Wow! What a fabulous meal with staff that are amazing! The beef pan yang was out of this world! The best Thai food I ever tasted in ages! The satay chicken starter was amazing with such lovely flavours too! Definitely recommend 5*
Mohammed V
Went here for dinner with my wife as a birthday meal. The food was fantastic and the best Thai food I have ever had. The staff were a joy to communicate with and all so friendly, they were so accommodating and even sang happy birthday and bought out some dessert with a candle. Highly recommend and will definitely visit again. Mr Tik is amazing and a true gentleman.
AMartin12345
Had such an amazing meal at Carey’s Thai restaurant, the staff were so friendly and the food was first class. The food tastes just like it does it Thailand it’s quite remarkable. I think it’s the best Thai restaurant in the U.K. ?
Jo200200
Best Thai food in the New Forest, in a lovely calm atmosphere with great service (from Ming). This was my first visit but will definitely be back
Flur H
My recent dining experience at Zen Garden was nothing short of a gastronomic revelation, transporting me back to the vibrant flavours of Southeast Asia with every delicious bite. Having lived in Asia for almost a decade, the authenticity and exquisite taste of Zen Garden's offerings were a nostalgic and delightful surprise. The menu at Zen Garden truly captures the essence of Southeast Asian cuisine, and each dish reflects a meticulous dedication to authenticity. As someone who has explored the diverse culinary landscape of the region, I can confidently say that Zen Garden stands out as a beacon of true Southeast Asian flavours. The attention to detail in recreating the distinct balance of spicy, sweet, sour, and creamy notes synonymous with Thai cooking was truly commendable. A standout recommendation that left an indelible mark on my taste buds was the Meang Pla. This dish was a symphony of flavours, perfectly combining the freshness of ingredients with an exquisite blend of spices. The tamarind duck was another masterpiece that showcased Zen Garden's culinary expertise, delivering a perfect balance of tanginess and succulence. To conclude the culinary journey, we opted for the banana fritters, and they were the perfect sweet finale to an extraordinary meal. Crispy on the outside, warm and tender on the inside, the banana fritters were a delightful homage to the indulgent treats found in Southeast Asian street markets. Beyond the exceptional food, the atmosphere at Zen Garden complemented the dining experience beautifully. The ambiance was warm and inviting, adding an extra layer of enjoyment to the feast before us. In essence, Zen Garden has not only mastered the art of Southeast Asian cuisine but has also succeeded in capturing the soul of the region's culinary heritage. For anyone in search of an authentic and truly satisfying taste of Southeast Asia, Zen Garden comes highly recommended. The dedication to flavour, the commitment to authenticity, and the warm hospitality make Zen Garden a culinary gem that deserves every accolade. Kudos to the chefs and staff for creating a dining experience that transcends borders and brings the heart of Southeast Asia to our plates.
Tom Ostaszewski
Lovely food, had the sea bass for the starter which was done well and then had the lamb shank for the main which was great. The broccoli side was very under cooked and once the kitchen had closed the waiting staff seemed to disappear. They didn't charge me for the broccoli side which I appreciate but considering the price of the meal its basics. My starter arrived 5 mins after ordering and I had to ask for the main to come a bit later. I was told I could have 15 mins before my main which is fine but it came out after about 6 mins. The restaurant its self is delightful but I'm really disappointed in the service.
Zeena Mohedeen
This is one of those places where if I could give a “no star” review I would. Although the staff are quite sweet, if you’re used to authentic Thai flavours then best to give this place a wide birth. Som Tom salad with no garlic or chilli, pad thai that basically had a ketchup sauce wrapped around the noodles and a green curry that had boiled to death chicken breast and thin green flavourless sauce. Not to forget over cooked boiled broccoli with no flavour. After complaining about the poor standard, the manager did offer to take off the starters from the bill, but £74 for two mains which were inedible and two teas…??? In London, the flavours in Thai restaurants are so authentic, and you would never pay such a ridiculous price for just two mains and some tea! Not a place for anyone who has ever eaten real Thai food.
