Sailors Thai Canteen

7.3 Recommended

Food  8      Ambience  5      Service  9      Value  7     

You can't make a booking at Sailors Thai Canteen, which is always a little annoying but as we arrived at 6.30 mid week had no problems. The restaurant is one long communal table and we were seated in the centre, elbow to elbow. This isn't the place for intimacy or private conversation.

The food came out 5 minutes after placing our order. Wagyu beef stir fry, Panang chicken, Pad Thai with beef and a Papaya salad. With three glasses of red and three imported beers the meal to around $135.

The service is fast and our glasses were topped up frequently, they don't encourage you to hang around after you have finished your meal. The food is worth coming back for, or maybe try the more formal Sailors Thai downstairs.

Dec 09, 2011 

5.5 Average

Food  8      Ambience  8      Service  4      Value  2     

Nice room, prompt service and food (literally about 4 minutes for a thai curry) and decent thai food and flavours. But by no means amazing, certainly overpriced, we also felt rushed by the staff that couldn't slow their speech enough for us to understand what dessert they were offering (no dessert for us).

We quickly decided not to return and this is reinforced by the fact that they charged double the tip I had written to my credit card, very dodgy and surely illegal. Spend your money better elsewhere, avoid the rushed staff and possible nasty surprises on you credit card bill.

Jun 16, 2011 

8.5 Highly Recommended

Food  10      Ambience  7      Service  9      Value  8     

Firstly you have to ignore the price tag. People will make comparisons to regular thai restaurants or even other 'canteen' style venues, but what Sailors Thai Canteen manages to achieve is worth every cent you pay.

We went on a Saturday evening and expected big crowds. So we held back and decided on a late dinner around 9pm. The wait was short and we were soon shown to our seats.

There was no rush to serve us which felt ok. We were still eyeing up the menu and having had a few drinks already we were in no rush ourselves. The waiter was funny and friendly and gladly put up with our indecisiveness. After taking our orders for drinks and food we continued to talk about other dishes on the menu so he gladly offered us a little taster of something we didn't order to get the meal started.

Then the dishes started coming. Each one a testament to how good thai cusine can be when you don't drown it in coconut milk.

The steamed fish being the unexpected highlight as it brought back memories of Koh Lanta. Truly a spot on sweet and sour flavour explosion. Delicate and delicious.

The pork belly was simply indulgent, green curry beef represented the southern thai/malaysian influences and a true Pad kra prow (mince Pork, bean chilli and basil) with real spice – and I didnt even have to order it extra extra extra hot just to get them to put some chilli in it.

This could be the best thai in Sydney with it's combination of authentic staples and modern twists. They have manage to keep the essence of thai cooking which is fast, friendly and without pretension and added a touch of Sydney.

Excellent work Pacharin Jantrakool.

May 29, 2011 

9 Highly Recommended

Food  9      Ambience  9      Service  9      Value  9     

Group of 14 of us for lunch - fabulous food - great service. Seated at Noon (unreserved) and out by 1pm - which we requested. Consistently good. Only drawback is noise level, however food is worth it. Heading back again next month.

Apr 17, 2011 

6.5 Recommended

Food  8      Ambience  6      Service  6      Value  6     

Very well-prepared and clean food, however, it's pricey in comparison to other Thai establishments. The service and atmosphere is rushed (many clientele) but not bad.

Jan 20, 2011 

8.5 Highly Recommended

Food  9      Ambience  8      Service  9      Value  8     

The canteen experience at Sailors was fantastic. Yes it was a bit loud, but that's what you get from eating canteen style with shared tables. The food was wonderful and the service was great, even if a bit over-attentive. For the quality of food I felt the menu was well priced. Will definitely be back.

Oct 17, 2010 

4.3 Below Average

Food  7      Ambience  3      Service  3      Value  4     

The food here consists of well-prepared, fresh Thai dishes. However, the ambience is an astonishing window on a particular cultural facet of Sydney, people can't seem to pay enough for hype and gimmicks! Canteen dining at these prices seems downright ridiculous, elbow to elbow dining in a noisy room is not relaxing at all. Nor was the curt service. We felt distinctly unwelcome lingering in our seats for one second more after the bill arrived, and on trying to pay, were informed that they won't even do EFTPOS (come on, at these prices a little bit of service can't be so hard?). I'll go somewhere else next time I'm craving some Thai food.

Sep 07, 2010 

6 Average

Food  8      Ambience  6      Service  5      Value  5     

The tasting plate had dishes available that we have not seen in other Sydney Thai restaurants the food exceeded our expectations. The Thai waiters were friendly and happy to explain each dish. We did not appreciate the snobbish waiters who talked to us as though we were something the cat brought in.

Jun 06, 2010 

3 Below Average

Food  5      Ambience  3      Service  1      Value  3     

Had dinner here recently, thought the service was rude and rushed. Seemed like more of a fast food place than a restaurant and prices definitely weren't worth our experience!

They should lower their prices if thats the way they want to run it. Food was ok, Fish curry lovely but avoid the prawn and noodle dish as was really awful. Don't recommend the canteen area at all.

Jun 03, 2010 

10 Highly Recommended

Food  10      Ambience  10      Service  10      Value  10     

Restaurant should be judged first, by the food. Excellent! Stir fried chicken with nuts and chilli sauce and King prawns with glass noodles. The dessert was unbelievable! So sweet and very tasty. I liked ambience as my mum and I had a late lunch outside. Shade under giant tree was enough to hide us from the hot atmosphere and created warm and familiar environment.

Service, as I said, it was late lunch, so there weren't so many people, which led to very kind and friendly service. When food, ambience and service are great, the value does not matter. It costed $80 for 2 people, but I think it was just appropriate. Thanks eatability!

Mar 04, 2010