][1]Chaophraya Thai restaurant and the Palm Sugar bar opened officially in Edinburgh last night.
The £1.2m project is based in the rooftop premises on Castle Street which originally housed Tony Singh’s Oloroso. The Edinburgh restaurant follows in the footsteps of a Glasgow branch which opened earlier this year.
Rooftop views
Oloroso was famed for its rooftop views to Edinburgh Castle and to Fife. Chaophraya has improved on them. JMDA, the interior design company leading the extensive refurbishment, has created a 16 seat, glass, private dining room allowing diners to enjoy spectacular views of the city while keeping warm in the winter months.
The luxurious new restaurant sprawls over 3,500sq ft on the fourth floor of 33 Castle Street and can seat up to 200 covers across its restaurant, private dining rooms, Palm Sugar bar and its outdoor terrace area which looks out onto breath-taking views of Edinburgh Castle.
Another interior highlight is a wine wall which separates the restaurant into two different sections, each offering great views into Chaophraya’s theatre style kitchen.
Authentic Thai
David Bassett, former manager of the critically acclaimed Angels With Bagpipes restaurant on the Royal Mile, has been appointed manager of Chaophraya Edinburgh and will be supported by assistant manager Supawadee Viriya who has joined from Ruan Siam in Edinburgh. In the kitchen head chef Yiam Dok Pudsha will lead a team of fourteen in serving up authentic Thai cuisine.
Chaophraya’s menu is made up of classic dishes originating from different regions of Thailand with a strong focus on using the freshest ingredients. Prices start from just £6.95 for lunch and £9.95 for dinner.
Panang beef curry with lime leaves and coconut milk; chilli and basil pork with green beans, garlic, onion and hot basil leaves and chicken pad Thai noodles with egg, bean sprouts, carrots and spring onions are typical of the dishes on offer.
Offers on Thai food
Understandably, the blog’s Glasgow readers may not want to trundle through to the capital, no matter how good the views. So, click here for a list of 5pm’s Thai restaurants and the special offers they are running.
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