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The Countryman at Bradwell Common would not
strike many people as the place to go to sample fine Thai
cuisine. That is, until now. On entering the premises you would
find it hard to believe that to the rear of the pub is a newly
opened, modern-looking yet beautifully furnished Thai
restaurant. Owners Pat and Kanit have done a fine job in
creating an establishment that not only looks good, but serves
incredible food too.
 Décor
As I approached the restaurant, it did, almost
bizarrely, remind me of the The Lion, The Witch And The
Wardrobe. There is absolutely nothing wrong with the pub at the
Countryman, but on leaving it to enter the restaurant, it really
does feel like you are entering a whole new world. Connections
have created a unique setting with a distinctly Thai feel to it
in the heart of Milton Keynes. Set in a
conservatory, there are many Thai ornaments, elegant wind
chimes, buddhas, pictures and a beautiful bar area (see picture
to right).
Atmosphere
The restaurant was quiet for a Thursday evening
but with the pub bustling with happy locals, there will always
be a buzz about the place. Oriental music played in the
background, and with good company to boot, it was time to sit
back, relax and enjoy some quality cuisine.
Food
My guest and I decided to order 3 courses so that
we could sample the soups as well as enjoying a starter.
Starter
My guest opted for Spring Rolls, deep fried
pastry filled with vegetable water chestnuts and noodles
(£3.95). It was here that we already began to wonder if we
had ordered too much. There were 6 rolls; all piping hot,
incredibly fresh, with a flaky pastry contrasting wonderfully
with the fresh noodles.
I chose the Dim Sum, steamed parcels of minced
pork, prawns and crab meat with a soy sauce (£3.95). This
starter was, like the spring rolls, immaculately presented. The
parcels were literally bursting at the seams. These were tasty,
soft, meaty, and combined brilliantly with the soy sauce. This
dish left me itching for my next course. And have you noticed
the prices yet? These will surely rise soon, but this
represented incredible value for money.
 Soups
It’s not often I’ll try a dish and think “Wow!”
It’s always a pleasant surprise when you order something that
exceeds your expectations but in the Tom Kah Kai, hot and
sour soup with chicken galangal cooked in coconut milk (£3.95)
I found a dish that I am desperate to eat again soon; and
that’s saying something for someone who is not overly mad on
soups! My guest tasted some of my soup and their face lit up and
they too were mightily impressed. I will not say too much more,
except that you absolutely must try this for yourself.
In comparison, my guest’s soup was never going to
match that of mine, but they still enjoyed a soup tailored for
them (vegan). The restaurant was very accommodating when we
asked if we could make minor amendments to their dishes.
Mains
My guest sided with a Vegetable Red Curry and
bean curd, a medium hot curry in coconut milk (£5.50) and
steamed rice (£1.75). This dish was full of subtle flavours
that combined to perfection with the superbly cooked rice. My
guest was never going to finish this dish but again, was left
impressed with the quality of cuisine.
I have to confess that the soup was still on my
mind when I tucked into the Duck Curry, roasted duck in
medium to hot spices, pineapple and coconut milk (£6.25).
But this was yet another dish that I could do nothing but
compliment although it would never match my soup. The duck was
incredibly tender and there was plenty of it. The curry had a
real kick to it, and my egg fried rice was well cooked.
For the first time in a very long time, there was
little or no chance that I would be able to attempt a dessert
and for this, I apologise to you, the reader. This is however,
testament to the quality of food on offer as very little was
ever left on the plate.
A pot of green tea was ordered which was not
bitter, but aromatic and was described by my guest as “one of
the best I’ve ever had.” My guest then visited the ladies and
returned to remark that even the “loo roll holders are beautiful
too.”
 Service
As mentioned, we requested whether some minor
changes could be made to some of the dishes we ordered and these
posed no problems at all. Quite often in this situation you
would have to wait for your waiter to check with the chef, then
return, only to disappoint. Our waiter did not even need to
check with the kitchen and was immediately able to confirm that
our requests could be catered for. Our waiters were
knowledgeable, incredibly polite, patient and efficient and
served us with a smile. Can you ask for much more? Our every
need was catered for without ever once feeling that we were
being disturbed during the course of our meal.
In conclusion, this is a restaurant you must go
to. I was impressed with almost everything! Judging on my first
visit which will certainly not be my last, I would be astounded
if any lover of Thai food walked away from here feeling
disappointed. Fantastic! |
