Situated at Barton Marina on the Trent and Mersey Canal, Nipa Thai is a Thai restaurant set amongst lots of little boutique shops in a lovely waterside complex that also houses a small independent cinema. The front of the restaurant looks out over the marina where all the canal boats are moored and in the early evening setting sun it really is a lovely view.
The decor is extravagant, complete with large water feature and fauna down the center of the room, but I wouldn’t expect anything less from a Thai restaurant and it all really adds to the atmosphere.
To start with, Lee and I shared a few starters, the GAI SATAY (Charcoal grilled marinated chicken breast with Thai spices served with homemade peanut sauce and cucumber relish), POA PIA PED (aromatic duck spring rolls served with Hoi Sin sauce) and PHAK CHOOP PANG TORD (Deep-fried vegetable in tempura batter served with plum sauce). We couldn’t really fault anything with the starters – The often failed sticking points of moist chicken and light non soggy batter were passed with flying colours and each accompanying dipping sauce packed with flavor.
For his main course, Lee went for one of his current favorite things to eat, a MASSAMAN CURRY with chicken. This version was packed full of potato and onion and he declared it the best he had tried at a Thai restaurant, surpassing his favorite up to that point found at Ma Ma Thai in Lichfield. I went for a curry as well, the PANAENG Chicken Curry. This was described as being similar to a red curry, but with more chilli and lots of kaffir lime. Sounded right up my street! The taste of it was delicious, spicy enough to make you reach for the water, but not enough to put you off eating it. There was no veg through it though which for me was the only thing lacking. Lee tried some garlic fried rice with his curry which he declared very tasty while i stuck to the tried and tested sticky rice.
Yet another great find in our local area! I’m beginning to regret the day that I declared there was no where good to eat in South Staffs…!
http://nipathairestaurant.co.uk
Disclosure: We paid in full for our meal, the restaurant was not aware they would be subject to a review.
