It's always a gamble when you can't see the tables inside a restaurant. Would we be the only diners on a cold Thursday evening? Would the atmosphere be flatter than a pancake?
We've been in that situation a few times and no matter how decent the food is, the lack of ambience kills the vibe. The lights were on at Chai Yo Thai restaurant in Nottingham and an illuminated sign in the window said 'open', so we took a chance.
It would be easy to miss the modest-looking restaurant tucked away in Parliament Terrace, a side street linking Upper Parliament Street and Wollaton Street. The city has no shortage of Thai restaurants. As older ones close, new ones take their place.
Read more: Top food and drink bargains in Nottingham to beat the January blues
If it's the hustle and bustle of a Bangkok street with tuk tuks you're after, Zaap, off Maid Marian Way, is the place to go. You're always guaranteed a good feast at the Lobster Pot, in Mansfield Road, while newcomer Rosa's Thai in King Street, promises the classics but some surprises, too.
I've often wondered what lay behind the brown facade of Chai Yo. It's not one of those restaurants that you see food bloggers raving about but the reviews are excellent.
As we step inside, we see to our relief there's a table of eight and another table of two. As there are plenty of free tables we're given our choice and take a seat towards the rear of the restaurant.
The restaurant has an old-school look with carved elephants, buddhas, and photos of the family hanging in pride of place by the bar. Artwork of Thai friezes decorate the walls and silk flowers add a splash of colour to the brown wooden surrounds. Very traditional, it could be the 1980s apart from a digital screen of an aquarium with colourful moving fish.
Before we've ordered drinks, a complimentary bowl of prawn crackers appears before us on the sturdy wooden table, with intricately carved flowers covered by a glass top.
There's just one member of staff, clad in a striking red, black and gold Thai dress, looking after everyone. She's super efficient. The menu starts with a variety of set meals but we bypass those.
There are scores to choose from but we start with number one on the menu - the Chai Yo platter. It takes under ten minutes to arrive, set out on a paper doily that reminds me of people coming to visit for Sunday tea when I was a child when the best crockery came out with sandwiches and cakes on a frilly white doily.
The sharing platter is a plate of brown, brightened up by carrot and maybe swede carved into flowers. Straight from the fryer, each element is piping hot. The sesame toast with minced pork is crispy and golden, the chicken wings are sticky and messy, with sweet and savoury tangs jostling for my attention. The chicken skewers, tender with a slight chargrill finish, come alive when dipped in a pot of satay sauce - one of three dips.
There's a chilli sauce dip and the same again but with added cucumber, carrot and peanuts, which give added oomph to the pleasantly chewy Thai fish cakes and big fat spring rolls, that are chock-a-block with bean sprouts and carrots.
The chatter from the table of eight suddenly subsides - their main courses have arrived and they're too busy eating to talk. We take it as a good sign.
It's not long for our mains arrive. I'm a bit of a bore - I have to have a red Thai curry. It comes in a silver bowl balanced on an earthenware pot with a tealight which keeps the sauce bubbling until the end.
It's a curry I make myself at home and I thought my version was hot but this was super spicy, not that I mind. Bring it on. Eight juicy king prawns are bathing in the exuberant sauce that's teeming with strips of bamboo shoots and green beans.
With every mouthful I feel I'm radiating a red glow - a bit like the Ready Brek kids in the 80's advert. If that was central heating for kids, this is central heating for adults.
I'm surprised that my other half didn't opt for his usual green Thai chicken. Instead, he goes for pad med ma muang himmapan - or put more simply, number 42. It's a stir fry with thinly sliced chicken, cashew nuts and dried chilli. It was milder by comparison with a thinner brown sauce. He says it was tasty but I think I win.
We share a bowl of steamed rice, which is just enough. At this point, we couldn't have eaten more. There are no fancy cocktails at Chai Yo, so our drinks for the night were a small glass of Sauvignon Blanc and a bottle of Singha beer.
The only downside - and this is nothing to do with the restaurant - is one of the chaps on another table taking about an operation. A few weeks ago we were eating at a pub in Newark when the man behind me was telling his date about his father's aneurysm.
Gory conversations should be banned when there's food around - it's really off-putting. If I wanted such details I'd watch 24 Hours in A&E while having my dinner at home.
Apart from that it's a very enjoyable experience. The bill comes to £43.15, which is very reasonable for a meal out with drinks in the city centre these days. The waitress, who'd done an admirable job all evening, bid us farewell with a bow and her palms pressed together.
If you've never been to Chai Yo, it's worth veering off Upper Parliament Street to give it a try.
READ NEXT:
