Thai Boran, 56 Green Lane, Derby, DE1 1RP

Yet another thai restaurant, is indicative of the cuisine types available in Derby (there's a further two thai/oriental openings planned for this month alone). A vast selection of Indian & oriental restaurants, but still no decent "pub grub" within the city centre. What I'd give for a plate of piping hot smooth buttery mash and some locally produced herby sausages and ladle of rich fruity onion gravy (decent grub)........don't get me going!

Having stayed late at my shop one Monday evening, staining one of the floors. I was ready for a beer and a quick food fix. We were just about to snap the final lock shut when a couple of friends waltzed by, en route to Thai Boran. We didn't need to be asked twice.......in fact we didn't need to be asked. We were coming!
I've always prided myself on knowing most eateries within the city centre, but Thai Boran on Green Lane, was new to me. I hadn't ventured this far up Green Lane since Alf James closed down (how I used to think it was cool to walk around Derby with one of those fake cigarettes, puffing out clouds of talcum powder!).

The Tardis size interior revealed a cluster of rooms, filled with the habitual large wood carved elephants and scenes of Thailand. A table in the main auditorium was selected by your now extremely hungry stain (floor) covered host.

Thai beers already in place, and several bowls of fiery prawn crackers later, it was the Toong Thong (isn't that what Betty Boop wears?) that arrived first (£3.99). A brass stand topped with half a dozen crispy wonton parcels, filled with minced prawn & chicken and a sweet chilli dipping sauce, was equally shared between me and Bec. Charlie Dimmock would have been proud of the accompanying floral arrangement, carefully carved from large oriental radishes and dipped in the chilli sauce, they also tasted half decent.

The extremely nervous waiter swapped our empty beer bottles for full ones and removed the rest of the flower arrangement, ensuring he kept everything at arms length (does he think I've put one of Alf James's exploding detonators in the food remnants?!)

The main event for me was Gai Yang Phoo Khao Fai (or chargrilled chicken) £7.49 and Pad Num Mun Hoi £6.79, for the Bec. Once more served up by the apprehensive looking waiter. I reckon he'd recently been reading the Firework Code. "No 4: Light the firework at arm's length, and stand well back!" I couldn't get over his unusual body language.

The chefs artistic talents had again been put to full use, with my chicken dish served up sizzling in a cleverly created tin foil chicken. It was a perfect combination of thai herbs and grilled chicken, hot, sweet and garlicky. I forgot to order rice but as usual there's always plenty of it kicking around, so I pilfered some of our companions steamed jasmine rice to absorb any remaining juices in the base of my foil bird. Bootiful! Bec's dish was her favourite combination of chicken and mushroom. Well presented again, but padded out with a few too many peppers for her liking.

All in all it was a really good discovery. If we hadn't polished off about 5 beers each the bill would have been around £20-£25, for one starter to share and a couple of mains and drinks.

I do like Thai, but let's hope that sooner than later, someone sees an opening for something different within the city centre. We shouldn't be forced to flee the city in an attempt to find some decent grub, no wonder Pizza Express and Zizzi are always busy.

Food 7/10

Service 6/10

Venue 5/10 (the toilets let it down abit)

Tel: 01332 343933

"Eighties - I'm living in the eighties, Eighties - I have to push, I have to struggle, Eighties" (Eighties, Killing Joke, 1984)

Martin, September, 2007

Masala Art, Midland Road, Derby

CLICK ON SAMPLE MENU TO ENLARGE

I don't know about you, but every week or so I need my curry fix, once it's done that's me sorted for another couple of weeks. Well tonight it's the whole family trotting off to Masala Art on Midland Road to collect our prescription.
First impressions are of a warm, softly lit room and very courteous, traditionally dressed staff. The waiting/bar area is a bit small, and there's probably only enough seating for four people, so we were propelled straight to our stylish laid tables and each presented with a copy of their innovative menu. The majority of the seating is made up of high backed, tan suede upholstery, very modern and if you get one of the booth's, also quite private. Drinks were promptly served, it was now time to decide, change your mind, then decide again, what to eat....
Mother plumped for her usual poppadoms and pickle. They pride themselves here on unusual accompaniments, such as their own apple & mint chutney, however they were more than happy to bring her the ubiquitous lime pickle. It was mushroom bhaji for the Bec, mixed vegetable starter for my skinny and tiger prawn puri for me. I was well impressed with the presentation of my starter, and it didn't disappoint the palate either, my skinny was also satisfied with her trio of samosas and bhaji's, but the perfectly formed circle of what I think was a tamarind reduction, was a bit fiery for her. Updates were provided by the attentive staff as to the imminent arrival of the mains, and in due course they promptly appeared, all presented in charming copper bowls. My usual chicken bhuna (£8.95) was remarkably tasty but slightly too hot for me, even though it is only rated number 1 (they rate all their food on a 1 - 3 chilli rating), lamb dansac (£8.95), lamb with spices & lentils for mother, chicken balti (£8.95) chicken with yoghurt & green peppers for my skinny and lamb saag gosht (£9.95) lamb, spinach & greens for Bec. Two pilau rice & one plain nan completed the line up. It was enjoyable for all, but my skinny did say she felt her's was a bit lacking on depth of taste. The attentive service was maintained throughout, and at the end of the proceedings we were presented with a small questionnaire, asking what we thought of their service and food, no wonder they're able to maintain such lofty levels of service, when they're constantly monitoring their customers opinions.
All in all it was hard to find faults tonight, as mother said to find any would be considered picky. When it came to 'way-in' £90 for the meal (that's 4 starters, four mains & 2 drinks each) we were once again asked what we thought of the experience. " I reckon you're one of the two best Indian restaurants in Derby" I said. "Yes, but are we number 1 or number 2?" she replied. Now there's a thought.............
N.B. Scientists at Nottingham Trent University have discovered that people can actually become addicted to curries, because they arouse and stimulate the senses. Their findings indicate that people do not just crave curry because of its spicy taste, but also because it stimulates the senses and provides a natural high (BBC, Oct. 2000).

Food 7.5/10
Service 8/10
Venue 7.5/10
Tel: 01332 292629
www.masala-art.co.uk

"Hot in the city, hot in the city tonight, tonight" (Hot in the city, Billy Idol, 1982)
Martin, Saturday 3rd February, 2007