Review: Aluna - Dinner and a Show
“I'm holding on too tight, I've lost the (Thai) Edge” - Top Gun
And that’s how the restaurant Thai Edge closed its doors (not really). Taking its place is maverick cocktail bar Aluna. According to one website the name Aluna has meaning of creating “strong physical desires, such as an appetite for heavy, starchy foods and meat.” So yeah, that could be good.
I sent fluffy-bobble-hat wearer and reluctant-capitalist Seb along to see if this new venue could fill the void.
As soon as we strolled in, we were caught up in a very impressive display of pyrotechnic mixology. This was going to be different.
The style may not suit your glo-ro hipsters, but this is a good option for myself and other casual city-centre professionals with a comfortably sized bar area for those after work drinks.
Of course we immediately skimmed the drinks menu to try and find drink that came with an increased building insurance premium. The Bush Fire. Definitely something to order if a dramatic display is your thing. Maybe that’s why people wear sunglasses inside nightclubs…
Food choice was initially a little confusing. What type of restaurant is this? Thai? Steakhouse? They even do a Sunday roast.
In the end we stuck with a Thai theme and for starter had prawns and sweet chilli sauce which were delicious. We also shared the chicken satay, the sauce was a little runny but the chicken was good.
As Thai food junkies we ordered Thai green curry chicken and massaman curry chicken. As a very welcome surprise, the green curry rivals some of my favourite Thai restaurant curries and had a nice kick to it. The Massaman curry was also excellent and vindicated out choice to stay with a Thai theme. In fact there is a good reason Thai features heavily on the menu as some of the chefs from Thai Edge still remain.
If it ain’t broke!
*Editors note: well it was broke wasn’t it?*
The cocktail choice and showmanship give Aluna a USP in Bristol city centre, a very accessible area that should see good trade and I will be returning!
