http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/ Welcome to Been there. Your tips on the places you know - that you love, live in or have just visited - are what make this guide. http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/20214
Walk it off down nearby Portobello market then head to the funkiest, friendliest little space at NHAC - groovy Brasilian beats (after-carnival was great) in a really creative environment - top Saturday in Notting Hill!]]> http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/20214 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/20009 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/20009 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/19639 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/19639 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/19409
The clientele are sometimes very interesting….]]> http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/19409 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/18848 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/18848 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/18832
The food is always perfectly cooked and offers exceptional value for money. The atmosphere is very friendly and the staff are delightful. An absolute must for those who enjoy Thai food. It is best to book ahead however, as they do get very busy.]]> http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/18832 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/17941 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/17941 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/11203
As soon as you set foot on the street out come the chasing pack of touts trying to divert you into their restaurant but it is worth holding out and going round the bend to Co Co Curry which has a wide and tasty variety of Malaysian and Thai food as well as the extremely tasty Roti. Tasty and excellent value.

Perfectly washed down by a selection from their wide range of bottled lagers.]]> http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/11203 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/11183 Very impressed. My new favourite place.]]> http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/11183 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/10674
My wife & I booked up to go between Christmas & New Year - it was almost full, so booking is necessary. When booking, I mentioned we were vegetarian, and was asked "fish or no fish?" which gave me confidence that they knew that real veggies don't eat fish.

That was it as far as menu choice goes. No choice at all - the only menu one is offered is a wine card (from £10.00 up). This was refreshing to us - we hate spending hours deciding what to have, and it's justified by the statement "why bother choosing - we give you everything". The menu changes weekly.

Starters for us was a large portion of baby sweetcorn in tempura batter, small veg likewise, and mushroom & coriander in little wanton wrappers - deep fried. These came with saucers of soy sauce, sweet chilli and a hot chilli, ginger & soy sauce dips - very nice - the latter definitely homemade. I know there were little spicy pork cakes for meat eaters - the table of elderly people next to us complained that one found them too hot, likewise the spicy sauce - which seemed medium to my palette. They also asked if some real Thai music could be put on instead of this English stuff, which amused me, as the English stuff was in fact Thai pop music (and definitely in the background).

Mains. A large plate of sticky white boiled rice is provided, then we had thinly sliced sweetcorn, green beans, garlic, galangal & chilli in a gravy; pak choi in 'oyster' sauce - this was the vegetarian mushroom based version of 'oyster' sauce; and a large heater full of a wonderfully fragrant coconut, mushroom & cauliflower soup heavily laced with lemon grass & galangal. As our plates emptied, we were asked if we needed more rice, or more of any of the dishes - we didn't as we were quite full (but not stuffed).

Afterwards, a choice of lemon or mango sorbet (or a mixture), and coffee.

Set price as at 29/12/06 is £24.50 plus wine.

Staff: front of house are all English, very efficient & friendly - all dishes are explained well. I'm pretty sure that the male owner out front is married to a Thai woman who handles the cooking.

Upstairs is a B&B - Cardynham House, run by the same people, I assume - but I can't comment as I've never stayed there, living just down the valley in Stroud as I do.

We really enjoyed the meal & atmosphere. Good tip left & I will visit again (and I don't often tip).]]> http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/10674 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/9701 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/9701 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/8858 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/8858 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/8852 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/8852 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/8817 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/8817 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/8333 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/8333 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/4846 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/4846 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/4401 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/4401 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/4183 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/4183 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/2851
For cheap as chips Thai made with the freshest of fresh ingredients, fight through the crowds at Tum Thai in Randwick (up the hill from Coogee Beach).

For more daring Thai with a view, Sailor's Thai, a Sydney institution is a must. The restaurant is not cheap but those in the know head for the more relaxed surrounds and reasonable prices of Sailors Bay Canteen, just upstairs.

Finally, for Thai food mixed with people watching, try Longrain, a bar/restaurant in trendy Surry Hills. The reason why the girl next to you looks like Kylie is proabbly because she is Kylie!]]> http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/2851 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/2333 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/2333