Pai Thai - Al Qasr Hotel, Dubai

Pai Thai has been tempting me for a long time now - everyone seems to rave about the romantic setting, the exotic cuisine and delicious cocktail, and this is seen to be true when it comes to booking a table. I had tried quite a few times and it always seemed to be booked. Finally, I got a 10pm booking on a Tuesday night which seemed pretty perfect - not only did it mean I could sample a few ladies night drinks after work but I could also end my evening with some tasty Thai dishes.

Believe it or not, Pai Thai is not the easiest of places to locate.. set at the far end of the Madinat waterways, its really only reachable by boat or buggy. We arrived by boat which was by far the most romantic entrance (even though my date was a girl mate of mine), showing off the fairy lit terrace which leans out over the quiet water. The lighting was dim, the tables weren't too close together giving the diners enough privacy and the atmosphere was quiet but electric at the same time - perfect date location!

On arrival, we were immediately sat at our table by a very friendly hostess. She also passed me a gluten free menu which for the first time in a while didnt look depressing at all - there were a few gluten free suitable options available to me.

Cocktails were the first port of call - I went for a 'Ban Thai' which i would highly recommend. A mix of passion fruit, lychee and vodka went down an absolute treat. Then came the prawn crackers - which for me were rice crackers which were accompanied by a nectarine sauce instead of the usual sweet chilli - i must admit they were surprising tasty for gluten free. For mains we both ordered Thai currys. Mine was a red prawn curry which was delicious - the perfect balance between creamy and sweet and bitter spice. The portions were big enough to share between two, and the rice was unlimited. My friend went for the Thai green chicken curry which she said was the best she'd had in Dubai - Pai Thai was definitely living up to both of our expectations.

I left the restaurant feeling full and tired after a great dinner - and even though it was quite expensive it was worth the price we paid. Adding to all this the staff were extremely attentive, helpful and knowledgeable about the food that was on the menu - something that's quite a rarity in Dubai.

To note: the entertainer book does Pai Thai vouchers - get your hands on one and go and try it out.

The Spice Emporium - The Westin Dubai Mina Seyahi, Dubai Marina

The Spice Emporium restaurant at The Westin Dubai Mina Seyahi Beach Resort & Marina in Jumeirah, Dubai offer exotic Asian fusion (mostly Thai) grub in an atmosphere which takes you straight to Thailand. On entering, you are instantly met by friendly faces, paper lanterns, open kitchens and far east trinkets (both large and small). The cooking stations reminds me vaguely of Bennihana with the roaring woks, dancing grills, Teppan, tandoor, and steaming baskets , open air and on full display for the customers to watch their food being prepared from a far. The attractive low-slung tables in chocolate brown and the soft latino music pumping around the room adds to the Asian experience.

On my last outing, eight of us dinned together around a large spacious table inside, however on previous visits, I have ate outside in the pretty, dimmed lit terrace which mirrors the same kind of vibe. The staff are friendly and there to help with a good knowledge on most dishes. They also make sure the bowl of prawn crackers (served with a sweet chilli dip) in the middle of the table is constantly topped up (I think I managed to consumer a bowl to myself !) To start, we opted for a variety of small dishes to share amongst us (tasty chicken spring rolls and piping hot Thai prawn cakes).For mains, there was a selection of curries, sea bass, chicken based stir fries and beef. I chose the Stir fried beef with ginger, mushroom, chili and spring onion which was a slight disappointment.. it was missing that certain je ne ce quoi and wasn’t as tasty as I had preempted. My neighbor went for a better option of stir fried chicken with cashew nuts which was divine – tender chicken with the crunch from the cashews and a perfectly sweet and spicy sauce – excellence! I also tried the sea bass, cooked just right, melting in my mouth, perfectly marinated with thai herbs. On previous occasions I have tried the chicken green curry (one of my favourite dishes from my Thailand travelling days) and it was delightful, and if I was to visit again, this would be my dish of choice – the flavor combination was perfect.

I would highly recommend this as a mid week treat. The food is not overly expensive and the service is quick. They also offer a ‘ladies night’ promotion on a Tuesday where they take 50% off your food bill making it very possible to spend under 100aed (if you are not drinking). And finally, to add to the experience of delicate textures, heady flavors and aromas, exotic food and helpful staff, roughly every 30minutes you will be treated to a local Thai dance which is performed in the middle of the restaurant! Score (if you like that kind of thing!)