An occasional column by Rodger on dining in Raglan
After an extensive transformation and signs in the window saying, ‘Opening Soon’, the Banteay Srey Khmer Restaurant and Café is finally open. The restaurant is named after a 10th century hindu temple in the Angkor area of Cambodia.
The menu features Cambodian delicacies like Lok Lak, a beef salad, and A Mok a kmer style steamed fish and spinach in a curry sauce. A range of red, green and yellow curries is also on the menu.
Comparisons will be made to the popular Cambodian evening menu that the Blacksands has run for the last year. So to compare the Banteay Srey’s cooking I selected similar dishes to the ones I had previously at Blacksands.
First I had the Crispy Fried Calamari with Sweet Chilli sauce. The calamari was cooked just right and the batter nice and crispy. I’d say that this is better than the same selection at Blacksands. At $8 the price is the same in both restaurants.
Moving onto the main I selected Lok Lak. The serving was very large and accompanied by a plate of steamed rice. It was well cooked and tasted great. At $20 it is two dollars more than the same meal at Blacksands, but you do get more food for your money at Banteay Srey. Perhaps a bit too much to eat and some of our group took left-overs home in doggy bags. There is an adequate wine with glasses and bottles available at reasonable prices. Service was prompt and courteous.
Fish and chips, chicken nibbles, fries and waffles are available if you want western style food.
Overall on Value for Money I gave Banteay Srey an Eight out of Ten for an excellent meal and service.
Banteay Srey is open seven days for breakfast, lunch and dinner.
The cafe is located in 23 Bow St, Raglan. Phone 07 825 0952.
http://www.raglan.gen.nz/2012/banteay-srey-khmer-restaurant-and-cafe/
We ate at Banteay Srey last night. The food and service were outstandingly good, and astonishlingly well-priced. And I’m an English wanker, now resident in Auckland. Sorry for both of those. Breakfast at Black Sand was nice, but if you want a fabulous Cambodian meal in Raglan, head straight to Banteay Srey.
Thanks for the feedback. It certainly is great Cambodian cooking.
That is good to hear from a visitor to Raglan. Word Cafe Raglan, Readers and Writers Festival is holding their Saturday Night Stories at Banteay Srey on May 11 7pm . Its worth a return visit.
My family and I dined here last weekend, and we were not that impressed. The service was unfriendly when we asked for additional bowl’s and cutlery for our kids. Definitely not service with a smile. The food was quite average – was not authentically Cambodian. We are regulars to Raglan in the summer, but I wont be dinning here again.
Service does vary quite a bit at the Banteay.