Rotorua? A Thai restaurant? Honestly, I didn’t even think about it.
That’s not because I don’t think it would be good, but more because it never come up as something to think about. We was walking around town, trying to find somewhere for lunch. We got that sort of hungry where you need to make a decision fast and we found ourselves in a small arcade with Thai Central.
The unplanned meal can sometimes be the best meal and this time was no exception. It was exactly the type of lunch that remind you not to underestimate a place just because of its location. What followed was filling, satisfying, and a bit surprising in how spot-on everything was.
A Happy Lunch Surprise
Thai Central
I saw the OPEN sign in the window as I walked by and thought why not. It wasn’t the most impressive shopfront; you might walk straight past without noticing it, but there was just something about the place that felt right. We ducked in.
The interior is a straightforward dining room setup, all timber and simple and clean inside. They has a drinks fridge with the usual suspects which I got from the counter then found myself a table. It has no frills, but there is no need for them.
It was hot, so we began with some iced Thai drinks from behind the fridge glass. They arrived cold and tall with a lime garnish on one of them that felt a little more special then necessary. In truth, they were refreshing and sweet in that particular Thai iced tea kind of way.
I was already feeling positive.
Next came our food. We ordered a little of everything. We got a spring roll served with a small bowl of dipping sauce, some fried dumpling which were crisp around the edges, a curry bowl with fresh herbs piled on top, and prawn fried rice served on a black dish that was far prettier then expected.
It all was as good as it should of be. The curry had real depth. The spring rolls was crunchy and not slathered in grease.
The fried rice had that hint of char you look for. Nothing blew me away, though I was truly happy with what I ate. And portions was generous, too; this is food where you can tell somebody in the kitchen gave a shit.
Our selection for lunch laid out together looked suitably filling. There was rolls, rice, and tiny dishes of sauce. We ate slowly, chatting between mouthfuls.
I recall thinking as we sat down that this was going to be a better meal then I expected when we came in. It was straight forward enough with all the Thai standard dishes you’d expect.
It was nice to know there was a good selection of entrees without anything too over-the-top or gimmicky. I took some pictures because I wanted to know what other stuff they had. There are times when you just want a menu that know what it’s doing.
We was stuffed by this point.
We made our way past their logo board and headed home, with Thai Central firmly filed under “places I’d go back to in Rotorua” in my mind. There is nothing wrong with going for something that isn’t trying to be anything more than a good Thai restaurant doing the food right, which is all that Thai Central was. Prices were fair, the lunch was good, and there was no complaints.
Have you ever had a meal where you weren’t expecting much but it still managed to surprise you? Let me know about it in the comments.