Kaffir Lime

By Franz Scheurer

Suburban Thai restaurants, although immensely popular, can be a bit of an adventure, but a recommendation by a friend proved that some frogs are worth kissing.

The Willoughby end of Willoughby Road is becoming a bit of an eat street with new places everywhere. Kaffir Lime is easy to find and there’s plenty of parking nearby. Occupying two rooms with amenities upstairs, the restaurant is modern and easy on the eyes. Muted pastels and plenty of private, conversation-friendly space make this a restaurant worthy of consideration for an early date or a catch-up with friends.

The food isn’t half bad, either. We liked the ‘Kaffir Lime Tuna’, a simple but focused salad. The ‘Fish Cakes’ were springy without being rubbery and the slightly acidic dipping sauce complemented their flavour. A serving of ‘King Prawns on Betel Leaves’ looked good but included too much roasted coconut for my taste, making it a bit dry and chewy. A ‘Green Curry of Chicken’, although very pale, was balanced and presented well and the serving of ‘Lamb Shanks Penang’ was gelatinous and spicy. The dish of the night was probably the ‘Kaffir Lime King Prawns’, thick, dry, spicy and tamarind-sour and finger-licking good. A deep-fried soft-shell crab dish was OK, although the crab itself was a little too watery for my liking. ‘Durian Ice Cream and Sticky Rice’ to finish reminded me how much I love the pungency of Durian; alas this time the pungency was toned down. In fact, none of the flavours at Kaffir Lime were in your face, there was little or no chilli heat, low acidity, saltiness and sweetness, yet the food was surprisingly balanced. If you like the flavours of Thai food but want to avoid the fiery dishes, this place could be perfect for you.

Service is fast and efficient. The wine list is not a work of art but beer is probably the better match anyway and they do allow BYO. For a suburban Thai this is much better than expected.

Score: 6/10

For more information or bookings:

Kaffir Lime (Modern Thai Eatery)

541-543 Willoughby Road

Willoughby NSW 2068

Tel.: 02 9967 2077