21. Thai: Sukhothai Palace, Brighton

Sukhothai Palace
62 Middle Street
Brighton
E. Sussex
BN1 1AL

Tel: 01273 748448
www.spalace.co.uk

Lazing around Brighton on a rainy, sunny, windy early afternoon in the old Lanes in Brighton, we happened upon the Sukhothai Palace in Middle Street. We were actually going to visit the Ghengis Kahn Mongolian Barbecue, but they are not open at lunch time so we crossed to road- entice by the board offering a two course lunch menu for £4.95.

We were greeted with polite hospitality and quickly seated near the prettily decorated window. A quick peruse of the vast main menu found 103 selections- definitely something for everyone here. There are 10 and 11 item meat and vegetarian set menus for £17.95 a person, (minimum two people) six types of soup, 30 starters with a mixed platter for two for 10.95 to single portions of familiar and unfamiliar but intriguing dishes for £3.95 to £4.95, 20 different salads for between £6.00 and £7.00, stir fry dishes prices $4.50 to £5.50, curry and noodle dishes for £5.50 to £8.95, etc…etc…etc…! We settled for the lunch special menu. From the six starters and 15 assorted main dishes that come with your choice of beef, pork, chicken, tofu or for £1.00 extra- king prawns, we chose Tom Yam Chicken soup- a favourite of ours and sesame prawn toast (pictured right) and shared Phad Khing chicken with chicken with ginger, mushroom, spring onion and black bean sauce and Phrick Kra-Pow, king prawns with fresh chilli, garlic and Thai holy basil and the Pad Thai noodles with pork.

Our Tom Yam soup was very tasty: steaming, spicy, distinctively flavoured and with plenty of chicken. Badergerman and I, both suffering with hay fever, were very glad of its decongestant properties too. The Prawn toast, nice and crunchy came with a piquant and not-too-sweet dip that complimented it well. The Phad Khing chicken was spicy with just the right amount of ginger and black bean sauce and the Phrick Kra-Pow king prawns, I particularly liked, was hotter, (you can get dishes as hot as you like) very flavoursome and is pictured above. Both dishes were accompanied with light, perfectly cooked rice. The Phad Thai noodles with pork (pictured below) were just yummy- cooked just right,full of flavour and piggy Badgerman and I finished them all up. You’ll note that we had three lunch specials for two of us as we were particularly ravenous; on an ordinary day one each would have been plenty as the portions are good.

We did indulge in dessert; I had the ‘Green Bamboo’ ice-cream (pictured left) that was creamy toffee ice cream in a charming bamboo dish and Badgerman indulged in the Tartufo Classico a delicious cocoa covered dark chocolate ice cream ball with a creamy vanilla centre. These were very good and a cut above the usual bought-in ice cream dessert and left us so full that we skipped our dinner and just had some cheese and crackers later in the day.

We drank only Jasmine tea and water but the wine selection looked good with whites ranging form £11.90 for a Chilean Chardonnay to £21.95 for a French Chablis and reds from £11.95 to £22.95 and beers for £2.75 to £2.95. You can get a glass on the cheaper wines for £3.25.

Our bill, (really for three!) excluding tip, came to £24.05; excellent value we thought and were very pleased with our whole dining experience. Take away is also available. Have a look on the web site listed above for the menu.

Rating
Ambience: 4
Service: 4
Food presentation: 2
Food quality: 3.5
Value for money: 4

20. Thai: The Swan Pub, Falmer

The Swan Pub
Middle Street
Falmer
(near Brighton)
East Sussex
BN1 9PD
01273 681842

On the eve of Mid-Summer’s Day, Badgerman, King Blim, Mrs F., Cherry-eye Bob and I ventured to the Swan Pub in the north side of the A27-bisected village of Falmer in search of Thai food. Mrs F. and Cherry-eye Bob visit Thailand for at least two months a year and came with us in search of holiday memories. We navigated the many doors through the Saloon and Snug bars to the main pub and settled ourselves for and evening of food and chat.


