590 Dominion Road,
Balmoral,
Balmoral
Auckland,


(09) 638 9516

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3 out of 5

In a grand old room much larger than any other restaurant on this eatery-packed block, Tusk Thai Restaurant’s furnishings and décor are earthy and sumptuous.

There is deep brown Thai art, leather seats, and Buddhas on the walls. We settled right in.

We ordered wine and beer from the reasonably priced list (wines by the glass start at $5, beers start at $4.50) and an entrée of spring rolls—a mainstay of Thai menus and a good way to garner the standard.

Unfortunately, the standard was below par. These spring rolls were very average; neither the taste, nor the filling, stood out.

Fast and charming, out waitress cleared our plates quickly and, when we tried to order pad siew with shrimp, she gently assured us this is not the way it’s done.

Instead, we grabbed the $15 chicken pad siew—a noodle dish made from a wider flatter noodle than pad thai, and with more vegetables and a darker sweeter sauce. To match, was an old favourite—yum nua ($17.50); a spicy beef, mint and cucumber salad made.

The noodles were good—generous on the meat, fresh on the veges. But, our salad was a disappointment. In a tasty fish sauce, the thinly sliced beef had been cooked for far too long. One mouthful required substantial chewing.

Although we were let down by the food, Tusk is still the right kind of place for an evening out. The service and wait staff are excellent; and the atmosphere lends a grandeur that, in these days of foodcourts and takeaways, is not often associated with Thai food.