PROFILED BY DE GROOTS MEDIADarwin is blessed with a number of above-average Thai restaurants, thanks to a small but thriving Thai community. Marina Boulevard is home to three of them, and Bahn Thai gets a view of the Bay from a different, but no less enthralling angle, located a short stroll away from the main wharf strip. Furnished with all the requisite Thai decor, the large dining room is guarded by elephants and decorated with elegant carvings and graceful gold statues. On fine evenings, (or even better, in the wet season when storms are brewing in the distance) a seat on the waterfront deck lends a whole new level of enjoyment to the dining experience. Indoors, there’s live music from a Thai singer on some nights; those with Thai family or fond memories of local Thai bars will surely get a kick from his performance.
As is the Asian custom, it’s best to order several dishes to share around the table. Start with the ubiquitous tom yam kung or delicious fried chicken wings. Seafood plays a starring role on the menu: go for the whole fried fish with chilli and garlic, or stir-fried half shell mussels with fresh holy basil and chilli. The tangy roast duck salad rates an honourable mention, as does the pork panang curry. Finish with sweet rambutans with ice- cream.
Fiona Davies
