Patara South Kensington — Restaurant in London

Went to this restaurant on Sat at 1330. Quite empty so we dont need to queue for a table.

Water spinach is what I am coming for but they dont have it which is very disappointing.

Ordered pineapple fried rice and spiced fish cake. Fried rice is nice and the fish cake texture and flavour is great but the portion is generally smaller when you compare to the other thai restaurants that I have reviewed before.

Service is soso, staff are friendly i must say. Smiling all they way through but at the same time gave us a feeling that she would like to rush everything ASAP. As soon as we sat down she forgot to give us the menu. Once she has handover the menu, the other staff started chasing us to order food. Given we hvnt been to this place before, we will need sometime to browse. The staff reached out to us ~5mins as soon as we received the menu.

When the food is served, as soon as we have put our spoon down, the staff swiftly came and collect all the plates and hand us the dessert. As expected, he came back like 2mins later asking what we would like to order (We are still reading! I can only make a decision within 2minutes if your menu only 1-2 items!).

The whole eating experience just made me feel like they tried to serve us quickly and get rid of us quickly also. I would prefer to eat in a more relaxing way rather than under pressure. Tbh there are still so many empty tables why in a rush to kick us out?

At the end, i dont feel like paying the full service charge due to the experience, hence paid partial. Ended up the staff staring at me as if I have done something seriously wrong.

This will be my first time and last time visiting...

Review for Patara Restaurant

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

From the moment you step through the door, you’re greeted with a warm ambiance that transports you straight to Thailand. The decor is vibrant, filled with beautiful art and traditional elements that set the perfect backdrop for your meal.

The menu boasts an impressive variety of dishes, catering to both lovers of spicy food and those who prefer milder flavors. I started my culinary adventure with the Tom Yum soup, which was a perfect blend of tangy and spicy, bursting with flavour. It was an absolute delight!

For the main course, I opted for the classic set, a classic that did not disappoint. The meat were perfectly cooked, and the balance of flavors with the tamarind sauce, peanuts, and fresh lime was spot on. My dining companion chose the tomyum soup, which was great, packed with vegetables and succulent chicken. We couldn't resist ordering a side of spring rolls, which were crispy and delicious.

One of the highlights of our visit was the impeccable service. The staff was attentive and knowledgeable, offering great recommendations and ensuring our glasses were never empty.

To top it all off, we indulged in the Mango Sticky Rice for dessert, a sweet end to a fantastic meal. The combination of ripe mango and coconut-infused sticky rice was simply heavenly!

Overall, Patara Restaurant combines exceptional food, a charming atmosphere, and outstanding service, making it a must-visit for anyone who appreciates Thai cuisine. I can't wait to return and explore more...

Patara is an upmarket international chain of Thai restaurants that serves contemporary cuisine in central London.

With locations including Knightsbridge, Soho and Hampstead I went to the South Kensington branch. The room was elegant with minimalist furnishings and wood panelling. A member of staff warmly greeted my companion and I to our table.

We began by ordering the Prawn Tom Yum soup (£8.85).The prawns were succulent. The soup had an intense combination of hot spicy and sour as well as a wonderful distinctive citrus flavour of their kaffir lime leaves; predominantly used in Thai cooking.

We then shared their Prawn Pineapple Curry (£17.50). The combination of prawn and pineapple was fragrant and exotic. We also shared their Chicken Kieaw Wan (£16.80) which was a flavoursome blend of silky green curry paste with coconut milk and vegetables. We ate this with a portion of Coconut Rice (£4.50); the perfect accompaniment to curries. For dessert, we had their traditional Thai Mango with Sweet Sticky Rice (£10.00) which was served warm. It tasted sticky, sweet creamy and slightly salty all at the same time; a fresh yet indulgent delicacy.

With curries at £16-18 and desserts at £10, the prices are somewhat lofty but their unpretentious authentic Thai food deserves more than just a passing mention. I would definitely recommend this place for special occasions as these dishes don’t compromise on flavour and are the ultimate culinary...