Colonel Tan’s

Run by Karen Batson of Cookie and The Toff in Town fame, the food was always going to be pretty good. Thai meets American diner might be a strange culinary concept, but when it puts dishes like kaffir lime chicken nuggets with chilli dipping sauce on the menu, there’s little doubt it’s going to work.

If there’s a signature dish, it would have to be the Bangkok Bolognaise – a twisted, spiced up version of the classic that will draw diners back time and time again. Better yet they can afford to return on a regular basis. Colonel Tan’s is far less expensive than its CBD cousins. Mains are all under $15, keeping the menu squarely within reach of the local student set.

Found within the infamous night spot, Revolver – for a huge, high-ceilinged warehouse, Colonel Tan’s is also surprisingly cosy. Warm orange lights soften eclectic furniture, while the retro design mixes vinyl, pineapple-print tablecloths with playable Nintendo 64s. Like its city counterparts, the drinks list is much larger than the menu and has a very strong selection of beers and cocktails – an entire page is dedicated to rehabilitating the much-maligned spritzer.