The modestly presented menu listed a huge array of dishes: 10+ starters and 18 types of mains that came in six different meat or veg ways. Starters ranged from £1.90 for vegetable tempura to £3.80 for mussels and there are two mixed starter platters for two people priced £6.00 and £6.80. Being the social lot that we are, we chose to share a Mixed Seafood Starter (pictured left) Sesame Prawn Toast, Vegetable Tempura (pictured right) and Vegetable Spring Rolls. All came in good time. The Seafood Platter was yummy with filo wrapped prawns, mussels in tempura, spicy squid, fish fritters, sesame prawn toasts and flavoursome seafood crackers. All was well cooked and the tastes and textures complimented each other; I especially liked the spicy squid.


With the success of the starters on our palettes, we eagerly awaited the arrival of our main courses. Soon they arrived. Mrs F. really enjoyed her Vegetable Massaman Curry- coconut creamed curry with potatoes, carrots, onions and roasted peanuts priced at £4.20 (pictured left). She thought that is was very authentic (we later discovered that the Chefs are two Thai ladies) and it had her longing to be back in Thailand. King Blim and Cherry-eye Bob had the Chicken Red Curry with its coconut milk, sweet basil, palm sugar and piquant spices (£4.70). King Blim thought it was just a bit two spicy and Cherry-eye Bob would have preferred more spice; they will know to order it to their tastes, as mentioned on the menu, next time we visit. They did, however, very much agree that the Red Curry was very tasty and well prepared with good quality ingredients, as were all our dishes. Craving noodles, Badgerman ordered the Chicken Pad Ke Mao noodles and thoroughly enjoyed them. I would gladly return to have the Prawn Chuchi again (pictured right). It was creamy and spicy with loads of succulent, large prawns. All our dishes, with the exception of Badgerman’s noodles, were served with a mound of excellently cooked, fragrant rice. As delicious as our food was, I though that the presentation could be improved by replacing the bits of iceberg lettuce garnish with slices of cucumber or something similar.

The Swan serves good pub food every day, but serves Thai food on Thursday, Friday and Saturday. There is plenty of parking and Falmer Station is a short walk away.

Our bill, excluding tip but with a round of drinks, came to £12 a head- excellent value! I love Thai food and kick myself when I think of the thousands of times I have passed below on the A27 but have taken so long to venture into the Swan.

Rating:
Ambience: 2
Food presentation: 2
Food quality: 3.5
Service: 2
Value for money: 4

19. Fusion: Chaula's Fusion

Chaula’s Fusion
Station Street,
Lewes,
East Sussex
BN7 2DA

01273 483462
chaulas.fusion@hotmail.com

Badgerman and I though that we should turn our Sussex Ethnic Eats attentions closer to home and walked to Chaula’s Fusion on Station Street in Lewes, just up the road from the mainline rail station. It had only been open five weeks but on the shoulders of Chalua Patel’s reputation for fantastic, well cooked, good value food the café is already popular. We have known Chaula for many years as she is one of our neighbours and with her husband owns our excellent, local shop from which we used to get her fabulous home cooked take away Gujerati food. She opened her restaurant Chaula’s that serves her wonderful brand of Indian food a year or so ago. It’s next to the Waitrose store in Lewes (you’ll find it on the S.E.E. map), we often go there and will review it in the near future.

Eagerly we mounted the two steps to the quite small restaurant with seating for 12 and perused the menu boards. It took me a few moments to see how the fare was different from ordinary café food but I soon got the hang of it and spotted the hand-made Gujerati starter specialities- 30p. each, in the front counter and items such as Sag Aloo Pie- £1.45 amongst the more traditional egg and cress sandwiches (£1.80 for a sandwich and £2.00 for a baguette) and slices of pizza for £1.25. Being open-minded, and knowing what good food we have had at Chaula’s other restaurant, we asked the very friendly serving lady for a selection of starters and slices of chicken tikka pizza.

Our starter bowls arrived very quickly and we eagerly tucked in. At nine o’clock as pictured above, was a little, perfectly cooked veggie Samosa; the crispy outer yielded to a delicious, mellowly-spiced spinach, potato and pea inner. The Petis, at 12 o’clock, one of Badgerman’s favourites, is a tasty pea and mashed potato, yummy bite. We had never had a Kachori, one o’clock, but were surprised by the depth of the taste in the spicy lentil filling. The spring roll and mango chutney at three and six o’clock respectively rounded off the plate nicely. It’s fair to say we enjoyed each of the starters but I would like to see the dish served with a larger amount of salad or even appear on the menu as a salad plate.

