New Isle of Wight Thai restaurant earns 3 stars in review

Baan Thai is a Thai restaurant on the site of an old Thai restaurant — itself a reimagining of an even older Thai restaurant that originated in Seaview.

So, Khura Thai Orchid became Ryde Thai, which rebranded as Pinto Thai and, under new ownership and management, the venue is now Baan Thai.

Even though the place has a new name, new staff and a new identity, the menu is comfortingly familiar.

One of the meals served to reviewers Matt and Cat over the Easter weekend. (Image: Matt and Cat) We searched for — and found — both 'drunken duck', and also 'lazy duck', created by the previous chef.

So, despite the makeover, Baan Thai maintains the essentials of Pinto Thai's legacy.

Being Easter weekend, we were unsurprised to discover that the restaurant was busy — but that didn't mean that the service was slow or overwhelmed.

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Our waitress was extremely attentive and, in the best tradition, also friendly and helpful. A good start.

Another good start was the prawn crackers — spicier and tastier than their anaemic Chinese counterparts, darker hued and with more intense flavour, especially when dipped in the accompanying sweet chilli sauce.

Before long, we had scooped up all the dip and were delighted to be given extra, to go with the remaining crackers.

Thai green chicken curry, with steamed jasmine rice, came with a wealth of vegetables, including green beans, carrots, peppers and crisp bamboo shoots, all served in a coconut sauce flavoured with green chilli, lemongrass and tumeric.

A dish served up to reviewers Matt and Cat at Baan Thai in Ryde. (Image: Matt and Cat) Some Thai curries are fierce, but this was on the milder end of the spectrum.

It was a good portion and an attractive-looking dish, with plenty of juice to soak into the fragrant rice.

Chicken pad see ew was flavoured with a fried soy-based dressing, giving a smoky caramelised taste.

Again, the meal had plenty of fresh green vegetables, plus crinkle-cut carrots, soft flat noodles and also egg. Another delightful dish.

Dining at Baan Thai was like eating out with an old friend who has had a bit of discrete work done — refreshed, but fundamentally the same.

Our meals were good value, the service pleasant and the ingredients fresh and nicely cooked. A worthy successor to our old friend Khura Thai Orchid and its progeny.

(Image: Matt and Cat)
(Image: Matt and Cat)