Mai Thai

Mai Thai’s unfussy facade & dining room which verges on the spartan may lack the warmth to encourage lingering, but if all you want to do is eat & go, it’s fine – as the food is competently cooked & reasonably priced. The menu offers the usual marathon of choice. A starter of yum nam sode packs enough zip with its pork, onion, chilli & ginger to warm up the coldest winter night (there’s a veggie version too with peanuts & soya). Gang keaw wan, with tofu, aubergines & herbs in a soupy, pale green sauce, is perfect with fragrant rice, while praew wan – sweet & sour chicken – is a healthier alternative for those used to the Chinese version in batter.