Blue Elephant has relocated to Imperial Wharf. A new menu is based on that offered by Blue Elephant in Bangkok, the much lauded establishment which has just been nominated as Best Thai Restaurant 2011-2012 by the Miele Guide, Asia's answer to Michelin and Zagat. With the added benefit of tranquil river views, a spectacular outdoor heated terrace and accessible parking, the move to Imperial Wharf marks an exciting new chapter in Blue Elephant’s illustrious history.
The Blue Elephant
Thai Restaurant in Imperial Wharf
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5 / 10 from 5 reviews
Address
The Boulevard Townmead Road
Imperial Wharf
London
SW6 2UB
The Boulevard Townmead Road
Imperial Wharf
London
SW6 2UB
Telephone
020 7751 3111
020 7751 3111
Cuisine
Thai
Thai
Region
Imperial Wharf
Imperial Wharf
Opening Summary
Lunch
Closed (Monday)
12:00 – 14:30 (Tue – Sat)
12:00 – 15:30 (Sun Brunch)
Dinner
19:00 – 22:30 (Mon - Thu)
18:30 – 23:00 (Fri & Sat)
18:00 – 22:30 (Sun & Bank Holidays)
Lunch
Closed (Monday)
12:00 – 14:30 (Tue – Sat)
12:00 – 15:30 (Sun Brunch)
Dinner
19:00 – 22:30 (Mon - Thu)
18:30 – 23:00 (Fri & Sat)
18:00 – 22:30 (Sun & Bank Holidays)
The Blue Elephant Picture Gallery
All In London Review
New location has a fantastically serene atmosphere and great views
We exit the station, disorientated and amid hoards of Scandinavians clutching trolleys – has the Crossrail been inaugurated here? Rows of identikit luxury apartments à la Canary Wharf seem to have sprang up out of nowhere, as if they could all be flat-packed and transported elsewhere once the Olympic Games are done with. It’s Friday lunchtime and eerily quiet as we stroll towards the river, so either they are still largely uninhabited or everyone is out at work.
The first thing we notice about Blue Elephant is the seductive scent of jasmine hanging in the air. Exotic looking plants have been freshly arranged; corners are filled with cabinets and columns made from dark wood which we expect to start creaking any minute, but sadly they don’t. Large French doors give away the sweeping views of the river (and of the adjacent helipad we’re fortunate enough to see in use during our meal – there must be some incredible soundproofing in place, as we don’t hear a thing). Someone has put a lot of effort into the décor here, and the result is that it doesn’t feel like London at all.
The menu is huge, divided into dishes from the past (complete with historical anecdotes), today and tomorrow. A selection of ‘Thai cuisine of today’ starters includes juicy prawns with minced chicken and crushed peanuts, wrapped in very crisp rice paper. A seafood salad with clear vermicelli is wonderfully zingy, by contrast the deep-fried fish cakes are a little on the stodgy side, and the sweet and sour sauce a bit too cloying.
Blue Elephant’s very own chef Nooror’s ‘Ma Auan’, dating back to the 19th century, is a tasty dish of breaded dumplings made from minced chicken and crab, flavoured with foie gras; the meaty flavour is subtle, the dipping sauce is intensely fiery.
The black cod, another dish from the past, flakes nicely when prodded, and pairs well with a syrupy tamarind sauce. Vegetable Pad Thai is hearty and filling thanks to strips of tofu, crushed peanuts, gingko nuts and crunchy vegetables stirred into the rice noodles.
For dessert we try the jasmine cake, a lightly flavoured, fluffy sponge with a dollop of whipped cream. The caramelised coconut flan is rich and coated with flaked almonds.
In-keeping with the surroundings there are summery cocktails like the pomelo martini, which arrives in a glass the size of my head, quantity aside, it’s a rather mighty combo of vodka, limoncello and Cointreau - oh and there’s grapefruit juice of course.
While food is good it may be a bit too fusion-ey for some, and there are certainly cheaper options (a meal for two is around £100), but the new venue boasts a fantastically serene atmosphere which hopefully won’t be disturbed if the river-facing terrace becomes a hit on sunny days.
Reviewed by Leila
Published on May 24, 2012
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User Reviews
pandora
Sep 16, 2008
I've been to Blue Elephant quite a few times now and I have yet to be disappointed. The food is fresh and well prepared. Service friendly and attentive. I look forward for the next visit.
sarahpilates
Sep 18, 2007
We loved the Blue Elephant. Our first wedding anniversary and we arrived to the most incredible settings and felt like we were back on our honeymoon again. We didn't even notice that the restaurant was full. We sat along side the river and watched the fish. The vegetarian menu was incredible and we ate so many different types of thai food. Service was wonderful. We were SO spoilt all night long. Watch out for the cabs outside. Whilst it was fantastic to have the lovely cars offered to you, they cost about twice the price of a black cab! Otherwise... the best. Try it for a special ocassion.
Vanessa Ward
Dec 22, 2005
Wednesday December 21st, 2005.
I choose Blue Elephant for my partner’s birthday dinner as it was recommended as one of the most romantic restaurants in London. Oh, how wrong can some people be? I understand that this is the silly season and as such people are dining out more than the norm but tell me, how can a 350 seat restaurant be ‘romantic’ at any time of the year? Simply put, it can’t!
That aside, I’ll let you in on my ‘dining’ experience at the Blue Elephant, the first thoughts that came to mind when I walked through the entrance were ‘Oh my god, are we in the right place?’, ‘This is going to be interesting’ and finally ‘are you sure you want to eat here?’.
So we handed in out c
I choose Blue Elephant for my partner’s birthday dinner as it was recommended as one of the most romantic restaurants in London. Oh, how wrong can some people be? I understand that this is the silly season and as such people are dining out more than the norm but tell me, how can a 350 seat restaurant be ‘romantic’ at any time of the year? Simply put, it can’t!
That aside, I’ll let you in on my ‘dining’ experience at the Blue Elephant, the first thoughts that came to mind when I walked through the entrance were ‘Oh my god, are we in the right place?’, ‘This is going to be interesting’ and finally ‘are you sure you want to eat here?’.
So we handed in out c
Paul Michael
Nov 4, 2005
Blue Elephant. A legacy of the past in the bustling heart of Fulham Broadway, buy your stash on the way to your table from one of the many traders near the tube station. You will need something to take your mind off the dire re-heated, bacteriologically-challenged 'food'. The streams running around the restaurant add an ambience redolent of a malaria-infested creek in some far eastern shanty town. If you are lucky, you will hear the cries of the long-standing customers, whom time has passed by, saying 'this is moy foyvorit restooront'. Ignore them at your peril, for montezuma will surely strike you down within a few short hours.
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