Patara

The cleansing scent of lemongrass hits you as you walk in to Patara, followed by the ambient music & then the red glow surrounding the silk benches & low brass tables – & that’s just the bar area. The dining rooms beyond & below are equally beautiful (silk walls, dark wood carvings & sculptures) & serve what some claim is ‘Thai food elevated to another level’. There are lots of familiar dishes & some more inventive ones, but whatever you chose it will be top quality: plump king scallops in spicy lime & chilli vinaigrette, tender New Zealand lamb skewers with aromatic curry sauce & pickled vegetables, succulent beef cheek sauteed in fragrant herbs & coconut curry sauce, perhaps. Together with the gracious service & decent wine list, this is Thai fine dining indeed.