Our attentive waitress brought our pizza (pictured right) quickly and I hesitatingly tucked in. I had imagined somehow that it would have Italian herbs and chicken tikka and this misunderstanding had kept me away from ‘fusion’ food but our ‘pizza’ had, of course, been flavoured with Indian spices and was an absolute treat! I can honestly say that I enjoyed every bite and think it is worth a trip just to have a slice of the Chaula’s veggie of meat pizza of the day. The thin crust was beautifully cooked and was piled with roasted peppers, tomato sauce, red onions, peppers, cheese and a generous amount of chicken tikka pieces. I would, however, say that I would still liked to have had more salad.


Bagderman had a beer and I had water and we finished, me with a pungent and refreshing Chai tea and pistachio, kulfi ice-cream and Badgerman with a good cappachino.


I got talking to our waitress who had been deftly handling the take-away trade as well as us eat ins. She explained that as well as the long list of salad and baguette fillings, there were weekly special and customers could have lasagne, pasta and noodle dishes to take away for £1.75 - £2.50 or if they wished could eat these in the restaurant, served with a side salad and garlic bread for £3.99 - £ 4.90. There was a lovely, tempting selection of sweetmeats such as Gulab Jamun for £1.75, Kaju rolls for £1.49 and assorted Nut Halwa for £1.29 ready for taking away or eating in. As wells as Chaula’s famous frozen dishes- no home freezer is complete without them, there is an interesting array of reasonably priced herbs and spices and ice creams and lollies too.

I think this will become quite a popular place and I wish them all the best- they certainly are trying hard to succeed.

Our bill, including drinks but excluding tip was £16.66.

Rating
Ambience: 3
Food presentation: 2
Food quality: 3
Service: 4
Value for money: 4

18. China: The China Brasserie

The China Brasserie‎
7 Sussex Rd,
Haywards Heath,
West Sussex,
RH16 4DZ‎

01444 441466‎


Out looking for 60 wine glasses for work, the Vicar and I happened upon the China Brasserie in Haywards Heath. We were enticed in by the two courses Lunch Special for £7.95. Leaving the uninspiring utilitarian shopping row behind we entered a very pleasantly, very smartly orientally decored room. We were very cordially met and seated.

The Lunch Special consists of 12 starter and 24 mains choices, served with your choice of noodles, plain or egg fried rice. There wasn’t much seafood (my favourite food in any restaurant) on the Lunch Special menu, but the variety on offer is very good and would keep omnivores and vegetarians quite happy. We chose to start with the vegetarian Spring Rolls and Mandarin Ribs, pictured left and right respestively. The spring rolls were wonderfully crisp, fresh and filled with a great variety of veggies; they were some of the best I have ever tasted. We gleefully tucked into the ribs, greatful for the finger bowl of lemon water. They were well cooked and were so good that I’ll return just for them!

Our Kung Po Chilli Chicken with noodles and Stir Fried Beef with Black Bean Sauce and egg fried rice, (pictured left and right) were yummy, fresh and cooked just right. I particularly liked the beef as it was very tender, lightly cooked and came with plenty of vegetables. The hot and sweet flavour of the chicken was the Vicar’s favourite.

Often set menu special portions can be a little mean but the Vicar and I, no strangers to food, were pleasantly full and very happy with the whole experience- one we’ll repeat soon. A perusal of the regular menu showed lots of choice and reasonable prices: soups around £3.00, meat dishes for £5.50ish, seafood dishes between £7.00 and £8.00 and veggies around £4.50.

With Chinese tea, sparkling water and coffees the bill was £19.70 plus tip- especially good value for me as it was the Vicar’s turn to pay!

Rating
Ambiance: 3
Food Presentation: 3
Food Quality: 4
Service: 4
Value for money: 3

17. Nepal: Gurkha Chef

Gurkha Chef
20 Grand Parade
St Leonard’s (Near Hastings)
East Sussex
TN37 6DN

01424 444440
www.gurkhachefonsea.co.uk

Two days after Joanna Lumley achieved the rights for the famous and brave, Gurkha soldiers to settle in the UK, we found ourselves at the Gurkha Chef Grand Parade in St Leonard’s just down the sea front from Hastings. We were greeted very warmly with gentle politeness and quickly seated.

