First class
Above: .
Above: Simply Thai interior
It was to be a night of firsts: my new shoes were to get their first outing and I’d bagging the coveted ‘Kent Life restaurant review’ assignment for the first time. But more importantly than these two personal milestones, it was the first-night opening for the restaurant in question - Simply Thai at The Watermark in Eynsford.
In fact, my dining partner and I were the first through the door, perhaps a little too eager to try out foodie adjectives and superlatives, we’d arrived very early at the intimate restaurant beside the bridge in the pretty village close to Sevenoaks.
Being the first across the threshold, we were given a very smiley welcome and seated in sumptuously comfortable chairs. Having visited Bankok and circumnavigated the South China Seas, my dining partner was keen to see how authentic the menu was; he wasn’t disappointed. It took us a good 20 minutes to decide between the Fusion Menu and Classic Thai and in the end we plumped for a bit of both.
The Thai Fusion menu brings together East and West in a surprisingly original way, fusing local Kent produce with subtle Thai flavours. Whitstable Oysters served in Thai chilli sauce was tempting, as was the Dover sole wrap with king prawns, and the rack of North Downs lamb in Mussaman sauce looked wonderful as it steamed its way past us on to another table.
My dining partner settled on spicy Thai fisherman’s soup for starters, while I went for locally produced chicken satay skewered on lemongrass. The soup looked supremely fishy – a veritable taste of the sea as mussels and prawns vied for space with the bamboo shoots and squid in a delicately fragrant broth. My chicken satay didn’t disappoint, and the accompanying dip blended sweet chilli creaminess with lemon.
The wine list at Simply Thai is extensive – with something for every palate, from Kentish wines to Bollinger and Shepherd Neame’s Spitfire.
While we waited for our mains, we had a chance to look at the beautiful orchid prints adorning the creamy mushroom coloured walls. The interior decoration at the restaurant is a triumph, providing a spacious yet intimate feel to the small Tudor building. New owners, Khalid Ahmed and Chris Pritchard, told us there has been a building on the site since the 1400s – something they found rather challenging when they came to the refit.
Chris says: “We wanted to get everything just right, so we took our time, and didn’t cut corners”. He was also keen to point out that their suppliers are all local – Willimason’s butchers in Sevenoaks provided the tasty beef that made up my dining partner’s tender main course, the crispy stir fry vegetables are sourced locally from Morgan’s greengrocers in Crayford, and ice creams come from Solleys Dairy Farm in Ripple, Deal.
No corners were cut with my Thai green curry. It was bang on the money, with the vegetables retaining just the right amount of crunch and the sauce caressing my palate with a softness that can only be described as ‘more-ish’.
I could get used to this reviewing lark – and I’m hoping this is the first of many (how about it, Ed?) and, having passed a wonderful evening at Simply Thai, it definitely won’t be the last time I visit the restaurant beside the bridge.
Simply Thai at The Watermark Restaurant
2 Riverside, Eynsford DA4 QAE
Tel: 01322 860300
Open seven days a week.
Thai Classic Menu from £15 per head, Thai Fusion from £25 per head