All you can eat Thai buffet at Pin Petch, Newport Pagnell

The day after my first birthday meal at The Oakley Arms, we were out again – this time with friends. Normally us girls go out together, but instead we decided on a Sunday family lunch, which was much more civilised. My friend booked Pin Petch, a Thai restaurant in Newport Pagnell. On Sundays you have a choice of the à la carte menu as well as the all you can eat buffet, which is cooked to order. Most of us went for that option, which is priced at £9 for children and £18.50 for adults.

Sadly, I didn't take many photos (literally just the one above) but the food really was good. Unfortunately, the meal was a bit rushed as another large group needed our table for 3pm, so we were there less than two hours. There were twelve of us and I think perhaps we should have been given more time, especially as we were celebrating a joint birthday – my friend’s birthday is also January 16^th!

There are plenty of options on the buffet menu, with a separate menu for vegetarians and vegans so everyone is happy. We began with a mixture of prawn crackers and spicy Thai crackers while we ordered and waited for our starters – and we got a mixed selection for the table. BBQ ribs in a gorgeous sauce, which fell off the bone; super-succulent crispy chicken wings; chicken satay skewers; chunky vegetable spring rolls; and prawn toasts.

We also ordered a portion of sweetcorn fritters, which were on the vegetarian menu and I was pleasantly surprised by these. They were delicious with some sweet chilli dipping sauce. The accompanying sauces were only satay and sweet chilli – and we had to ask for some hoi sin. I was disappointed that by two favourite Thai dipping sauces weren’t on the table – the gorgeous plum, and the pickled vegetable dip that we had at Woburn Thai and Blue Orchid.

For the main courses, we all ended up choosing our own dishes, which meant we were left with a surplus of rice and noodles – but never mind. Alfie just ordered a portion of egg noodles and didn't want anything else. I think maybe he filled up on chicken satay.

Ash and I shared the other dishes, which I ordered and included chicken & cashew nuts, beef in oyster sauce, jasmine rice and Singapore noodles. The noodles were gorgeous, not too spicy, and I could have easily demolished plate after plate. They weren't as good as the ones we normally order from our Chinese, which are packed full of veg, prawns, chicken, and pork, and these just seem to be vegetarian (despite not being on that menu).

I 100% filled up on starters but gave it all a good go. I think between us we tried all the dishes on the menu and the Thai green curry looked and smelt so good. I wish I had ordered a curry now to accompany the rice. Although it was all you can eat, I don't think any of us ordered anymore additional food which was just as well as we didn't have time for desserts or more drinks as our table was needed.

On the buffet menu, the dessert is only fruit platter, but I believe on the à la carte menu there are plenty of other options, and if we'd had desserts I would have probably ordered from there instead.

I would definitely go back to Pin Petch for the buffet, although for the amount that Alfie ate, the price wasn't really worth it. Children under three are free and the children's prices for those under 12 I'd potentially be more inclined to have a look at the à la carte menu, especially for that choice of desserts.

Love, Lucy xx