We started with popadums and were pleasantly surprised by the spiced yoghurt, onion salad, spicy-sweet delicious sauce (pictured left). These were far better that the usual mango chutney, raita, onions and coconut paste one usually finds in an Indian restaurant. This subtle difference in taste and use of spice, flavourings and range of ingredients we found throughout the meal.

We asked for help with our meal selection, as the menu was vast and full of tempting dishes. Our genial host took time to explain the excellent ‘eat as much as you like’ Sunday deal, suggested a few dishes and even gave us a complimentary starter!

King Blim was very pleased with his starter: Aloo Bora coriander and spring onion mixed with mashed potatoes served with a salsa garnish
and clear chilli dip, with a unique taste and texture (£2.50 and pictured right). Badgerman’s Bhareko Chyau, deep-fried mince-stuffed mushrooms (£2.50), were tasty and perfectly cooked. My Gurkha Vegetable Tempura (below left) was good and well presented, though it could have been drained just a little more. Our complimentary Chhoela (£3.00) a yummy offering of barbecued chicken prepared with traditional Nepalese herbs, (below right) was a firm favourite with us all.






We shared Khasi Kabab, marinated lamb with ginger, garlic coliander and onions, Bangur Ledo, pork with garlic, onions, tomatoes and spinach, Aishwarya Chicken, a breast of chicken stuffed with spinach, garlic and mixed vegetables grilled in a clay oven and
cooked in medium Nepaleese sauces (pictured left), Palungo Ktarkari, sautéed spinach with garlic, Pharsi Tarkri, butternut squash in Nepalese spices Nariwol Bhuja, sweet coconut rice (all pictured below). I also had a mixed salad. It was all just wonderful! Expertly cooked, well presented, very good ingredients and just yum, yum, yum!! It has been a long time since I have enjoyed a meal quite so much. We highly recommend the butternut squash and pork Bangur Ledo.

We were far too full to contemplate dessert, but had very tasty coffee, talked to our hosts who, despite being quite busy gave consistent, attentive service and we're only sorry we live a hour' drive away- though it’s only a short walk from the St Leonard’s Warrior Square train station.

Our bill excluding a couple of beers, coffee and Nepalese tea came to £34.75 for the three of us.

Rating
Ambience: 3.5
Presentation of food: 3
Quality of food: 4
Service: 4
Value for money: 4

16. The Lebanon: Al Rouche

Al Rouche
44 Preston Street
Brighton
East Sussex
BN1 2HP

01273 734810

After too long away from the ethnic eat scene, Badgerman and I searched out the Al Rouch Lebanese restaurant in Preston Street, one of Brighton’s famous ‘food alleys’. We were drawn to look for a Middle Eastern or Mediterranean restaurant as after a couple of months of overseas-visitor-induced excess, we craved fresh, unadulterated, satisfying food.

Al Rouche is a modest looking establishment that seats approximately 40. We were met with courteous friendliness and took our pick of seats, as we were the first of the Saturday lunchtime trade. We chose the £10.95 lunchtime set menu (minimum two people) that came with a delicious and quite adequate starter mezze plate pictured left. We happily tucked into the houmous, tabouleh, moutabal- grilled aubergine pate, stuffed vine leaves, sumbouska- a cheese, onion and mint pastry, fatayer- spinach samosas, araysess- pita bread stuffed with minced lamb and kalaje jibne- pita and holoumi cheese and kebbeh- a tabouleh and meat, rugby ball-shaped, fried dumpling. All tastes and textures in this well-prepared dish complimented each other, but we thought the aubergine moutabal and araysess were particularly appealing.

Licking our fingers and remnants off the starter plate we waited a few short minutes for the main courses. My Ablameh, minced lamb with aubergines, onions and tomatoes served with plain rice looked deceptively simple (pictured right) but it was a delicious mixture of layered tastes. It reminded me of the best home cooking- satisfying, nutritious and yummy. Badgerman was equally pleased with his Mixed Grill of lamb, chicken and minced meat skewers serves on turmeric rice (pictured left). Again they were well cooked and deliciously spiced.

The manger encouraged us to try a dessert but we might have well exploded, (“…just a petite wa-fer M’sieur…?”). We did, however, have the Arabic coffee: thick, dark and delicious and served in small, handleless cups which was excellent and had me, not a big coffee drinker reaching for a second cup.

