Review: Chantek Thai Fusion Resturant, Truro

When you eat out, do you um and ahh as you read the menu, change your mind about five times and only make up your mind what to eat when the waiter arrives? Or do you scan it efficiently and stick to your decision, the menu closed on the table when all around you dither? If you fall into the latter camp, you are either a ruthlessly efficient restaurant robot or, like me, a vegetarian.

Vegetarians seldom have the opportunity to vacillate, there being only one or two options available to them. Often, it’s veggie lasagne or starve, and don’t get me started about places that think vegetarians eat fish. So when I spotted the innumerate little ‘V’s all over the extensive menu at Chantek on Truro’s trendy New Bridge Street, I came over all a flutter. To my joy and amazement, they can cook nearly all of their main courses with tofu as an alternative to meat or fish, and boy! Can they cook them well!

Price-wise, Chantek offers good value all round, with beautifully presented starters from £5 , including soups, salads and other sundries. My dining companions opted for the mixed starter to share at £10.50, which included funky little steamed chicken parcels wrapped in banana leaves, king prawns and a range of deep fried delights they declared delicious. I had the vegetable tempura, crisp and succulent with a sweet and tangy chilli dip, all for £6.50.

In the mood for heat, we all opted for curries, mine a spicy jungle one. It wasn’t nearly as hot as I’d have liked, but contained a good range of well cooked vegetables and the sauce was sticky and delicious, as was the jasmine rice I had to accompany it. One of the people eating with us asked for "the hottest curry the chef had ever made" and it came in at a disapointing mildness.... but a great taste.

We enjoyed a bottle of chilly dry white with our meal, but opted out of dessert, having already eaten way too much. We were delighted to find the bill totalling just over £60 for the three of us

Chantek offers good value dining in a cool and atmospheric venue, with good service and an authentic range of dishes from the pacific rim which is close to representing the holy grail of vegetarian eating. It's cheaper, better more stylish and less snooty than Truro's other fusion restaurant, Snooty Lu Lus.

For chilli and choice in the heart of Truro, try Chantek.

Bettyxx

Chantek Asian Fusion Restaurant.
15 New Bridge Street
Truro
TR1 2AA
Tel: 01872 225071

Chantek is featured in The Truro Map