The Railway - Cheltenham

I went to this restaurant for lunch with my parents. The food was incredibly tasty and reasonably priced. I highly recommend trying the tofu curry - it was delicious!

The service at this restaurant was extremely slow, despite the efforts of the staff. When we asked the waiter for descriptions of the dishes, he seemed unsure. The restaurant was very cold with no heating, and when our food was served it was stone cold. After sending it back, it returned a few minutes later slightly warmer. While the food had a nice taste, it was not worth the price.

Initially thought as being ‘just a pub’, I continue to amaze myself in how idiotic I can be. If this were a review for ‘just a pub’ – which I won’t do because I’m neither old enough nor inflated enough to make ale comments on...par with CAMRA – then this would be over in a few lines. However, just as Marie Curie discovered radioactivity I too have made an astounding finding. The Railway produces some of the best Thai food I have ever eaten. The odd mix of pub and Thai food appears to be more common throughout the country and it’s easy to see why, especially when an establishment nails it such as this. Keeping with ‘pub vibes’ The Railway hand selects the best brews from around the area (and sometimes beyond) to give you sense of choice but without the risk of selecting something you won’t like. It’s all good. The staff are knowledgeable and appear genuinely interested in the products they offer. Let’s all admit that this can be a nice distraction until the kitchen opens, then the real treat begins. Pub food or more nauseatingly called – ‘Pub Grub’ – doesn’t get any more better that what’s on offer at The Railway. Now a Freehouse, there is a specialised menu which I’m told is forever changing that boasts flavours typical with the cuisine but with barbequed and smoked meats. The classics remain, chicken satay, spicy duck, crispy tofu; but dare ye who venture forth to experience some perhaps unheard of Thai street food such as a Bangkok curry, Weeping Tiger Sirloin and Grapow roasted Duck Breast. I know you can read a menu, so I’ll stop there but everything I’ve mentioned is cooked to perfection so there’s none of that ‘Oh they got that dish, I wanted that dish, I don’t like my dish, I want that dish’ envy. It’s all good. If you’re looking for something different then this is the answer, if you’re not looking for something different, this is still the answer.

This pub, located on the outskirts of the town center, is pleasant and quite busy. They offer a variety of ales on tap, including one on cask.

Best meal I’ve had in a long time. The food was absolutely mind blowing. Delicious, fresh and flavoursome, you could tell everything was made in house. Hands down the best place to eat in Cheltenham. Added bonus very cute beer garden with a lovely...atmosphere and the staff were also really accommodating and attentive. We’ll be back next week!