Patara Oxford Circus

The cuisine at Patara, an international chain with branches in London, Geneva & beyond, touts a Thai food experience of the sort you’re more likely to find in a Bangkok designer hotel rather than a street market. Exotic, ‘romantic candlelit’ interiors & ‘alluringly presented’ dishes are the group’s hallmarks, as is warm, courteous service (although readers’ comments haven’t been so glowing in that respect). This isn’t the place for a quick green curry or pad thai; instead enjoy ‘inventive & different’ – if ‘expensive’ – food such as DIY Thai tacos with chicken & prawns, rice-paper rolls with crabmeat, five-spice duck or wild boar in coconut red curry sauce. Thai wine is available (‘maybe not a good thing’), but a cold beer is most diners’ preferred tipple. Set lunches come recommended.