Jasmine, Exeter

I’ve been meaning to write a review about Jasmine Thai restaurant since I first visited in April, so when I made my third visit last week I knew I had to find time to rave about it. A little out of the city centre, tucked away on South Street, you wouldn’t think much of this Asian eatery from the outside, with a simple exterior and a few neighbouring scruffy shop you can easily miss it, however once inside, you’re transported in to a sleek and stylish restaurant. Each time I’ve visited, both week nights and weekends, this place has had a lively atmosphere, the tables filled with cheerful customers.

On our third visit to Jasmine's on a Wednesday evening we were shown by one of the friendly waitresses to our table on the raised seating platform which, showered in sunlight by the large dome sky light, sets a light and spacious ambiance. Browsing through the menu, the options are endless, with all the Thai classics in there, including green, massaman and jungle curry and some intriguing and inventive specials such as the crispy deep fried sea bass. Although I love to try new things there was no question to what I was going to order, my all-time favourite dish pad thai, and as a family we also decided to share one of the starter platters.

The service can be a little slow here at busy times and we had to wave down one of the waitresses to the table, though when she did come over to take our order she was very apologetic and we didn't mind as we weren’t in any rush. Along with the food I ordered a medium glass of rose, which was slightly pricey at around £4.50, but was a nice bottle. The food's not cheap here either, with my pad thai costing £10.95, however the quality of the food make it well worth the expense for a special occasion.

Our mixed platter starter arrived at our table swiftly after we ordered and included a selection of Asian appetisers, including prawn toast, satay chicken skewers, prawn cakes, spring rolls and a range of dips. Each was a delicious as the last, but by favourite was probably the prawn cakes dipped in the tangy sweet chilli sauce. The platters are also pretty filling, so if you don’t have a massive appetite, try sharing a platter for two between four of you. Our main courses again arrived quickly after our table was cleared; each dish was presented beautifully with vegetables carved into flowers dressing the plates. My chicken pad thai certainly didn’t disappoint, although the portion looks small, it was extremely filling, with plenty of succulent chicken pieces entwined with the sweet and salty noodles and fried vegetables. The rest of the family enjoyed their meals too, and having a little taste of each I can say the curries were fantastic!

Although the service can be a little slow and the prices are a little higher than other Asian restaurants, I still couldn’t recommend anywhere more than Jasmine’s. The foods delicious and authentically Thai, the waitresses are some of the kindest waiting staff I’ve ever encountered and the restaurant provides a beautiful and relaxed setting to your meal. They even give you After Eights with your bill, what more could you want!?

www.jasmine-thai.co.uk