Thali Tray: A delicious, customisable Indian experience

By Ania Askwith

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Thali Tray, 85 Goldspink Lane, Sandyford, Newcastle, NE2 1NQ

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We’ve been huge fans of Thali Tray since our friends introduced us to this place a few years ago, so when they opened a new branch in Sandyford, naturally we had to give it a try!

Stunning decor and lovely atmosphere
The decor is stunning—modern yet cosy with a lovely, really chilled vibe. I just adored all the real plants making the place feel very much like a restaurant in a holiday destination.

And the cute decor set the scene for a great evening.

Beautiful cocktails
The drinks were STUNNING! We tried three of their cocktails:

• old friends margarita; a classic and perfectly made; I loved it.
• dirty chai martini; if you like espresso martinis—this is one to try. As delicious as the OG, but with a lovely twist. A little bit like a dessert at the end of your meal.
• mango lassi clarified pina colada (the most UNUSUAL cocktail I’d ever tried; refined, sophisticated, and sooo delicious! It is nothing like you’d expect it but I don’t want to spoil it for you; you have to try it.)

Delicious food
And onto the most important thing; the food. We came to expect Thali Tray to serve outstanding food, and this time was no different. The food here really is fantastic.

Each tray includes two curries, as well as soyawadi, cardamom turmeric rice, lime pickle, and fresh chillies (which look innocent but are HOT so approach with caution – I’ve learnt my lesson the hard way!).

There are several choices and you can even mix and create your own thali tray, but we went with the set options.

I had the vegetarian Punjabi thali, which consisted of:

• chickpea chole. A hearty Punjabi-style tomato and onion curry with tender chickpeas, bursting with robust, spicy (but not too hot) flavours.
• spinach & mushroom Palak (A garlic and tomato sauce of mushrooms and spinach; perfectly spiced for a comforting, flavourful experience.)

I also opted for the cheese garlic naan, which was divine! I could just have it on its own as a pizza—just yum!

Ryan went for the Goan thali, which included:

• pork belly vindaloo (Indo-Portuguese classic, unlike the British counterpart—you have to try it!)
• chicken xacuti (thigh fillet stewed in a thick spiced masala) with a garlic naan.

Everything was perfectly spicy, and you could really taste each of the ingredients highlighted on the menu in the most balanced, delicious way! Everything seems to be there for a good reason and each ingredient complements the others.  

The portions are great for a lunch or early dinner.

Location
Thali Tray offers Indian street food experiences in two Newcastle locations; Bealim House (Located in the heart of Newcastle, close to St. James’ Park) and Sandyford (Situated in the suburban area of Sandyford)

Tips for visiting

• Try the cocktails: Their unique cocktails are a must-try and complement the food perfectly. The mango lassi clarified pina colada is an experience on its own.
• While both of their venues are lovely in their own way, Sandyford branch is a little more casual and features a coffee shop called Kaapi, perfect for coffee -to-cocktail catch ups
• Experiment with the trays; while we picked the set menus this time, we often like to mix and match their trays, and we found they always work well. The quality is always consistent, but you get to enjoy a different meal every time.

Reviews
Thali Tray has received excellent reviews with an overall rating of 4.7 stars on Google Reviews and 4.6 stars on TripAdvisor, which I think reflects its popularity and the high quality of its food.

Website

For more details, visit Thali Tray’s website: Thali Tray

Best for: Thali tray, Indian food, curry, casual dining

Enjoyed this post? If you love discovering things to do, places to go, and the best spots to eat and drink in the North East and beyond, be sure to follow my blog for more reviews, recommendations, travel tips, and hidden gems. And for a closer look at my day-to-day experiences, follow me on Instagram @ania.askwith for behind-the-scenes content and even more discoveries! Let’s explore together!

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