Kingston’s residents’ long wait to see what would replace Jamie’s Italian finally came to an end when the Giggling Squid, a renowned 17 year-old Thai restaurant chain with 30 locations in southern England, opened.
Aiming to provide Thai food and tapas in an authentic, contemporary setting, the restaurant’s most popular dishes include a ‘Fishing Village’ of seafood, curry and coconut milk and lamb shank massaman. The menu is dominated by traditional recipes with Thai-sourced ingredients.
After speaking with Martha, the restaurant manager, it’s easy to see why the Giggling Squid has chosen to expand to Kingston; preserved yet accessible, the corner offers an ideal location for a bona fide Thai restaurant. Having a relatively large capacity, the restaurant is ideal for families and gatherings alike; for business, the restaurant relies on footfall, from those visiting the theatre or central Kingston, as well as its reputation from its sister restaurants in Esher and Wimbledon.
Business has started well for the new restaurant; “on busy days, we can do up to 250 covers,” Martha informed me. Since it has opened, it has proved to be an extremely popular venue, made even more so by the absence of other Thai restaurants in Kingston. People who have visited the restaurant comment favourably, and all have a favourite dish.
It would appear that everyone enjoys the presence of a unique Thai restaurants, which contrasts with the neighbouring abundance of Italian restaurants, particularly in that area. Let’s hope the squid’s still giggling in Kingston for many years to come!
