A four-centuries old stonemason's cottage at the end of a row of terraced houses hard by Exeter cathedral is the unlikely setting for this smart, peaceful and surprisingly upmarket Thai restaurant. It enjoys a loyal local following in the town, the atmosphere is pleasing and the cooking is on sure ground.

Express lunches and plates of noodles hit the button for a high-speed spicy fix, and the full 140-dish menu works its way confidently through most of the staples of the cuisine. To start there are authentic renditions of satays, fishcakes and spicy Thai sausages, before a long trek taking in soups, stir-fries, hot-and-sour salads, curries (including chicken with roast peanuts and sweet potato) and noodles. En route, watch out for a few detours down the byways for khai toon (steamed eggs) and kruang nai gai (chicken livers marinated in Thai spices). Drink Thai beer or something white and aromatic from the carefully assembled wine list.

Thai Orchid is also featured in: Good Food Guide

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Thai

Lunch: 12.00 - 2.15pm Mon-Fri
Dinner: 6.30 - 10.30pm Mon-Sat

Visa, Master Card

• Vegetarian menu