Mais Cafe
Mai's Café. I'll be honest, when I first noticed the restaurant, I thought maybe it was a café serving kick-ass corn bread (Mais = corn??) …which excited me because I love corn bread. However, taking a closer look I was pleasantly surprised to learn it was in fact a Thai restaurant, serving what I now refer to as the best Thai in the city.
Burrowed in the heart of Wortley Village, the café is run by Mai and her sister Kay. Originally from the coastal Nakhon Phanom region of Thailand, these lovely and hospitable ladies have been running the restaurant for the past two years. Together they bring the colourful flavours of Thai cuisine to life.
(The Café also has a brunch menu served before lunch!)
The Spot
Maintaining the quaintness of Wortley, inside the café is lined with small tables on all sides, with delicate artwork clung to the wall, and two ceiling length windows covering the entrance. Not much too it, and there needn't be as the food is really what it's all about. Like many spots in Wortley, it’s a charming place where you can enjoy good conversation and even better meal. It’s a small place, but they always take reservations if you plan on bringing a group.
My Order
I brought a small herd of family with me on this outing, as I can never make up my mind with Thai, and sharing makes for great selection. We ordered basically everything I couldn't make up my mind on, starting with Coconut Shrimp and Papaya salad. Our mains included the Green Curry with shrimp, Ginger Chicken, Red Veggie Curry, Drunken Noodles, Thai Basil Chicken, and the Spicy Eggplant (a personal favourite of mine). With Thai cooking, it's all about the flavours and spices, with simple fresh ingredients accompanying each dish. In my humble opinion, Mai's gets it just right, the fundamental Thai tastes (sour, sweet, salty, bitter and spicy) balanced perfectly in each bite. No dish will drown in salty sauce on Mai’s watch. Everything is made fresh to order, and comes quite promptly. I would estimate we were in an out in an hour. Insiders tip: If you are someone who likes spice, make sure to ask for everything to come with a proper amount of chili.
Ever since my first blissful spoon of Mai's Green Curry sauce, I knew it would become an instant regular. If you’re longing for an authentic and well-priced place to grab your Thai food for those cozy nights out, try Mai’s (and never look back).
