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Parties: Chaophraya comes to Liverpool
The £2.2m Thai restaurant and Palm Sugar lounge throw their glammy doors open with a bash
CH...CHAO...Chaophraya.
Hard to pronounce at first? Don't be put off. For there is nothing difficult to swallow about Liverpool's newest restaurant and bar complex, Chaophraya, a name which is about to roll off the lips of all those who want a different something from their Liverpool night out.
And as of now.
Now when we say different, we don't mean odd. For there is nothing peculiar, or particularly “exclusive” about the acclaimed Thai restaurant which, up till now, has been a good a reason as any to hop it up the East Lancs to eat glorious food at its truly excellent Manchester operation.
Rather, the £2.2m restaurant and its adjacent Palm Sugar Lounge, which overlook Chavasse Park, really are raising the “bar” yet another notch in eating-and-drinking-a-la-Liverpool experiences.
And if nothing else, that is something to be welcomed.
Chaophraya, in Liverpool One, is quite breathtaking to look at, with its sunken Bangkok-style private dining areas, floor to ceiling plate glass windows, high ceilings and handsome, understated décor. Even a river courses through it.
One glance and you are reminded of all the other venues you have been to, hereabouts, which have tried this look on the cheap. But this 200-cover restaurant is so not-tacky. In fact on the face of it, this venue could grace any big city.
On the other hand, it could easily be mistaken for the Blue Planet Aquarium with a fish tank that runs through the upstairs dining room and into the toilets, hopefully this will not come to add a whole new meaning to the term “taking a leak”.
We'll be in to review it sometime in the next month. We are still arguing over who gets to go, but wish Ben, Anh and the team, who are all new to Liverpool, โชคดีค่.
Meantime, it was the opening party last Friday where cocktails were there to be quaffed and oysters were there to be queued for.
They were all there. So were we.
Chao for now.
Chaophraya,
Kenyon Steps,
Liverpool One.
0151 707 6323
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30 comments so far, continue the conversation, write a comment.
Who mentioned A-list celebs anywhere?
Herbert looks a bit like Marty Hopkirk in that white jacket. "Only you can see me Geoff, only you..."
The people in the kitchens are more consistently better-dressed than the so-called "V.I.P.s"
Simply rubbish, overpriced and up its a**e
There's celebrities all right! The top row features Anita Dobson and her PA, and to the right, ballroom dancer and television presenter Anton Du Beke and his lovely wife.
Are you only allowed to go if you are one of the trendy, beautiful people?
£2.2 million spent and they still haven't enough glasses to go around! There is a couple of scruffy blokes there having to drink out of their bottles!
And there's Shakin' Stevens, fifth down, left column. He too looks like he's come straight from his potting shed and hadn't time to change out of his gerdening clothes.
Where do I start? This place is truly shocking. Although the food is reputedly okay, it’s the attitude that really grates. I went there for my 35th birthday, July 2009 and the door policy was an absolute disgrace. To access the restaurant, we entered (or attempted to) through the bar entrance to “Palm Sugar”, evidently a euphemism for masturbation judging by the majority of the clientele.Everyone in my group was in smart attire, ladies in dresses, gentlemen in shirts, shoes etc - it was only our second drink of the evening too, so nobody had drunk too much.On our way in, we were stopped by doormen and segregated one by one – like that was going to make for a good evening – going to a restaurant bar with a group of friends and spending it with a random selection of them, the other half scraping at the windows, hungry and thirsty, begging for the scraps from our table.The social roulette descended into farce, with the bouncers’ attempts to explain their decisions on fashion bases, quite clearly not having a clue what they were talking about. I unfortunately, was one of the have-nots, which was quite disconcerting as one friend swanned in wearing the cheapest brown clogs I’ve ever seen, while my handmade South Americans earned the thumbs down – hilarious.Fashion Apartheid continued with another friend’s shoes earning the accolade “not shiny enough”, whilst another’s ban was rescinded after the ironic claim that “these