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So Asia
69 High Street,
Camberley,
Surrey
GU15 3RB
Tel: 01276 29138 / 29078
http://www.so-asia.com
A cold and frosty January Tuesday evening took me from my home in Wokingham, via Bracknell and into Camberley to visit the nerve centre of an exciting and attractive growing collection of restaurants bearing the name So Asia, a name reflective of the essence of the buffet style restaurant where the diner is able to make numerous visits to the extensive buffet.
Scott, my guest for the evening had already visited the Slough branch whilst I had a recent opportunity to visit the latest in the group, the Acton restaurant to enjoy a meal with a college colleague.
Warm in temperature, even warmer in welcome this was a culinary haven in the darkness and depressing month of January, but there was no sign of either a depressive attitude or indeed signs of an economic downturn in this brightly lit and colourful restaurant with so many dishes on offer.
To describe the menu as extensive would be an understatement, there are dishes for everyone here, and a few more as well!
The menu covers three key geographical as well as culinary areas representing China, India and Thailand, with a sprinkling of additional influences as well as a touch of Nepal, from the founder of the group, Ashok Shrestha, to his influence on the drinks menu, including a fine Ghurka beer.
For those doubting the validity of my memory relating to the range of the menu have a careful look at the attached.
Now with that much choice, a warm and welcoming restaurant, energetic and professional staff missing little as they pass table removing empty plates, topping up drinks and offering suggestions to newcomers you and I may share the view that this is a culinary heaven.
You would be correct with that assumption!
So Asia promises to deliver and delivers what it promises. It is certainly not pretentious; it accepts that it is not attempting to deliver \\\'fine dining\\\' as we know it, it is aiming for great value for money meals where friends and families can share good food in a warm and friendly environment.
Scott, my resident expert, and I thoroughly enjoyed our visit, without doubt offering value for money whilst at the same time removing any doubt about the joy of such buffet restaurants. I am aware that a number of potential diners fight shy of such establishments where they have little appreciation of the attention to detail and attitude of the professionals in buffet culinary circles.
I have seen a number of buffet style restaurants where scant attention is paid to the freshness of cleanliness of each container, a real recipe for disaster with the chances of a hospital visit to follow such lack of food hygiene.
Nothing could be further from the truth at So Asia, with such attention to detail from the chefs, wiping, cleaning, refreshing and replenishing the numerous containers which, with such levels of hungry diners awaiting their turn, were replenished with speed and professionalism, a lesson to others in this bright and attractive part of food industry, and one that thus far has been neglected.
So Asia, a stunning concept transformed into culinary reality through the vision of Ashok Shrestha, has encompassed all that is positive about a modern, imaginative and highly professional buffet restaurant. A menu understated in its description as extensive, a team of professionals in and out of the kitchen, a modern and inviting environment all combine to create a culinary recipe for success.
That very success saw us follow a table of friends to the buffet for our initial visit, returning with an array of starters to set us on the path to contentment for the evening. Scott\\\'s love of mussels saw him return to our table happy, noodles and mushrooms alongside his favourite starter. I selected a range of noodles, mushrooms, prawns and chilli chicken for my first encounter with the buffet, one of several to ensure that I tasted a range of samples in order to report back to you!
The alternative version being my opportunity to try as many of my favourite dishes under one roof at one time, a lover of food this was certainly a visit to savour, but an uphill struggle for all but the fittest and hungriest diner in the land!
Washed down with our Nepalese beers this was heaven in the evening, relaxed dining with friends, no aye on the clock, no deadline to be back in the office. Sitting so near to the actual buffet gave us both the opportunity to view and appreciate the tastes of others, including one or two attempting to gain entry to the Guinness Book of Records for the greatest pyramid of food in one visit - there is always one in every restaurant.
Our second visit enable us to enjoy a culinary journey around Asia, with me returning with Beef in Black Bean Sauce, Chicken Jalfrezi and a selection of noodles and rice, a \\\'tapas style\\\' pleasure for me, without having to share my plate of pleasure with anyone else. Fresh food, wonderful ingredients and in quantities of my choice, a little here, a lot more there.......
Scott was equally delighted with his Asian collection of dishes spanning at least three countries cuisine, with matching noodles, said little whilst tasting his way around the Orient and beyond other than murmuring complements about the food and saying how he would be delighted to return, again and again.
Looking around the lengthy dining room there were a number of diners who knew the system, the routine and the food. Many had returned again and again, but then when you find a gem in a sea of rough uncut gems then you will return tine and time again. Value for money in a relaxed yet professional atmosphere where you are treated like royalty, we certainly ate like Kings and yes, we shall return to see Dipa Gurung and her colleagues. She provided a warm welcome on behalf of her team, ensured everyone in the restaurant left as happy and contented diners and reflected the very professionalism that is So Asia.
Alan McColm with help from Scott.
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Alan McColm is QFOL's Restaurant Critic and Travel reviewer. Alan is working all over the country ... more
