Papaya Thai Restaurant
By Franz Scheurer
It’s new, it’s funky and it’s good theatre. Papaya, in the middle of Cammeray’s main drag is a dark, quirky, concrete space with a mix of fun decorative items, more or less comfortable furniture, terrific chandeliers, a slide-open roof section and a bright, busy, very open kitchen. While the cooks frantically wave their steaming woks about, the sometimes-English-challenged waitstaff try their best to accommodate the diners.
The menu is an extensive and curious mix of Thai and Malaysian dishes. They’re BYO and value for money is very good (around $40 a head for quite a variety of dishes).
The food might be suburban Thai but it is better than most and certainly a welcome addition to the north side of the bridge. I loved their Tung Tong (money bags) and enjoyed their Po Piah Koong Ped Tod (their very individual version of the Malaysian Popiah). Tom Yum Goong (sweet and sour soup with prawns) was probably my favourite dish, hot, sweet, sour and spicy. A Yum Neua (beef salad) worked well flavour-wise, although the beef was too chunky and quite tough. When I enquired what their hottest dish was, I was advised to order the green curry, which was a disappointment, being far too sweet and nowhere near hot enough. A duck stir-fry showed off superb duck in a somewhat bland dish and the Pad Ku-Ae Teaw (their version of the Malaysian Char Kwei Teow) was liked around the table. The rice, as expected, was fragrant and freshly made while the roti was a little doughy, more reminiscent of the Indian version rather than Malaysian roti Channai.
Papaya serves good spicy food in terrific surrounds at a very reasonable price. If you’re hankering for a quick meal give Papaya a try!
Score: 6/10
For more information or bookings:
Papaya Thai Restaurant
Shop 3
506-508 Miller Street
Cammeray NSW 2062
Tel.: 02 9922 1234