Emily E
Had a fabulous dinner here, the service was fantastic from Ming and the food was top notch! The lamb massiman and pad Thai were perfect! Thank you!
10chris02
Located in the Careys Manor Hotel, it was one of the 3 choices for dining. Given we had not had a Thai meal for a while, we decided to give it a go and we were very pleased we did! As is quite often when eating Thai food, my wife went with the King Prawn Tom Yam soup which she really enjoyed. For me it was the ‘Meana Pla’ - basically a deep fried crispy sea bass served with cashew nuts, ginger, lime, lemon grass and a chilli dressing. Absolutely delicious! For the mains, it was Pad Cha for the wife - a crispy fried seabass fillet with a spicy red curry sauce with peppercorn - which she loved while for me it was seabass again i.e. the Pla Krapong Nueng Manow dish. This time the seabass was steamed and served with pak choi and a lemon chilli dressing. Another great dish. The one slight drawback was the white wine - a Sancerre if I remember correctly. Nothing wrong with the taste but definitely ‘overpriced’! However, it did not spoil what was a lovely meal in a restaurant with plenty of ambiance. Would recommend to anybody!
Amazing food and wonderful service. Some of the best food I have eaten.
AmandaS
Lovely stay at Carey's Manor and a gorgeous meal at Zen. Excellent service and the food is so fresh and tasty. Would definitely recommend to others.
taram
Terrible experience they shut at 2pm. We were 15 mins late due to traffic and they didnt let us in. Travelled 4 hours. Disappointed its summer and it is a hotel with tourist location to be shut at 2pm. Why market yourself in the first place.
SteveC
Table Service was warm and friendly, starters were excellent ( Tom Kai), but main courses are restricted and not authentic Thai cooked, the green curry was far too sweet and the chicken was not freshly cooked and chewy, the Mosimum Curry although a tasty sauce, the lamb was not cooked fresh, hard to chew and over sweetened. The Thai beer was also served at room temperature, this would have been more palatable from the fridge and all the dishes appear to be overpriced in comparison to our local Thai Restaurants either in London or Orpington.
SteveM
A beautiful setting with excellent food & wonderful service. Definately will be returning & highly recommend
Best green curry I’ve had in a very long time !
Wow! What a fabulous meal with staff that are amazing! The beef pan yang was out of this world! The best Thai food I ever tasted in ages! The satay chicken starter was amazing with such lovely flavours too! Definitely recommend 5*
Went here for dinner with my wife as a birthday meal. The food was fantastic and the best Thai food I have ever had. The staff were a joy to communicate with and all so friendly, they were so accommodating and even sang happy birthday and bought out some dessert with a candle. Highly recommend and will definitely visit again. Mr Tik is amazing and a true gentleman.
Had such an amazing meal at Carey’s Thai restaurant, the staff were so friendly and the food was first class. The food tastes just like it does it Thailand it’s quite remarkable. I think it’s the best Thai restaurant in the U.K. ?
Best Thai food in the New Forest, in a lovely calm atmosphere with great service (from Ming). This was my first visit but will definitely be back
My recent dining experience at Zen Garden was nothing short of a gastronomic revelation, transporting me back to the vibrant flavours of Southeast Asia with every delicious bite. Having lived in Asia for almost a decade, the authenticity and exquisite taste of Zen Garden's offerings were a nostalgic and delightful surprise. The menu at Zen Garden truly captures the essence of Southeast Asian cuisine, and each dish reflects a meticulous dedication to authenticity. As someone who has explored the diverse culinary landscape of the region, I can confidently say that Zen Garden stands out as a beacon of true Southeast Asian flavours. The attention to detail in recreating the distinct balance of spicy, sweet, sour, and creamy notes synonymous with Thai cooking was truly commendable. A standout recommendation that left an indelible mark on my taste buds was the Meang Pla. This dish was a symphony of flavours, perfectly combining the freshness of ingredients with an exquisite blend of spices. The tamarind duck was another masterpiece that showcased Zen Garden's culinary expertise, delivering a perfect balance of tanginess and succulence. To conclude the culinary journey, we opted for the banana fritters, and they were the perfect sweet finale to an extraordinary meal. Crispy on the outside, warm and tender on the inside, the banana fritters were a delightful homage to the indulgent treats found in Southeast Asian street markets. Beyond the exceptional food, the atmosphere at Zen Garden complemented the dining experience beautifully. The ambiance was warm and inviting, adding an extra layer of enjoyment to the feast before us. In essence, Zen Garden has not only mastered the art of Southeast Asian cuisine but has also succeeded in capturing the soul of the region's culinary heritage. For anyone in search of an authentic and truly satisfying taste of Southeast Asia, Zen Garden comes highly recommended. The dedication to flavour, the commitment to authenticity, and the warm hospitality make Zen Garden a culinary gem that deserves every accolade. Kudos to the chefs and staff for creating a dining experience that transcends borders and brings the heart of Southeast Asia to our plates.
