Step outside your restaurant comfort zone

Sometimes, we can all be a little bit blinkered regarding world cuisines and choosing a restaurant. When it comes to Chinese, I have to admit to being guilty of sticking to the same one, but Phuket Chinese and Thai Restaurant on a prominent corner of the busy Tomb of the Kings Road in Paphos was new to me. Phuket has undoubtedly stood the testament of time as it opened in the 1980s and is still owned by the same family. And, it is always jam-packed whenever I pass but for some reason I had never visited.

A close friend seemed to be visiting all the time and enjoying home deliveries, so I thought it was worth going and trying it out. The entrance is unusual as you have to go via a bridge over a koi carp pond. Inside, it is typical for a Chinese, with the ubiquitous Far Eastern decorations combined with dark furniture. There is a small outside terrace at the front and doors which fully open for the warmer months. It was spotlessly clean, which is always a comforting and reassuring observation.

Obviously, with the name of Phuket, Thai cuisine is very much at the forefront of the menu, but there are also many authentic Chinese dishes. Obviously, China is a vast country that offers a diverse selection of cuisines, which you will find in Phuket. There is a selection of vegetarian dishes, and a choice of set menus to share, in addition to a superb starter selection. We certainly over-ordered in part due to the tempting options and also due to the fact that after a busy day, we had lunch on the run.

The selection of starters included two Prawn Sesame Toasts, two Spring Rolls, and two Crispy Won Ton with Prawn Crackers. Traditionally, I have always found Chinese food greasy, but this is where Phuket’s cuisine throughout the meal was very different. Everything was piping hot and dry, which was refreshingly enjoyable. The ingredients were also fresh and tasted very different from previous versions of these dishes. We also ordered a portion of Prawn Dim Sum, which arrived in the familiar bamboo basket. Four little clouds sat inside, served with two sauces on the side. I am a huge fan of dim sum, as the bland outer coat is the perfect match for the powerful kick inside, offering a welcome explosion of spices.

The high standard of cuisine continued with the Peking Duck. At Phuket, the pancakes are thicker than normal and full of flavour, a testament to being made in-house. The plum sauce was thick, rich and aromatic, creating one of the best versions we have ever enjoyed.

You are certainly spoilt for choice with options for main, and as we were choosing old favourites, we decided to go with Sweet and Sour Chicken, Prawn Tamarind, and Beef with Onions. We loved the chicken, which certainly packed a punch with a myriad of flavours. A recurrent theme for us throughout the meal was saying, “This is the best,” which was certainly the case with the chicken. The beef with onions had no sauce, but with so many flavours on the plate, this worked very well for us as the meat was full of spices. Our standout dish was the Prawn Tamarind with King Prawns in the lightest batter. The prawns were succulent, and the dish combined a perfect balance of sweet, savoury and spicy elements with beautiful decorative vegetable carvings on the plate. On the side, we enjoyed Fried Rice and Singapore Noodles, which were very generous portions.

We finished the meal with deep-fried banana and ice cream, which, while not needed as we were obviously full, provided a nice sweet note to finish the meal. Service from the moment you entered to when you left was very friendly and professional. The whole experience was excellent and was a good lesson not to stick to your old favourites and try somewhere new. We also found the prices to be good value.

VITAL STATISTICS

SPECIALTY Chinese and Thai

WHERE Phuket Chinese and Thai Restaurant, Tomb of the Kings Avenue, Paphos

WHEN Tuesday to Sunday 6-11pm

CONTACT 26 818678, reservations recommended.

HOW MUCH Set menu for four from €24 per person, Starters from €5, Chicken dishes from €13, Beef dishes from €16, Seafood dishes from €14, Vegetable dishes from €10. Dim Sum from €6.