clothes cost me a minimum of one hundred pounds” was taken seriously by the, by now laughable, bouncers.Palm sugar has, however, cleverly planned for these eventualities, with a row of apologetic barmaids all geared up to serve you outside the bar – apparently your money is good enough, even if your clothes aren’t. We reluctantly ordered drinks as our barmaid explained that she would do her best to get us in, when “it quietens down a bit”, i.e. when there are less people around to witness how terribly dressed you are.We cancelled our drinks order when it was pointed out that we would regrettably, not be able to access the toilets, which as far as I am concerned is illegal for establishments with five or more tables – but hey, Palm Sugar makes up its own rules.I remonstrated a little further with the simmering, angry fashion expert on the door but to no avail – they failed to pass on the message about scrubbing our order and when the waitress finally arrived with our drinks (about £17 for three of them) she whinged about having to pay for them herself – eventually guilt-tripping another table into paying for them instead, stopping short of turning on the waterworks.So all in all, a dreadfully run, overpriced, sickeningly pretentious bar restaurant. I mean – would you let a Neanderthal bouncer who spends his days slobbing around on the couch in trackies by labelled by Heinz pick your clothes for you? No? Well don’t start now. Palm Sugar leaves a bitter taste in the mouth – don’t bother.
Been twice, fantastic. Venue great food great staff great prices realistic. Going back soon.
That isn't Herbert, that's the ghost of my nan. The resemblance is striking.
Well know idea who the 'A List' celebs are...but the lighting in that place looks FANTASTIC!!!
I had bullet-like seafood at the Sabai, unfortunately. It will be interesting to see what a Thai restaurant with a reputation can do.
Not good. Especially for an operation new to the city.
Disney version of Thai food.Not edible, no depth of flavor and completely lacking in authentic Thai ingredients.You dont smother everything in fish sauce and call it Thai food - just disgusting.Thai food is about simplicity not about stainless steel surfaces and bijou mirrors.
No, the pictures above show that it's full of all manner of ragamuffins. I see no trendy or beautiful!
I was tstill thsuffering after eating too much of the thsuccotash two dayths later.
Dig, last time I went to Chaya the staff outnumbered the customers (us) and my lady companion suffered a painful insect bite. Before it was banned the tobacco smoke at least kept the insects at bay.
Well, if the food is as good as Manchester and Leeds, this place is in danger of becoming a top five destination restaurant, the place itself is gobsmacking. Now, Angie, I have promised the delightful Hilary and her pals first dibs with me on the revue. As long as they send me those photos...
I went to Chaophraya the other night. I was so drunk by the end of the night when I ordered a cab they thought I said 'Chaya'. Next time I'll just go to Chaya.
I have been to their Manchester restaurant and from what I have seen the Liverpool one looks great loads of money has been spent , but unless the food is up to scratch its all for show - if you have been to the Sabai in North John Street you will know what authentic Thai cooking tastes like,!!!!!
I went to that Thschaophraya and every time I asthked for thsago pudding all I got was thsemolina. made me thsick up to here.
Does anyone know who did the lighting??
Is that Liz Lacey with a protégé there, third down, left column? He obviously left his house without time to shave or dress.
It looks like some of the builders have wandered in among the invited guests. We can go to Heathcote's if we want our dinner ruined by boorish louts at the other tables.
Weeping Tiger and Pad Thai rules!
Just thstop it, will yer.
Nah, Herbert's in there.
There's a man there wearing a buttonhole on the wrong side and without a tie! Liverpool needs somewhere upmarket, not more of the same!
Went for lunch last Friday. It was just about sunny so we asked if we could sit outside on the first floor balcony. This is one of the best tables in Liverpool - overlooking Chavasse Park, down to the Albert Dock, would no doubt be perfect around 6pm in the summer.Oh, and I've not even mentioned the food - spot on. We ordered from the lunch menu, one drink each (me Singah, her vino) and it came in under 20 quid. Service perfect.Total bargain and we'll be back very soon.