After mass expansion across all of London’s boroughs, there are very few chains that I still like, and choose to visit… Honest Burgers for a meat fix and Rosa’s Thai for a comforting Asian meal. I have eaten in three or four of the Rosa’s Thai establishments and at every restaurant the food upholds a good quality and the service is charming.

This season Rosa’s Thai has opened in Victoria, an area which is in desperate need of tasty, genuine restaurants. It is nicely tucked away on Gillingham Street so you won’t have hoards of tourists to fight off for a seat, and inside the restaurant has a relaxed, neighbourhood feel. The space is simply designed with marble and wooden tables and memorabilia from Thailand.

Chang beer and ginger tea arrived to whet our appetites. The menu offers a range of Thai favourites and we kicked off by ordering a couple of starters… usually chicken satay would be my choice, but I decided to branch out with Chicken Wings and Thai Calamari. Both were tasty and fresh, I thought the chicken wings needed a little more seasoning, but the calamari was perfect with a light crispy batter and served with sweet chilli sauce.

The main courses were irresistible, both to smell and taste. Stir fried aubergine is a must, the addictive sauce is made with yellow bean, chilli, soya sauce and sweet basil and is lovely contrast of sweet and salty flavours. The aubergine was luxuriously soft so that it practically melted in the mouth. Of the curries, Roasted Duck red curry was my favourite, a rich and creamy coconut sauce with a comforting sweetness from the grapes, pineapple and cherry tomatoes. Prawn crackers were a naughty but necessary snack.

Currently Rosa’s Thai only offer one dessert, mango with sticky rice… but if like us, you feast too much on the mains, you shouldn’t need a pudding at all.

More information and book a table at Rosa’s Thai Victoria here.