HAVING only ever been a buffet girl at Kuti’s Royal Thai Pier I ventured into the world of a la carte on my last visit. And what a world it is.

Although slightly pricier than your average Thai in Southampton you can certainly taste the difference, as the freshness and quality of produce shines through in every dish.

The cuisine is fast becoming a popular make-at-home curry but if you want a classy, expertly presented and lovingly prepared experience of all things Thai then Kuti’s is the place to go.

My dining partner and I began with the starter for two, a good way of getting a real experience of the various flavours and styles of Thai cooking. The presentation was stunning and the platter of fishcakes, sesame toast, barbecue wings and chicken satay was by far the best either of us had ever experienced. The standard accompaniment of sweet chilli dipping sauce was no where in sight, dispensed with in favour of a selection of dips and sauces, each one a real compliment to the starter dishes on offer.

We then went for the corn-fed chicken green curry, a good benchmark for any Thai restaurant, accompanied by a noodle dish of Phad Thai and a tiger prawn salad (Phla Goong).

To say that the salad knocked my socks off would be an under statement. It was a wonderful fresh creation of hot, sweet, sour and above all freshness that made it a true treat for the tastebuds. Each mouthful threw up a different combination of flavours making each plump prawn an experience to savour.

The green curry (Gaeng Kiew Wan) was faultless while the Phad Thai was head and shoulders above anything carrying the same name I had eaten before.

Kuti’s Royal Thai Pier is very clear in its market and makes no apologies for offering a more stylish and sophisticated Thai experience, using the best of ingredients.

The buffet still remains the popular choice for most of the diners who walk into the lovingly restored building, but my advice would be to turn that extra page in the menu and treat yourself to something really special.

Kuti’s Royal Thai Pier The Royal Pier, Gate House Town Quay, Southampton SO14 2AQ 023 8033 9211 kutis.co.uk