Thai for Two...

Upon discovery of a rather tucked away Asian restaurant in Newcastle, my boyfriend took me out for  a lovely oriental supper at Barn Asia.

The tuk tuk outside was a taste of what was to come as we entered the fashionably decorated interior. The walls where adorned with super cool asian artwork and the feel was modern and contemporary with colourful lanterns hanging from the ceiling and ornate furniture by the bar area.

The menu was reassuringly small- something that is, in my opinion, certainly no bad thing. We begun our Asian taste experience with starters of Thai yellow rice balls with a melon, cucumber salsa and tempura prawns. These curious, deep-fried balls of rice were delicious; crispy on the outside and wonderfully spicy and aromatic within. Bursting with thai taste bud tickling curry paste with notes of lemongrass, chili, ginger, garlic and coriander and presented beautifully. The cucumber, melon salsa and micro herb adornment snuggled satisfyingly atop each orb and provided a perfect cooling and flavoursome accompaniment.

My main course was a rather delicious shitaake mushroom pad thai with chicken, with the usual rice noodles, egg, spring onions, peanut and a sticky sweet sauce and a sliced chicken breast scattered scrumptiously across the noodle bed, with perfectly crispy skin.

There was a seemingly delightful dark chocolate and peanut butter tart on the pudding menu, although after seriously over-indulging in course one and two where my eyes had certainly been bigger than my tummy, and although totally tempted,  neither of us could quite face the thought of round three.. All in all an amazing asian sensation and one that I'd thoroughly recommend-  we didn't quite make it to pudding but what better excuse to go back, I'd say.