Thai Cuisine Boulevard sets the bar even higher

• Expands menu with exciting new additions, retains favourite dishes
• Chef Papat Pichad and Chef Indika Rohana at the helm

WHAT’S NEW?

Thai Cuisine Boulevard added a host of new items to its extensive menu early this week, expanding on an offering that is already well-loved.

Not content with resting on its laurels as one of Colombo’s best loved Thai restaurants, the restaurant has added on 15 more regional dishes to a menu that now serves over 70 items.

While the firm favourites have stayed, showcasing Thailand’s best flavours, the new dishes give the menu an exciting twist in these unprecedented times, so that diners have something different to look forward to. There are several Thai-inspired mocktails as well, featuring ingredients such as lemongrass, ginger, chili, passion fruit and lychee.

The restaurant has also launched an executive lunch menu, while plans are in the pipeline to introduce a Thai-inspired high tea and a Boulevard tasting menu, showcasing some of the restaurant’s most popular dishes.

THE VERDICT

I tried out some of the new dishes and drinks earlier this week and here are my favourites:

• Hot and Sour: This tastes like a spicy liquid achcharu liberally laced with green chillie and is one of those ‘must have at least once’ drinks!
• Chicken wrapped in Pandan Leaves served with Chili Tamarind Sauce: This takes some time to unwrap but is well worth the effort, given the delectable offering inside. You don’t even need the sauce that comes with this starter, it is perfect by itself.
• Spicy Thai Papaya Salad served with Peanut and Red Chili: You just don’t see the spicy kick coming with this one, but it delivers it in style. Just wow. Hats off to the chefs for this surprise.
• Choo Chee style wok-fried Prawns with Thai Chili Paste: An amazing thick curry featuring juicy and meaty prawns that goes perfectly with steamed rice. I would go back repeatedly just for this.
• Crab Meat in Yellow Thai Curry: An interesting dish that does not overwhelm in any way, letting the flavour of the crab speak for itself.
• Chicken Phad Thai Noodle: Definitely the star of the show and easily the best Pad Thai in Colombo. I thoroughly enjoyed digging into this delicious and generous dish and I hope it consistently stays this perfect.
• Mango Sticky Rice with Coconut Cream, Thai Style Coconut Panna Cotta with Passionfruit Coulis and Coconut Ice Cream: Three utterly gorgeous desserts, a feast for the eyes and the palate. If you love coconut, these delightful desserts will certainly hit all the right notes.

THE STARS

All new dishes on the menu are the culinary creations of Chef Papat Pichad and Chef Indika Rohana. Chef Papad has many years of experience working in many authentic restaurants all over Thailand, while Chef Indika Rohana has many years of experience working at Thai Cuisine Boulevard itself.

The restaurant is operated by Kanthi Jayamaha, a popular restaurateur in Colombo who has been involved in the food industry for four decades and has consistently delivered high quality food that never disappoints via several widely-patronised outlets.

SURE TO SHINE

Given its central location down Queens Road in Colombo 3, there is no doubt the new offerings at Thai Cuisine Boulevard will be well-received, especially since Thai cuisine is already immensely popular among Sri Lankans, who love its intense assault on the taste-buds!

The restaurant offers indoor dining in air-conditioned comfort, an open al-fresco dining area and a private dining room that can hold up to 16 people and strictly follows all COVID-19 safety measures so you can indulge with your mind completely at ease.

Pix by Upul Abayasekara