Glass samples the vibrant Thai flavours of Rosa’s Victoria, London

ROSA’S is the sort of place you can rely upon for authentic, always-tasty Thai food in central London. Now the Victoria branch is open it’s even easier to get your fix. We visited recently to try some of the restaurant’s dishes alongside its specially curated cocktail menu.

Rosas Victoria

The hearty Thai calamari – delicately coated in a crisp, light batter – was a promising starting point, while the grilled, homemade sausage was brimming with the spice of Northern Thailand. We also sampled the generous chicken satay skewers – a classic, beautifully done at Rosa’s – and one of the seasonal specials: a vibrant grapefruit, tofu and seafood salad. The heat was perfectly offset by the refreshing, citrus flavour of the kaffir lime and mint cocktail we began with.

Red Thai curry at Rosa’s

As for the mains; the traditional green curry is creamy and comforting, while the rich massaman comes with tender bites of beef. Both of these are complemented well by the blackberry and tamarind rum punch, which brings a welcome zing to the buttery undertones of each. The pineapple rice is a spotlight piece; the fruit is halved, hollowed out, and overfilled with lightly spiced fried rice, plump prawns, squid and cashew nuts. Add a spicy papaya salad and you’re set.

Pineapple rice at Rosa’s

Finally. the smoky sweet old fashioned with dried banana that came with dessert was a fitting bedfellow for the scoops of ice cream – Thai ice tea, green tea and coconut – that we sampled alongside it.

Thai-style cocktail

By Becky Zanker

Rosa’s Victoria, 25 Gillingham Street, London, SW1V 1HN