THE NEWLY-revamped Giggling Squid in Stratford is a feast for the senses.
The restaurant on Stratford High Street recently reopened its doors following an update.
And while the beautiful interiors impressed, with stunning artwork and florals climbing the walls, it was the food and friendly Thai hospitality that really stood out.
Diners are spoilt for choice with a tasty menu, with it taking a while for myself and my partner to decide what to eat.
Eventually I opted for the Lemon and Lime Tuna ‘Petals’ – raw tuna slices in lemongrass, lime and shallots with a nam pla dressing. The starter was fresh and light and deliciously moreish.
My other half chose the Hawker-Style Moo Ping – a pork bbq style street food. The real star of the dish was a rich, spicy tamarind sauce, that we polished off between us by dipping the delicious prawn crackers into. We both agreed the crackers were among the best we had tasted.
For mains I went with the classic, Pad Thai, but Giggling Squid’s version has been given a luxury upgrade with huge butterfly king prawns. The juicy prawns were cooked to perfection and accompanied with crispy tofu .
After much deliberation, and some advice from the friendly waitress, my partner chose the Chilli and Basil Gra Pao – a spicy beef stir fry dish with sticky rice which he enjoyed and said was the perfect amount of heat, but he is a bit braver than me.
Despite not being able to finish our mains, after a brief respite we decided to look at the dessert menu which was full of tempting treats.
The manager, who kept us topped up with water and a crisp Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc throughout the night, was only too happy to help when I said I was stuck on what to choose.
He recommended the Lychee Yoghurt Ice Cream, which was refreshing and light and among some of the nicest ice creams I have ever tried.
My chocolate-loving other half could not resist the Melting Heart Chocolate Dessert which is served warm with ice cream.
The food at Giggling Squid is a delicious journey through Thailand’s cuisine, highlighted with incredible service in beautiful surroundings.
We are already looking forward to our next visit.