The regular menu was full of wonderfully tempting dishes all reasonable priced. Judging by how quickly Al Rouch filled up on a sunny Saturday lunchtime it looks a quietly popular place. All customers were greeted warmly and made to feel valued and obviously enjoyed their food; everything that I saw come out of the kitchen looked good.

Our bill with drinks but excluding tip was £32.50.

Rating
Ambience: 3
Food presentation: 3
Food quality: 3.5
Service: 4
Value for money: 3

15. China: The Wok Inn

The Wok Inn
Shortgate, (North of the Broyle)
Laughton,
East Sussex
BN8 6PJ
01825 840888 www.wokinn.org

On the advice of the Old Duck and her Old Boy, we visited the Wok Inn on a rainy Sunday night. We tripped trapped, Billy Goat fashion, over a charming bridge that marks the entrance to the Wok Inn, smiled at the cheery Buddha at the entrance and were greeted quickly and politely by waiting staff. We were seated at a very comfy, stylish table and I marvelled at how the former pub had been transformed in to a charming, very clean establishment with lounging, buffet, restaurant seating and function room areas.

The large menu has something for all tastes and being avid restaurant goers and non-fussy eaters, we had trouble choosing! Blim chose his stock Sesame Prawn Toast, the rest of us had a variety of soups prices between £2.40 to £2.60. My Mixed Seafood and Tofu soup (pictured right) was light, tasty, full of seafood and a great start to the meal. Badgerman and the Old Duck absolutely enjoyed their Chicken Noodle Soup, finding the chicken particularly tender. It was the first time the Old Boy had had Crab and Sweet Corn Soup and thought it was delicious. After making the usual inflated, foolish comments about his food (this boy has delusions of grandeur) Blim said his Sesame Prawn Toast (pictured below) was very crispy, and flavoursome and enhanced by the inclusion of the piquant dipping sauce.

For our main course we chose to share: King Prawns with Mushrooms (£6.60), Beef with Green Peppers and Black Bean Sauce (£5.60), Chicken Curry (£5.40), Chicken with Cashew Nuts (£5.40) Stir Fried Pak Choy ($4.60) and Mixed Seafood Platter for Two (around £12.00) and two portions of egg fried rice. The dishes arrived quickly on china plates and all looked very appetising. We tucked in and thoroughly enjoyed it all! We all found the beef to be excellent, very tender and flavoursome. Blim gave his choice, the Chicken Curry, ten out of ten. A highlight for me was the Mixed Seafood Platter for Two (pictured below. It was prettily presented with chilli and garlic dip, butterfly prawns, fried squid, wonderfully tasty bite-sized pieces of chilli pepper salmon and absolutely delicious Seafood Delight. This last component of cuttle fish and king prawn bound together into yummy discs is a ‘house signature’ dish and worth the trip alone! If you don’t fancy the whole seafood platter, the Seafood Delight appears as a separate menu item.
For our desserts we chose a variety from the good array of bought-it speciallity ice-cream based offerings and made in-house items, all priced between £2.50 for my yummy, crunchy Toffee Banana to £3.80 for Badgerman's Tartuffo (pictured right). The Old Duck loved her deep fried ice-cream, well chosen on our waiter's advice. Blim's Toffee Banana with Ice-Cream is pictured left.



As we were leaving the owner recognised the Old Boy and we had a very amiable chat. He showed me the pretty function rooms which includes the buffet area where the Sunday Buffet is served form 12 noon to 4:00 pm. It's an eat-as-much-as-you-can affair priced at £9.95 per person, 10 year olds and under eat for £5.95 with under fives eating for free. I will definitely bring Little Will, with his hollow legs, here the next time he visits and make sure I book as it is very popular.

We were all very pleased with our visit to the Wok Inn and will definitely be returning. As the Old Boy said : "the food was way above the normal standard"; ingredients obviously very fresh and of a very high standard, service was good and ambiance very pleasing... what more do you want on a rainy Sunday evening?

The bill per head, including drinks and service was £21.00. We were a party of five- if you want to skip dessert or are very hungry, I would suggest ordering one or two more main dishes.

Rating
Ambiance: 3.5
Food Presentation: 3
Food Quality: 4
Service: 4
Value for money: 2.5

We have made two return visits to the Wok Inn- each time was as enjoyable, if more more enjoyable, as the first! Go, go, go and enjoy- and say Sussex Ethnic Eats sent you!!