Ben's Thai

It may share the same down-at-heel decor & slightly staid atmosphere as the Robert Browning pub it sits above, but Ben’s Thai is a more exciting prospect when it comes to food: well-prepared, brimming with south-east Asian herbs & spices, & at prices the chi-chi denizens of Maida Vale can’t quite believe. Duck spring rolls, or char-grilled prawn satay with a peppy peanut sauce, start meals with a kick. Then there’s an array of stir-fried dishes laced with chilli & holy basil, all sorts of noodles beyond pad thai, & a kaleidoscope of curries, including a red prawn version heady with lime leaves. Spicy salads & charcoal-grilled meats (spring chicken in peanut lime sauce, say) will satisfy lighter appetites. Liquid refreshment – including organic beer – is supplied by the pub below.