Restaurant review Mays Thai

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I arrived at Mays Thai Restaurant with an open mind and a rumbling stomach. Unlike most other types of Asian cuisine, Thai food has managed to pass me by and I’m not totally sure why. Perhaps it’s the availability and convenience of Chinese takeaways, or the popularity of Japanese sushi restaurants, that have made Thai too easy to overlook. Whatever the reason, I’m so glad Mays has shown me the error of my ways.

When you walk inside this Childwall eatery, you’re instantly gripped by its interior which tastefully combines modern and rustic styles – an emerald green colour scheme; wooden panels; flawless bar and bare brick lit by lamps hanging in wicker shades.

After being shown to our table by a friendly staff member, I was impressed when moments later the same waitress cared enough to run out and catch a customer who had left their property. It’s little things like that which elevate a place beyond the ordinary.

Food-wise, I started with one of the two dishes I’d heard of, Chicken Satay on a stick (£5.95), while my partner ordered the

Chicken Dumplings (£5.95). The dumplings were tender and paired with a sweet sauce which made each mouthful a magnificent treat for the palate. However, served with peanut and cucumber sauces, my chicken skewers had to be the star of the show. Surprisingly filling, they were delicious enough on their own, but dipped in the heavenly peanut sauce, took on a whole new dimension.

In between courses, I wandered upstairs and caught a glimpse of the additional seating area. Styled like an authentic Thai home, the room boasts a full wall mural and an exposed beam roof that had me staring in awe. Seemingly reserved for larger groups, the hidden gem made me want to organise a works’ do, just so I could come back and admire it.

For mains, I went for the other Thai meal I was previously aware of, Chicken Pad Thai (£9.95), whilst my partner couldn’t resist the Chicken Massaman Curry (£9.95) and a side of Jasmine Rice (£2.95). I’d ordered my meal spicy, which I thought I’d come to regret until I saw the spices and crushed peanuts came on a separate side dish. I added the spice to my taste and when I lifted the fork of coiled glass noodles, spring onions, shoots and chicken to my mouth, I knew a new food love affair had begun.

The curry was mild and creamy with coriander and cumin giving it a rich and warm taste. Meanwhile, the potatoes and cashews informed the flavour and added to the texture. My partner spooned it onto her dish of subtly fragrant rice, the two pairing perfectly. I greedily stole the last of the bowl after I had finished my own main.

It’s hard to put your finger on what makes Mays so special. Is it the enthusiasm of the staff and their love of creating amazing food? The sense of care you feel throughout the whole dining experience? Or maybe it’s the feeling of passion you sense the moment you walk in that crescendos when you take your first delicious bite.

It took the owners months of hard work to get Mays right, and as we exited with beaming smiles spread across our faces, I think they knew they’d achieved their goal.