Longrain

Your favourite Thai takeaway has its place, but Longrain lifts you to a new level of exploring the cuisine, of understanding how spices, leaves and fruits are used to striking effect. Wrap a betel leaf around a tangy combination of pomelo, mint, green pawpaw and toasted coconut. Fill another with duck, banana blossom and witlof. And experience flavours that are strong and fresh, like the restaurant. It’s a large, glamorous room with a bold layout – not designed for intimate dates. You’ll likely sit at wide share tables, with a view to the comings and goings of the big, lively bar. Main courses are shared, too. Lemongrass, galangal, chilli and green mango define ocean trout; and pork hock is caramelised to a sticky pleasure. Blue-eye in thick green curry sauce has fresh bamboo. Lemongrass even sneaks into dessert in an elegant presentation of lime cream, watermelon sorbet coated with basil seeds and lemongrass curd, while droplets of sunset-coloured pomelo pulp rain on to the plate.

And … There’s a DJ on Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights.

THE LOW-DOWN
Vibe The night is young … let’s party!
Best bit Exciting exotica.
Worst bit Booking restrictions.