Thai Butterfly
London Road
Twyford RG10 9ER
0118 909 0813
SHAKESPEARE had it right: If music be the food of love, play on.
A new restaurant in Twyford has fused a great menu with the beautiful sounds of a pianist who has previously performed in Michelin-star restaurants in London.
It is a great addition to the village, swiftly attracting a core clientele, with some travelling some distance to sample the food and hear the music.
Run by Bee and Dennis Elvie, the restaurant on London Road offers both a dining experience and the opportunity to enjoy a takeaway at home. While the food is sublime, it needs to be enjoyed in the beautifully lit restaurant to be truly appreciated.
It has decor that hints at Thailand, including floral displays in the windows, while its ambience is comforting and sophisticated, with attractively-laid tables.
In short, it’s got that wow factor.
We began with a selection of starters including Tempura Prawns (£7.95) – perfectly fried and succulent, they came in a Tempura batter and served with Sriracha sauce.
We then delved into one of the best Salt and Pepper Squids (&7.95) we have ever enjoyed. Our mouths watered as the dish was presented to us: the presentation was amazing, with detailing on the carrots and tomatoes deserving a special mention.
Thai Style Mussels (£7.95) was intriguing. These are juicy, and adorned in a rich, spicy red curry sauce. They packed a punch, and were perfectly accompanied by lemongrass, lime leave and basil.
For our main course, I opted for the wholesome Cashew Stir Fry (£13.95). This had meaty king prawns, onions, peppers, roasted cashews, and chilli, served in a delicious oyster sauce that was sweet and tangy and accompanied with sticky rice.
My husband chose the Masaman Chicken Curry (£11.95), a dish he had never tried before.
For those of you not in the know, Massaman is a blend of Indian and Malaysian cuisines, further refined by Thai Cuisine.
The tender chicken was accompanied by potato, the sauce was rich and flavourful with Thai ginger, cumin, coriander and cardamom. He enjoyed it immensely.
Our son chose the King Prawn Pad Thai (£12.25). This saw juicy prawns served in a sweet and sour sauce with onions, crunchy bean sprouts and mixed vegetables.
Based on the speed this was polished off, and the smile of contentment on my son’s face, this dish hit the spot.
My daughter decided on the Chicken Pad Thai (£12.95), which is the same as the Prawn version, just with plenty of chicken instead.
As a family, we couldn’t fault the food, it is first class. Add in exceptionally friendly staff and you have a terrific venue. But what sets the Thai Elephant apart is its ambience.
As you eat your delicious food your ears are treated by owner Dennis playing a selection of classic and modern songs, with the sound pitched at just the right level.
It makes for the perfect evening, be it a date, a catch-up, a social gathering or a party.
The restaurant is open from noon to 3pm and 5pm to 10.30pm daily except Mondays.
We’re looking forward to returning.
