebrating a birthday, there wasn’t anything done to make our visit special. I think it’d have been a nice touch if this had happened.

We were very happy with the food (taste as well as portion sizes - in fact, we had ordered too much and had to take some food back with us). The green curry was my favourite while my wife liked the massaman curry.

We were well looked after. Our waitress Ellie listened to our requests regarding vegan food, gave us the allergen menu and despite the allergen menu listing crustaceans/eggs, was able to get us vegan curries without these, made from scratch for us, and also the pineapple fried rice without eggs. She kindly got hot water for my dad from the coffee machine.

Towards the end, we were waiting for a little while to catch Ellie’s attention to get the bill - the layout of the restaurant and where we were sat, meant that we couldn’t see her nor could she see us unless she was in our section of the restaurant. It was also a bit too busy/noisy for my dad’s liking. As it was a Saturday night and slightly busy, this is perhaps understandable, but we would have said our visit was perfect had this not happened.

We were confused that the bill included service charge because it referred to hospitality but we have now found out this was some tax. The next time we are there, we will make sure to leave a tip for Ellie.

Overall, we would say we had a very good experience and will definitely return. I would definitely recommend...

Visited January 2018 - Definitely worth a visit if you've not been already!

I ended up dining here somewhat by default. Having tried to book with one of The Spice Merchants competitors (a Thai Restaurant in Fleet who were closed) a quick Google search suggested The Spice Merchant as an alternative.

Initially, The Spice Merchant does feel like a little bit of an odd set up. It's part pub, part Thai restaurant and part antiques shop (you'll see what I mean if you visit). However, do not be put off as The Spice Merchant is somewhat of a hidden gem.

The food was absolutely fantastic and completely faultless. As a table of four we all agreed that the food was very well prepared, full of flavour and also plentiful (the portion sizes more than satisfactory). We all tried a good range of dishes from the menu and all were served to a very high standard.

I feel it's worth mentioning, having spent time in Thailand, the food at The Spice Merchant is probably as close to authentic Thai cuisine that you'll be able to find here in the UK.

As such, I will be returning at some point in the future and would also recommend The Spice Merchant to anyone with a taste for Thai food.

Great meal, great service...