Outside of restaurant in Patara Restaurant in Hampstead. Photo by Angela Lansbury
What does patara mean? It is the family name of the owner who you can see on their website.
This branch is in what looks like a converted house, with two tables in what was once the entrance hall, and a large room with tables, bustling by mid-evening on a Saturday night. The tables for 2/3 are small, barely large enough for plates and drinks.
Their website mentions two floors, but I did not see another floor. If stairs are a problem, mention this when booking.
The Set Meal - Jasmine
We chose the set menu, Jasmine, one of two set menus which had less shellfish. (I am allergic to shellfish.)
Two of us chose to opt for the set menu, Jasmine. It includes Jasmine rice. Jasmine is not a flavour but is a type of rice. The set menu includes several starters on a platter with sauces, followed by meats and vegetables with sauces.
Spice
Thai food is famous for being spicy. I went to a restaurant in Bushey, where the food was too spicy. They could not and would not adapt it. They went out of business. I avoided Thai restaurants for years. However, with lots of rice, and picking out the specks of bright red chilli pepper, I was able to cope with only the expected sniffle you get when you eat and salivate.
The set meal at 40, minimum of two people, seemed expensive, but it includes rice and dessert. But the time you pay nearly twenty pounds for a main dish, add rice and dessert, and starter, you get all of that and can try other dishes too which saves having to decide or making the wrong choice and is more fun and ensures you find something you like.
Starter Success
I particularly enjoyed the dumplings with peanuts which add a crunch.
Set menu starter of spring rolls, kebab and dumplings. Photo by Angela Lansbury.
Pescatarian
Our pescatarian (eating fish but not meat) was happy with the battered fish. I think it was sea bass.
Her tofu and aubergine were also a success. They passed the grumpy mummy test. If a grumpy mummy doesn't like something, she won't remain silent. She is not too polite to mention it. If she concedes it's okay, that's praise indeed.
(Grumpy after teething baby gave everybody a sleepless night). Thinking about the design and development of a baby, I suppose that growing teeth means you can eat food for an expending in size tummy. Also, it's time to stop breastfeeding because nobody wants their nipples bitten.
The rice passed the baby test. The baby ate lots of rice. The rice also passed the granny test. I ate all my white rice.
Dessert
The set meal ended with a dessert of cheesecake, with a zigzag of caramelized syrup on the plate, and vanilla ice cream, was just right. The two portions were enough for three of us.
The a la carte menu has ice creams in three flavours. They were vanilla, or coconut or mango sorbet.
Prosecco
Prosecco from the drinks menu I had chosen the prosecco which is cheaper at nine pounds than a glass of white or rose wine at ten. Funny, Prosecco in the early days used to be dearer in many restaurants. Since I prefer Prosecco, as well as the cheaper price, I ordered that.
Prosecco, which was okay, not strikingly bubbly or cold. I wished I had had my Prosecco from home. Three miniature bottles for five pounds in Tesco currently (July 2022).
We went without coffee, which was on the separate drinks menu.
The Teething Baby Test
Our baby is teething (hurray - more teeth, will soon start talking). She was already fretful without a dummy (which mummy is trying to wean her off and encourage her to talk instead of sucking). We spent most of the meal debating (I could have said arguing, but debating sounds better) over whether it was fairer to us and the restaurant staff and other customers to bring a dummy. You can always leave the dummy in the bag.
Service
Service was briskly efficient. We had booked. As we drove towards the restaurant, we received a message reminding us about our booking and asking us to confirm we were on our way. The driver pulled in to check the message. The reply was to a premium rate number. He declined to respond to the message, declaring, 'That is the booking service, probably. I won't do it. We will be there well before the allotted arrival time."
After we arrived and in a trice we were at our table. The restaurant and toilets all seemed to be on the ground floor, which suited us.
The receptionist efficiently swept up the rice and toy parts dropped by baby.The receptionist/manager/server was efficient and swept up under baby half way though the meal. Not at the end, which most restaurants do. Half way though. We were near the door. It could have looked unsightly. Or even caused a customer to slip.
The staff member, despite the dropped food aggravation, gave the baby the occasional smile. Smiles are a magical distraction. Maybe a baby wails for attention. Maybe distraction distracts from any pains the baby is feeling.
Smiles are mutual. The baby got more smiles than we did. Maybe we weren't smiling enough.
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