Two years ago, a new development opened a two-minute walk from our house: it included five restaurants and nine-screen multiplex cinema (great ‘Empire Senior special’ at 11am Wednesday – £4 including coffee and biscuits). Anyway back to the restaurants.
People were up in arms about the council’s choice of ‘chain’ eateries: “Nando’s”:http://www.silvertraveladvisor.com/review/restaurant/165722-review-nandos-walthamstow, Pizza Express, “Turtle Bay”:http://www.silvertraveladvisor.com/review/restaurant/164464-review-turtle-bay and Grillstock. But there was much excitement about an independent Thai called “Yum Yum”:http://www.yumyum.co.uk/e17 which, already having a much acclaimed restaurant in nearby, but trendier Stoke Newington, was one of the last to open. We’ve been working our way through them, and for my birthday celebrations it had to be Yum Yum which seemed more ‘grown up’.
Admittedly it was Tuesday lunch time, but at one point we were the only people in the 100+ seater restaurant. Service was exemplary and as soon as we were seated, we were offered tap water (deliciously and refreshingly flavoured with cucumber – a must try at home). Interestingly we were only presented with the drinks and “express lunch menu”:http://www.yumyum.co.uk/e17/contents/31/yum-yum-set-lunch-menu.html – a bargain at two courses for £8.55. I asked for the “a la carte”:http://www.yumyum.co.uk/e17/contents/28/yum-yum-a-la-carte-menu.html a menu which wasn’t a problem but provided too much choice.
We nibbled on prawn crackers whilst waiting for stir fried beef with Thai basil, chillies, peppers and onions and a green chicken curry accompanied by a shared portion of egg fried rice. According to the menu, Thai curries (including the chicken) ‘can be made to your spice levels’ and I asked for very spicy as I am after all, a vindaloo type of girl.
The portion of crackers would have fed 8 and came accompanied with a spicy dipping sauce. We were asked whether we were ready for our mains and presented with hot plates. The beef was slightly disappointing: crisp veg, a fresh, light, thin sauce, but chewy beef. The chicken fared better but the spiciness requested appeared to come from the addition of chopped red birds eye chillies: if you got a piece of chilli it was fine, but otherwise the sauce was fairly bland. When plates were cleared I asked whether my theory about adding chillies was correct and was proved right. One portion of rice was plenty to share.
There is a great drinks “menu”:http://www.yumyum.co.uk/e17/contents/30/yum-yum-drinks-menu.html and lots of wonderful sounding alcoholic and non-alcoholic cocktails but we settled for a bottle of reasonably priced Chilean Sauvignon Blanc (£16).
So was it Yum, Yum? We both rated the food 6.5 and service 9. Whilst music played in the background, the scale of the large restaurant was slightly off putting. Perhaps we should have stuck to the chains.
PS: Unfortunately, I wore a white top, split curry down it which I then tried to remove with my serviette dipped in white wine. This provided additional red stains from the paper serviette. My top is currently soaking in Vanish!
