Arun Thai Restaurant

Arun Thai is nothing like your corner Thai takeaway. The interior is sophisticated, the menu is classy and the service is thoughtful. The staff were dressed in matching uniforms, and each dish on the menu was carefully marked with its degree of hotness.

Zen and I were starving, and cautious about over-eating... so we skipped the starters, and went straight for the mains. I can never pass on Thai soup. I love the unique texture and the spices... ooh yes, the spices! We ordered the Tom Kha Gai to share, which was a pricey $11. The waiter then warned us of the small serving size, and true, it wasn't enough to share... but the flavours were eccentric.

Tom Kha Gai: chicken & mushrooms with coconut cream, lime juice and dried chilli At this stage, the restaurant was full to capacity... Still, it's not an excuse for the mildly disappointing beef stir-fry. The beef was dry and chewy and sat scattered over the plate... soaking in its own juices. It was nothing like the harmony of chilli and basil I had salivated over.

Pad kapo beef: stir-fried beef with holy basil, fresh chilli and onions Massive pan-fried scallops hid beneath a mountain of lettuce, mint leaves, shallots, ginger, onion, carrot and coriander. The scallops were big, tender and so meaty! It balanced well with the dynamic dressing...

Sang wa hoi shell: sea scallops with young ginger, fried shallots and spicy dressing

Pu nim katium: crispy soft shell crab with garlic and chilli served with num jen ajar sauce The soft shell crab also lacked imagination. The entire crusty crab was served as 1 large piece... and was encased in a heavy batter. Unsatisfied with our meals, we decided to treat ourselves to dessert. I really wanted the black sticky rice pudding which was served with custard... but unfortunately, they'd run out of custard... so I opted for the fresh mango with sticky rice and coconut cream instead. The mango was everything summer could be... sweet and exotic... the sticky rice and coconut cream was a little bland, but the mint leaves provided a refreshing touch. During the 15 minutes we waited for our desserts, we were asked three... or maybe four times by different waiters if we'd like to order dessert. Call it attentive if you like, but I thought it was a little disorganised.

Royale Custard Pudding

Mango with sticky rice and creamy coconut sauce Overpriced? Maybe. Would I dine here again? Probably not. Arun Thai has a great ambience, and the dishes are no doubt authentic... though lacking a bit in the quality aspect, but I'd rather dine at any Newtown Thai outlet for half the price. Arun Thai Restaurant 28 Macleay St Potts Point Phone: (02) 9326 9135