Within yards of one of Hampshire's most visited attractions and with heavenly food to match the ecclesiastical setting nearby, this is one divine place for a bite to eat.
I returned to popular Thai restaurant chain Giggling Squid 18 months after it opened in a blaze of glory in The Square, opposite Winchester Cathedral, and just a week before a second Hampshire restaurant is added in Portsmouth at Gunwharf Quays.
As the sun set on a glorious summer's day in the historic city centre, my friend and I were shown to a delightful window table with bird cage seats - and plenty of people watching potential.
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We had come to sample some of the new summer specials, as well as the Giggling Squid staples which have been impressing food lovers for more than two decades.
After perusing the menu over a basket of excellent prawn crackers, we settled on two starters to share. The bestselling salt and pepper squid is always a hit while the one bite salmon, crispy fish with lemongrass, lime, ginger, chilli, toasted coconut flakes and fried shallots, drizzled with salty-sweet dressing and nestled on a betel leaf, was most definitely devoured in one mouthful.
To follow, we shared a rather spicy Prawn & Soft Shell Crab curry, a new addition to the menu, and the unexpected hit of the day - Marinated Steak & Crispy Slow Cooked Beef. This meat feast of thinly sliced pink sirloin and crispy beef in a rich sauce was simply sensational.
We washed it all down with a delicious glass of New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc from the extensive wine list, which perfectly complemented the fresh Thai flavours.
It’s now been more than 20 years since co-founders and owners Andy and Pranee Laurillard first dreamt up their Thai tapas menu, hoping to bring the buzz of mealtime in Thailand to the UK. A little fisherman’s cottage in Brighton became the first Giggling Squid in 2002.
The family run business now operates more than 40 venues. The closest restaurants until now were in Salisbury to the west, Chichester to the east and Farnham to the north.
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