Cheap and Cheerful

KRATIAM THAI CUISINE 180 Victoria road Drummoyne Tel - 9719 8841 www.kratiam.com.au Review # 1 FOOD Kratiam means garlic in Thai so you wont be surprised to find chef K,s signature dish is wok fried marinated chicken in a spicy garlic and pepper sauce. Other standout dishes include pad thai with prawns in a thick tamarind sauce and crispy skin roast duck rice paper rolls with plenty of cucumber and coriander.

CHILI FACTOR Keep away from the jungle curry, SERIOUSLY. Im the kind of foodie who cant live without dried chili on my fried rice and pad thai so you have been warned. SERVICE Always polite and deferential. Their attentiveness can wane if they are bombarded with takeaway and internet orders. ATMOSPHERE Music can range from those traditional rice barge instrumentals to Katy Perry or whatever is on the waitresses Ipod. The impromptu floorshow is provided by five year old Janice, the owners daughter who only knows one English word - "takeaway!" which she can be seen spruiking on the footpath. Her favourite trick is to sit opposite you and sketch your portrait if she finds your farrang face particularly appealing.

PARKING Plenty of side streets and unlimited parking on Victoria road after peak hour. FACILITIES Outside and around and back in the same building so as to avoid the busy kitchen and Janice,s chillout room. No real disabled access but being Thai they will find a way to wheel/carry your elders down the side of the building. VALUE A lot of bang for your baht. A small plate of seafood dumplings start from $6.90 and I paid $14.90 for a large Pad Thai with prawns and dried chili flakes. The roast duck rice paper rolls cost a measly $6.90 ! Voucher and internet offers every month so check online before you book.

NOISE If the front door is shut, you cant even hear the traffic on Victoria road although the phone and fax are constantly ringing. Plenty of soft Siamese decor so conversation levels are clubbily pleasant . RECOMMENDED DISHES Their pad thai is one of the best Thai staples in Sydney. They dont stint on the tamarind like some I can shame. Anything with their deep fried tofu is chewily scrumptious and if you choose their crispy skin roast duck you will be very popular. FOOTNOTE The cheap in the title is pretty obvious but the cheerful reference is directed at chef K. You wont have any trouble recognising him, hes the one with the permanent Thai smile and a cute portrait on the back of his crisp white uniform sketched by young Janice. K has plenty to smile about .