Thai Silk

Located under the arches near Southwark tube station, this neighbourhood eatery is a popular haunt for straightforward Thai cooking served with a smile. Like many similar establishments, the look is one of understated opulence, all deep reds & golden trinkets. The house signatures of wok-fried soft-shell crab with pepper & massamun curry served in a white bread ‘shell’ are still going strong, although the menu is essentially a classic run through salads, stir-fries, noodles & suchlike. For real value, the two-course set lunch (£6.95) & pre-theatre ‘early bird’ (£8.95 for three courses) are a steal. A busy bar handles much of the post-work drinking crowd, who flock to the covered terrace clutching pints of Asahi or gorgeous fruit cocktails (the Mekong passion is a mix of rum, passion fruit & mango).