After months of no dining out, followed by eating in chilly, windswept beer gardens, the opportunity to dine inside a warm, welcoming restaurant serving delicious food was exactly what was needed. We jumped on the chance to book a table at Giggling Squid in Hove, a local gem that has long been considered the epitome of tasty Thai food served in beautiful surroundings and we certainly weren’t disappointed.

We were still a little apprehensive about eating out, but it was reassuring to see Giggling Squid have good measures in place to keep you safe, once we’d checked in, got seated at our distanced table and used the hand gel we were relaxed and ready for a Thai feast.

When we heard Giggling Squid had undergone a refurbishment over lockdown we worried it might lose some of its original character, as soon as we were allowed to eat inside we couldn’t wait to see for ourselves how the restaurant had changed. We needn’t have worried, once greeted by the friendly staff we took our sunlit seat by the window giving us the opportunity to admire the new refurbishment. With bright colours on the walls, new lighting, and tables the restaurant feels brighter and somehow bigger whilst retaining its sense of authenticity.  

Being a lunchtime date, (I know get us!) we opted for soft drinks to ensure a clear head, glad we did as Giggling Squid serve their very own coconut water, which was so refreshing, the perfect light accompaniment to the food, it almost made me not miss having a glass of wine. While browsing the menu we were served some delicious Thai crackers to munch on while we chose our dishes. Safe to say we were overwhelmed by the mouth-watering options, despite being handed the perfect lunchtime menu with a good range of tapas combos with names like Starving Squid, we struggled to choose our final options. We couldn’t visit a restaurant called Giggling Squid and not opt for, well the squid, so glad we did as we were greeted with a plate of perfectly cooked, butter soft squid encased in a crispy salt and pepper casing, I could have easily ordered this dish again and called it a day at that but then this would be a very short review, so for you dear reader we ordered more deliciousness.

Next up were golden spring rolls in a crisp coating which held well balanced and flavoursome vegetables inside, served with a lovely fresh dipping sauce to cut through, this was the perfect side dish to accompany my Charcoal Noodles with Beansprouts that were a bed to plump, juicy king prawns. My other half opted for a Thai Red Curry and I was eying it up throughout the meal, in the end I had to give it a try and reluctantly sacrificed a prawn in exchange for a spoon of this dish. I am not a fan of hot, spicy food but this had a lovely depth and I was so pleased to have tried it. On the subject of heat Giggling Squid are happy to make dishes hotter or milder depending on your tastebuds, perfect for a chilli avoider like myself. We loved having lots of tapas dishes to try and one of the standout dishes was the Som Tam Papaya Salad, fresh vegetables with fruity papaya to lift made this a perfect side to compliment the curry and the noodles.

Our lovely server asked if we would like the dessert menu and knowing how good their desserts are, I knew I couldn’t leave without something. I finally decided on the Prosecco and Muddled Berry Cheesecake, while my husband went for the Caramelised Mango Cake. The cheesecake was sublime, wonderful creamy filling on a crumbly base that finished the meal off perfectly, although next time I will try the mango cake too judging by how happy my husband was with his choice.

From the new décor, to the friendly welcome and of course the Thai-riffic food (sorry couldn’t resist!) this was the perfect lunch date, nothing was too heavy meaning we could come back to work refreshed and not drowsy. We will be returning for lunch and evening dates, a luxury that we’ve so missed these last few months.  Giggling Squid has long been a Brighton go-to for good, fresh Thai food and visiting again reminded me just how good this gem is. Giggling Squid have restaurants in both Brighton and Hove, both have been revamped with a fresh new look.

Caroline