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Rama Thai
Formerly Cnr Tory & Vivian St, Wellington
Good things: No diners hospitalised
Bad points: Appalling service, fraud, poisonous food, limited desserts
Menu items tried: Chicken of Mystery and Stir-fry Surprise
Price: $25, subject to random increases
Rating: 0%
Gather round, gentle readers, and brace yourselves for a tale of horror and woe. A couple of years ago, I had the misfortune to attend a birthday dinner at Rama Thai. I apologise if the less dramatic details of my visit have faded over time. I was not keen to return for a second helping of third rate service and third world food for the purpose of this review.
The evening began well enough, our merry band arriving safely at the table and preparing to be dazzled by the exotic $25-a-head set menu. After treating us to a long wait to enhance our appetites, the wait staff placed a selection of dishes in the centre of the table, from which we each scooped a hearty share. We became concerned, however, when we discovered that the chicken was more or less raw. Calling over a waiter to explain these red and dribbling morsels, we were told that chicken does not need to be cooked long if it is fresh.
Moving on to safer dishes, we filled ourselves on food so good we thought it could almost have been prepared by a professional. But we were wrong. As we scooped the last helpings from the big stir-fry plate, we discovered a used, flesh-coloured Band-Aid sitting right at the bottom. Horrified, we called over the waiter who had regaled us with tales of the health benefits of fresh salmonella.
“Excuse me, there’s a band-aid in the stir-fry.”
“Oh,” said the waiter, who took the Band-Aid back to the kitchen without another word. I can only assume it went right back on the chef’s finger to stop it leaking further pus into the food being cooked. Not entirely satisfied with the waiter’s response, we complained again at the register. We were offered $5 off the usual price, bringing the cost down to a mere $25. We pointed out that this was the price we had originally been quoted, but were informed that we must have been confused when ordering the set menu over the phone. Noticing the growing embarrassment on the birthday girl’s face, we decided not to make a scene and instead paid and fled to the safety of our homes.
To the best of my knowledge Rama Thai no longer exists. Perhaps because the management and staff are all in prison, or because they finally killed the last of their clientele. Another restaurant now occupies the same building. I hope it has no connection with the previous tenants.
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