Working Lunch: Sir & Madam

Published on: 25 May, 2013
Updated on: 17 Oct, 2013

In the first of a regular feature, Jane & Shirlee from eatsurrey review one of he extensive range of places to eat lunch in Guildford Borough and maybe a little beyond…

Sir & Madam – An ideal place for a fast, fresh, tasty lunch.

Price range – The two-course set lunch is £9.99 or £5.95 for a Pad Thai or fried rice.

Service – Family run, service is friendly and fast.

Handy Hints – Thai food without the terror: ask if you’d like extra chilli.

Sir & Madam, Jefferies passage

Two of the ... family who run the restaurant

Two of the three Suwanet sisters who run the restaurant

An unassuming little restaurant, Sir & Madam is tucked down Jeffries Passage. But the simple décor belies the kind welcome and authentic food you get in this family restaurant. Service is fast and the food fresh, but there’s room to linger if you’re feeling sociable. They’ll deliver orders over £25 within four miles if you fancy lunch at home.

Run by three members of the Suwanet family, sister Wannut told us they’re really proud to be serving their mum’s recipes. And, luckily for us, they come from just north of Bangkok where the food is unusually mild for Thai cuisine – you need to let them know if you’d like the mouth-blistering effect you’d usually associate with Thai food.

They serve Hoking fare, which uses ginger, galangal, Thai basil and all the other herbs and spices you’d expect but goes easy on the chilli – Wannut told us that she couldn’t eat Thai food from the north of the country. Spices and herbs come twice weekly from a Thai wholesaler but all meat is British and the chicken is always halal.

Mango salad – a generous portion of heaven

We ordered one two-course set lunch and a couple of dishes from the a la carte menu. Almost immediately two large dishes of prawn crackers appeared – we had to send one back to stop us eating a whole day’s calories before lunch!

Our Thai fish cakes had the surprisingly charming chewy texture we’ve come to love and was spiked with large pieces of coriander and hints of chilli. The dipping sauce was sweet, fresh and piquant. Our favourite dish of the meal was the family’s special recipe spicy mango salad (£4.95) spiced with chilli: fragrant and fresh, it was a generous portion of heaven.

Thai green vegetable curry – resplendent and crunchy

The vegetarian Thai green curry was resplendent with crunchy veggies covered in a thick, sweet, coconut sauce. I’d ask for more spicing next time, but it was good – and healthy to boot. Another generous portion, our sizzling lamb was a little chewy but rich and sticky.

Again, I wouldn’t have minded a little more chilli. We didn’t have room for dessert but the ladies behind who were tucking into stuffed pancakes were extremely happy with them (although I don’t know how they managed them!).

The restaurant can get busy; it’s worth booking at lunchtime on Fridays and Saturdays. Wannut says Pad Thai (£5.95) is their best-seller at lunchtime: I’m more than ready to give it a try.

Sir and Madam Thai Restaurant, 8-9 Jeffries Passage, Guildford, GU1 4AP

Tel: 01483 535025

Text Jane Alexander / Images Shirlee Posner

www.shirleeandjaneeatsurrey.com

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