Blue Elephant

The exterior of this Thai restaurant is easily overlooked, but inside is a world unlike any you’d expect to find in London. It’s a tropical jungle with philodendrons dripping from the ceiling and Japanese Koi Carps floating in a stream lined by cozy tables à deux. Soft light filtered through sky-lights. Waitresses dressed in silk gracefully glided among tables on various levels. Four pastel roses were laid on one table. Champagne chilled nearby.

Few things can top love, but the food was a worthy diversion. The two-course bargain of $18 made it doubly so. There were a surprising number of choices: five starters, three soups and seven entrees, marked with red elephant to designate the level of spiciness. For my appetizer I chose spring rolls, stuffed with chicken and prawn. They came from the kitchen hot and crisp, served on banana leaves. My three-elephant main, the “chilli lamb”, a piquant stir-fry of lamb slices, red and yellow bell peppers and eggplant, was subtly seasoned with ginger, lemongrass, Thai basil and chiles. Water and a Sauvignon Blanc helped tone down its punch.