Three Mothers

Having been somewhat disappointed with Zen Yai lately - our former favourite - we've been looking for a new Thai place in Civic. Last week, having quickly downed a gin and tonic at a clearly private-school-graduate establishment a.k.a. the Hippo, we got hungry, as always (ha ha ha), and decided to try our luck at the Three Mothers.

So, we walked across Garema Place and into a busy and noisy little restaurant, bustling, shall we say, with reasonably happy-looking customers and staff. Blocks of bright fuschia, yellow and green silk (some with the King of Thailand meets Andy Warhol-esque prints) lining the walls grab your attention before anything else - and keep grabbing it throughout the evening.

We were after something quick and straightforward - so had a tofu larb as the veggie option and the panang nua for the carnivore. The menu is extensive (and dishes seem at least a couple of dollars cheaper than the more up-market Thai options in Civic - i.e. Zen Yai and Lemongrass) although somewhat repetitive. What we mean here is that the same sauces, combinations of veggies and herbs make an appearance under different subheadings of 'chicken', 'beef', 'vegetables' - not that there is anything wrong with that... Nonetheless, what we ordered was fragrant and delicious. The presentation could have been more snazzy, although we did appreciate the hand-carved piece of radish in the shape of a rose. For a quick Thai meal before catching a movie, Three Mothers is a good option.

Bollywood Masala

"How were your meals?", asked the waiter.

We, the Always Hungrys, glanced at one another. A brief silence, then perhaps emboldened by that VB;

"The entrees were a bit average...but the mains were fantastic".

Having asked a routine question, but having received an apparently non-routine answer, the waiter was visibly taken aback by our candour, but retained his composure, if not his previous smile. The presence of another customer at the counter perhaps upped the ante somewhat...

Overall, we enjoyed our recent visit to Bollywood Masala in Dickson (on the corner of Challis and Cape streets, by the always-busy and well-lit Domino's and Pizza Hut outlets), as we have on all of our previous visits. This time though the entrees - stuffed mushrooms and paneer kebabs - were just a little dry and sad, especially in context of the general excellence of the rest of our experience, from the food to the service (including being volunteered the details of how they get their lamb to be oh-so-delicious). The eggplant main we had was particularly delicious.

With the unfortunate, apparently generational, closure of the Blue Elephant, we are now fairly comfortable in putting Bollywood Masala as the best Indian restaurant north of the lake (with only Taj Mahal coming close). Just keep to the mains...