The Land of Smiles in Surrey

Aroy in Reigate

The last time I ate soft shell crab I was sitting on top of the Bangkok skyline at the Banyan Tree’s Vertigo Restaurant (if you ever get the chance..do it!).

This time I am sitting upstairs in a Grade II listed building in the centre of a very chilly Reigate. Hidden away down a side entrance off the High Street is this little gem of a restaurant, Thai Dining.

The moment we walked in out of the Arctic conditions we were warmly greeted by the staff. On the ground floor of Thai Dining there is a very sophisticated and chilled out bar area where you also eat off the menu should you wish to.

Upstairs in the main restaurant the tables are arranged perfectly that you are neither on top of the table next to you or so far removed that you don’t feel part of the atmosphere. The decor upstairs is warm, stylish and sleek.

The menu is quite extensive but without being overwhelming, as I said, the last time I had soft shell crab was 6,000 miles away so I plumped for that as my starter but omitting the wasabi mustard, I’m a big girl’s blouse when it comes to wasabi! I normally have Tom Kha as a starter in a Thai restaurant but every time The Bloke says “don’t have it, it won’t be as good as yours”. I blush. Then ask myself why he is after brownie points!!

Back to the menu and The Bloke chooses the sticky lemongrass marinated chicken wings. Before the starters arrive, we indulge ourselves with a basket of Thai spiced crackers, which were incredibly moreish served with three different dipping sauces…I recommend the peanut sauce.

The starters arrive on black tiles without looking pretentious. My soft shell crab was beautiful in a very light corn flour coating served with a sweet chilli jam instead of the blister inducing wasabi. However, the envy was on my part as the chicken wings arrived looking exceedingly sticky and unctuous with the wonderful scent of lemon grass and ginger wafting over #note to self to have those next time.

For the main course, The Bloke chose a dish that could easily have been a film title, Weeping Tiger. Described on the menu as chargrilled sirloin steak strips in a sweet and smoky dark sauce…intriguing. For me it was crsipy skinned duck breast on a bed of chinese leaf with a tamarind glaze and cashew nuts and pad thai vegetable noodles on the side. This time I was winner, the duck was, as it said crispy skinned, delicious with that wonderful distinctly tart but sweet & sour taste of tamarind.

I have to say that we were pretty full by this stage but of course we were offered the option of indulging further with a dessert. Now if I were to pick one off the menu it would have to be the mango & sticky rice…that has to be the most heavenly dish and believe it or not can be difficult to find in the UK even in the best Thai restaurants however, I just did not have enough room for that pleasure, though it gives me an excuse to come back purely just for that treat.

Now, I wonder if they serve it on a banana leaf?

Thai Dining is definitely on my recommend list.

(Thai Dining’s full menu is available on their website | You can also order takeaway from the main menu)

www.thaidiningsurrey.co.uk