I’ve got to admit, we didn’t originally intend to go to Giggling Squid during half term. I was in town with the six-year-old, he wanted to try Prezzo’s lunch offer, but there was no space.
Just over the road, though, on Bury St Edmunds’ Abbeygate Street, is our local branch of Giggling Squid. He’d never been to a Thai restaurant before and the kids’ menu looked decent value. They had a great lunchtime offer on for the grown-ups, too.
The place is like a Tardis. The small frontage opens out into a restaurant that stretches back a huge distance. The beautiful pink and floral decor gives the place a fresh, friendly vibe.
“Sorry, we don’t do lasagne, pizza or chips”, proclaims a note on the kids’ menu – and I’m glad. Instead, there’s a choice of stir fries, fried rice dishes, and noodles, all at very reasonable prices. There are starters and desserts, and pictures of some dishes so kids know what to expect. Turn the menu over and there are activities and facts to keep them busy while they wait (crayons also provided).
With half term already expensive (especially when my son had two weeks off in October!), I wasn’t going to turn down the Giggling Squid £10 lunch deal. Until November 17th, enjoy a Pad Thai (chicken or veggie) with either a small Chang or soft drink for just £10.
It was a decent-sized portion, the crushed peanuts and lime wedge served on the side. There was a decent amount of tender chicken, blocks of silky tofu and plenty of crunchy beansprouts. The noodles were beautifully cooked and the whole thing was seasoned beautifully.
The child was happy with his kids’ portion of crunchy Thai prawn crackers (£1.99) – and the spice surprised him. His chicken Pad Thai (£7.99) looked similar to mine but had slightly toned down flavours. He had child-sized cutlery too, which was a nice touch, and he absolutely loved his first Pad Thai experience!
The £10 lunch deal at Giggling Squid ends on November 17th, so take advantage before it ends! While this was our first visit to the Bury St Edmunds restaurant, we’ve always had a great experience at the others we’ve visited. We’ll be back!