Thailand No.1 Lincoln — Restaurant in Lincoln

Would need to go again, but my first visit (and a sneeky peek at the food of others as I walked by) is enough to be able to say this is one of the best Thai restaurants that I've been to.

It was Lincoln's 'Turn the lights on night' Friday 29th November. It was freezing, so we opted for somewhere close to our accommodation (Cathedral View Guest House - run by Paul and Christina, and a fabulous place to stay and subject of a separate review). We both like Asian flavours, me in particular, so this seemed the perfect place.

It was busy! However, the phone call 45 minutes previously had secued us a table for two right in the window, and Far from the Madding Crowd (I live in Dorset).

We wee immediately served our drinks of choice and started to pore over the menu. For me, there are two good tests of any Thai restaurant; Laab Kai, and Pad Thai. Which to have? Well, it was cold outside so I took the Laab, adding that it should be prepared fiery hot - my preference. Definitely all was as it should have been. I even asked if it could be served in iceberg lettuce leaves (they make nice cool wraps to balance out the fiery contents) and was provided almost a whole lettuce. Just fabulous - didn't even have to ask for extra creen chillies.

My beautiful wife (as usual, immediately the focal point for the males in the restaurant - honestly, I'm so lucky), ordered a sweet and sour chicken - in fairness, one of her comfort foods. I'm glad to report that this was a super-uplevel on sweet and sours past. Drenched in delicious sauce, yet retaining that crispiness so sadly absent in ordinary versions, the chicken inside was like velvet; truly delicious. I polished the rest off after she'd finished....which I'm almost ashamed to admit, is not an uncommon event when we dine.

We don't go to Lincoln enough and I've decided we need to install some imaginary friends there that we go and visit on a regular basis; the cathedral is magnificent, Cathedral View offers fantastic lodgings in a historic building, and now we have a place to eat that I suspect I will not...

The food was excellent, as always. If anything it was better, as the menu seems a bit more varied and the portions of rice have been increased to a perfect size further curries. The service however is awful 😖 We were rushed in, were asked if we had drinks 7 times before the drinks came, which were relatively quick to arrive. Our starter orders were taken before the drinks arrived. We asked for more time, but were ignored, we ended up ordering some starters to share and asked for a bit of time for the main meals. We had the starters quickly and felt we were being rushed to clear the table :( The starter plates were cleared before we finished. So my mum was still eating her satay, and the waiter was clearing the other plates at the end of the table waiting for her to finish. Then we had hot plates and the candle warmers for the curry placed on the table, then we waited for over 30mins, more like 40mins for our mains :( It was hot, it was noisy, all the waiters but one do not know how to smile, plates are dispatched very abruptly, there is no attempt to make you feel welcome, but the emphasis is on getting you through the chain as quickly as possible. Not good at all, and although I have in the past said I will not go back, I did go back last night. I will not go back this...

Arrived in Lincoln today to attend my son's graduation ceremony tomorrow. We were walking from one end of Bailgate to check out the restaurants and some were full while a few were not. My son did warn me that restaurants close early here and may not admit us if we are too late unlike restaurants in Essex or London. As we aren't used to having early dinners, we took the chance at 8.15pm. Thailand No.1 was full but hubby asked if there were any tables left, as a full restaurant is a good indicator that the food is good. We were lucky! The food arrived fairly quickly despite being busy and it was tasty and delicious! I have to write here that my son has been trying to find chicken wrapped in pandan leaves for a few years as our favourite restaurant back in Dagenham, Essex relocated to Ramsgate and they had this pandan chicken on their menu which we craved for. Never found any of the Thai restaurants in our area had this on their menu. Now isn't it amazing to find this in Lincoln after 7 years!! It was delicious yum-yum! Do try their crispy duck in tamarind sauce too! Great choices! Thai No.1 is our No.1 favourite restaurant when in Lincoln but it's too far to come back for more pandan chicken!...