Altrincham Duck

Our latest resaurant review is here courtesy of the Ninja Duck... 

I'll set the scene; it was a Thursday night and I couldn't be bothered cooking, so myself and Mrs Duck decided to eat out, it was that simple! 

As Altrincham has become somewhat of a food hub in recent years, there's plenty of choice out there and some great deals to be had. I always check Twitter, Facebook and Onionring to see what's available.  

We agreed to head to Phanthong Thai  in Altrincham and take advantage of their "mid-week special" - 2 courses for £14.95. Please check with the restaurant as offers may be subject to change.  

I've been to Phanthong a few times and the service and food has always been very good. It's also popular for takeaway orders and from personal experience I would recommend that you make a reservation if you wish to eat in, especially at the weekends. You can view and download the menu here. 

Located on Regent Road, there is ample parking behind the restaurant in the council carpark which is free after 6pm (but if you have to pay it's approximately 30 pence for 2 hours). 

On entering the restaurant, we were greeted warmly by the staff who are immaculately turned out in traditional Thai dress. As usual, our waiter was very polite and helpful. It's lovely to be met by people who seem genuinely pleased to welcome you to their establishment. I believe that Phanthong have just celebrated their 3rd birthday which is a major milestone in the often difficult restaurant game. From all the Altrincham Ducks we wish you a "happy birthday" and hope to hear of many more. 

Now, down to business, what did we actually order I hear you ask? 

After being seated we were given menus to peruse over a complimentary bowl of Thai prawn crackers with sweet chilli dipping sauce (which was a nice gesture and as I've said in my previous reviews - it's the little things that help make a good impression!). 

For starters we ordered the Chicken Tom Kha (Fragrant coconut milk soup with lemon grass and galangal) and Som Tam Gai Yang (Spicy Thai papaya salad served with grilled chicken skewer). 

The Chicken Tom Kha has a lovely fragrant taste (lemon grass is one of Mrs Duck's favourites) and the coconut milk gives this soup a nice creamy consistency unlike some other South East Asian broths.  

The Tam Gai Yang was refreshing and delicious - be warned though, this salad has quite a spicy kick to it and best suits those who like things hot! 

For mains we ordered the Chicken Geang Ped Red (coconut milk curry with bamboo shoot strips) and Chicken Pad Thai (fried rice noodles with chicken, egg and bean sprouts). 

Pad Thai is Mrs Duck's favourite Thai dish and she is particularly fond of Phanthong's version. It's a sweet dish which comes with small bowls of crushed peanuts, chilli flakes and a wedge of lime so you can season it to your own taste. Being a duck who has travelled to Thailand and tasted it there, I can confirm that this dish tastes very authentic and is, in a word, absoulutely delicious. 

Put succinctly, the Thai red curry was gorgeous. Perfectly balanced with the right amount of spice and chilli. Not too hot but not too mild either - just right for those liking a medium amount of "kick" to their food. 

You've probably noticed that there's an awful lot of chicken dishes going on here! Other meats are available(!) including veggie options, but, (bizarrely for ducks), we like chicken. 

In a nutshell, Phanthong serves excellent food and is well worth a visit whether it be for a sit down meal or to pick up a takeaway. We look forward to visiting again soon.