Benja

Benja opened at the beginning of 2007 to poor reviews but raised its game over the course of the year. The menu is refreshingly different to your bog-standard Thai & dishes tend to offer strong, defined flavours. Fragrant minced chicken curry puffs come in a light, crispy shell, & the plump scallops stir-fried in a black pepper sauce are delicious. Admittedly, dishes can lack oomph, but the hits far outweighed the misses. And for its looks alone, the restaurant, situated in a Soho townhouse, is well worth a visit, particularly the upstairs dining room, its walls adorned with carved lotus flowers. It’s not cheap but the quality of cooking & the sweet-natured staff justify the prices, & if you’re trying to keep costs down, try the house white from Thailand: it’s a light, zesty wine well suited to the spicy food.