Restaurant Review: Giving Thai a trendy zing

Mango tree bistro

What Thai cuisine

Where Main entrance, ground level, Mirdif City Centre; 04 284 3635

Why A warm, trendy eatery that stirs upa massive feast in a jiffy

Cost Bill for 2 costs around Dh300

Among oriental flavours, Thai cuisine is slowly snuffing out the competition from their Chinese counterparts to become firm favourites. It's the versatility that gives Thai food the edge. It is as much a street food as a sophisticated meal. And that's exactly what Mango Tree Bistro plays up with panache, stepping up the competition.

Despite being situated in a bustling mall, the eatery shuts out the buzz elegantly with its minimalist contemporary design and vibrant music. The servers, swift and courteous, guided us through the menu filled with tongue-twisters. Though the printed descriptions paint a clearer picture, a little guidance is helpful. Our selection of Gai Hor Bai Toey set the precedence for the gastronomic journey ahead. Flavoured chicken cubes, wrapped beautifully in crisp pandan leaves, teased our visual senses and played wicked games with our taste buds. The succulent chicken pieces burst into a riot of flavours when dipped into the sweet tamarind sauce.

While the husband picked Pla Krapon Yang (grilled seabass in banana leaf) for the mains, I teamed Gai Phad Med Ma Muang (stir-fried chicken) with Phad Thai Goong (rice noodles). Each scored top points, impressively charming our palates. The lightly spiced seabass grill was served with a spicy sauce to give it the right zing. However, the chicken cooked in the bistro's signature soy-oyster sauce mix, did bear a striking resemblance to the Chinese dish, Kung Pao, but it hit the spot. The prawn noodles stir-fried in phad Thai sauce complemented the chicken brilliantly.

For the grand finale, we shared a Cheese Cake Ma Muang, which despite its resemblance to traditional cheese cake, was remarkably oriental in flavour.

With its infectious charm and unique blend of flavours, this chic bistro is definitely worth a visit.