Restaurant review: Dusit Thai, Edinburgh

DUSIT is one of the most reputable restaurants in Edinburgh, let alone within the Thai food niche group. With this, however, it carries the reputation of being on the pricey side.

Walking in on a blustery week night, we were happy to reach the warm and bustling restaurant. The sparse interior decorated primarily with miniature warriors does not lend itself to a warm atmosphere which exists regardless. We ordered a bottle of Sauvignon Blanc (£15.50) and some water in anticipation of the yummy spicy food. The wine list is somewhat limited but covers all the essentials.

The mixed starter dish for two came with the the most tender chicken satay, steamed chicken wrapped in reams if bamboo, the best prawn toast we have ever tasted, spring rolls, juicy beef salad with chilli and ginger that packed a solid punch, classic and delicious duck spring rolls, and juicy prawn skewers – the seafood came highly recommended by numerous people and lived up to its reputation. These all came with tailor made dipping sauces. 

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Conscious of often very large rice portions, we ordered one steamed rice to share (£2.80). We also shared the Talay Sam Rod (£20.95), a medley of seafood including succulent scallops, juicy butterflied prawns and chargrilled monkfish. This was converted in a slightly sweet sauce with a hefty chilli kick and hint of garlic. I could have quite happily not shared this delicacy. Our second dish was a Pad Kraprao with chicken (£10.95). A classic Thai dish, it came in an incredibly spicy dry sauce with hints of garlic and holy basil. Although this required a severe increase in the intake of water the flavours were delicious.

The pudding menu had some interesting options including coconut rice pudding but the superior quality and indeed the quantity if our first two dishes left us completely satisfied. If the rest of the menu is as top quality as the food we had, which from the faces of the other diners it is, it is high time for Dusit to be enjoyed more regularly by all. If you haven’t yet been, go!

• Dusit Thai Restaurant, 49a Thistle Street, 0131 220 6846