Tasting the Lunch Menu at Chaophraya Newcastle (REVIEW)

***REVIEW***

There is no shortage of places to eat in Newcastle. There are so many different styles of venue to choose from, cuisines and costs. It’s not much more than a year since Chaophraya opened in the new restaurant quarter in Eldon Square, and we’ve already worked with the Thai Food restaurant twice. One for a late Valentine's date and another time to try out their Thai cookery school. So when we were invited along again I decided it would be the perfect time to try out their lunchtime menu.

Tasting the Lunch Menu at Chaophraya Newcastle

Located on the third floor of the Grey Quarter, accessed by escalator, lift or stairs, you escape the bustle of the city with views out to Grey’s Monument. 

Inspired by Thailand, the menu brings together classic Thai and distinct signature dishes, accompanied by a fantastic range of cocktails, wines and beers. The stylish décor is obviously influenced by Thailand and creates a really pleasant ambience in which to dine.

Chaophraya Lunch Menu

Available Sunday - Friday 12-5pm the lunch menu offers one course for £8.95, two courses for £13.95 and three courses for £17.95

The menu clearly denotes vegetarian dishes and also which ones contain nuts, as well as the heat intensity of each dish. It is more limited than the al la carte, as you would expect, but there are still six starters, two of which are veggie, to choose from; 13 mains, six of which are veggie; and three desserts too with the sorbet being vegetarian.

We were seated right in the window overlooking Grey’s Monument. The perfect place to people watch, on a busy lunchtime in Newcastle.

Drinks

I’d spotted the espresso martini on my last visit but hadn’t indulged on that occasion, but as we weren’t driving we decided to have a lunchtime cocktail. The espresso martini didn’t disappoint and hubby’s French Martini, his favourite, was pretty good too.

Starters

We decided to share the vegetarian options and this was a great idea as both were really good. 

I’d be hard-pressed to choose between the two options on a future visit. Crispy, tasty and a good size portion too.

VEGETABLE SPRING ROLLS or Por Pia Pak

These are crispy spring rolls filled with carrot and vermicelli served with sweet chilli sauce.

SWEETCORN CAKES or Tord Man Khao Pohd

Deep fried sweetcorn blended with red curry paste served with sweet chilli sauce.

Mains

Hubby went for the Tofu Pad Thai, he’d actually had this on our previous visit but wanted to compare the lunchtime version. It was equally as good. Tasty, beautifully presented and a decent size portion too. 

So I wouldn’t feel too full with a three-course lunch, I opted for the Traditional Papaya Salad. 

This can come with dried shrimps or as a vegetarian option. This dish was so perfect for a lunchtime. Light, fresh, zingy from the lime and a hint of heat coming through from the chilli.

TOFU PAD THAI NOODLE or Pad Thai Pak

Stir-fried Thai rice noodles in tamarind sauce with tofu, spring onions, carrots, sweet turnip and bean sprouts, topped with pickled vegetables.

TRADITIONAL PAPAYA SALAD or Som Tam.

A fresh and spicy salad of shredded papaya, dried shrimps, peanuts, carrots, cherry tomatoes and fine beans pounded with a pestle and mortar with lime, garlic, fish sauce, peanuts, chilli and palm sugar. However, this can also come as a vegetarian dish too, Som Tam Mang Sa Wi Ra, and comes without the dried shrimp and fish sauce.

Desserts

The salad option made me feel like I could opt for a dessert, but with three courses, although sounding delicious I decided that the Sticky Toffee Pudding with a Thai twist was maybe going to one a step too far. Instead, I opted for the Toasted Coconut and Salted caramel ice cream, with hubby choosing the Lime & Lemongrass and Mango sorbet. Both desserts were full of flavour and colour and once again beautifully presented.

ICE CREAM - two scoops from Thai Whiskey, Toasted Coconut, Salted Caramel, Strawberry Ripple, or Vanilla Pod.

SORBET - two scoops from Lime and lemongrass, Peach and prosecco, or Mango.

I’ve been to Chaophraya three times now and each time the food has been amazing, even when I cooked it myself. The décor and service never fail to impress. It’s is now definitely on my list of favourite places to lunch and if you like photographing your food, the light coming through the huge glass windows in the daytime is amazing!

Deb x

Disclosure: We received complimentary lunch for two up to the value of £60, (our bill would have been £53) in return for an honest review.

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