Lovely food, had the sea bass for the starter which was done well and then had the lamb shank for the main which was great. The broccoli side was very under cooked and once the kitchen had closed the waiting staff seemed to disappear. They didn't charge me for the broccoli side which I appreciate but considering the price of the meal its basics. My starter arrived 5 mins after ordering and I had to ask for the main to come a bit later. I was told I could have 15 mins before my main which is fine but it came out after about 6 mins. The restaurant its self is delightful but I'm really disappointed in the service.
This is one of those places where if I could give a “no star” review I would. Although the staff are quite sweet, if you’re used to authentic Thai flavours then best to give this place a wide birth. Som Tom salad with no garlic or chilli, pad thai that basically had a ketchup sauce wrapped around the noodles and a green curry that had boiled to death chicken breast and thin green flavourless sauce. Not to forget over cooked boiled broccoli with no flavour. After complaining about the poor standard, the manager did offer to take off the starters from the bill, but £74 for two mains which were inedible and two teas…??? In London, the flavours in Thai restaurants are so authentic, and you would never pay such a ridiculous price for just two mains and some tea! Not a place for anyone who has ever eaten real Thai food.
Had a fabulous dinner here, the service was fantastic from Ming and the food was top notch! The lamb massiman and pad Thai were perfect! Thank you!
Located in the Careys Manor Hotel, it was one of the 3 choices for dining. Given we had not had a Thai meal for a while, we decided to give it a go and we were very pleased we did! As is quite often when eating Thai food, my wife went with the King Prawn Tom Yam soup which she really enjoyed. For me it was the ‘Meana Pla’ - basically a deep fried crispy sea bass served with cashew nuts, ginger, lime, lemon grass and a chilli dressing. Absolutely delicious! For the mains, it was Pad Cha for the wife - a crispy fried seabass fillet with a spicy red curry sauce with peppercorn - which she loved while for me it was seabass again i.e. the Pla Krapong Nueng Manow dish. This time the seabass was steamed and served with pak choi and a lemon chilli dressing. Another great dish. The one slight drawback was the white wine - a Sancerre if I remember correctly. Nothing wrong with the taste but definitely ‘overpriced’! However, it did not spoil what was a lovely meal in a restaurant with plenty of ambiance. Would recommend to anybody!
Restaurantji Recommends
Amazing food and wonderful service. Some of the best food I have eaten.
Lovely stay at Carey's Manor and a gorgeous meal at Zen. Excellent service and the food is so fresh and tasty. Would definitely recommend to others.
Terrible experience they shut at 2pm. We were 15 mins late due to traffic and they didnt let us in. Travelled 4 hours. Disappointed its summer and it is a hotel with tourist location to be shut at 2pm. Why market yourself in the first place.
Table Service was warm and friendly, starters were excellent ( Tom Kai), but main courses are restricted and not authentic Thai cooked, the green curry was far too sweet and the chicken was not freshly cooked and chewy, the Mosimum Curry although a tasty sauce, the lamb was not cooked fresh, hard to chew and over sweetened. The Thai beer was also served at room temperature, this would have been more palatable from the fridge and all the dishes appear to be overpriced in comparison to our local Thai Restaurants either in London or Orpington.
A beautiful setting with excellent food & wonderful service. Definately will be returning & highly recommend