Banana Leaf

Banana Leaf dishes up top-notch Thai fare including classic Thai cuisine plus unique fusion dishes.  

Located on the corner of Wellington and Mowbray, the casual decor - retro Thai movie posters, wicker lamp shades and timber bar - belies the quality of the food at this family run restaurant, owned by Thien (former chef at My Thai) and his wife Bibi.  

Offering traditional and modern Thai dishes, entrees include char grilled satay chicken, fish cakes, tom yum prawn soup and fresh salmon served with a salad of seeded chilli, mint, coriander, Thai basil, red onion and sweet and sour dressing.   

Mains range from pad Thai and traditional jasmine fried rice to stir fries and curries; while chef's signature dishes include slow cooked pork belly with dry shitake mushrooms and potatoes and king prawn hot and sour creamy soup served with rice.

Open for lunch Monday through Friday, most midday meals come in under $10 including a free soft drink.  Try the authentic massaman beef curry or char grilled pork Turkish sandwich with Thai salad and tamarind sauce. But make sure to save some room for dessert:  black sticky rice with coconut milk, purple tapioca in sweet and salty coconut milk or warm taro custard cake with sticky coconut rice and salty butterscotch sauce.

by Deb Lidster