When Chilli Joe Thai Cuisine reopened after a six month break, the South West Voice was one of the first to book a table for lunch.
And we’re glad we went to the Campbelltown Bowling Club last Friday because we can report that Chilli Joe Thai Cuisine is back with a bang.
The food is as good as ever and the only difference now is that it is being prepared in a brand new, modern kitchen.
As for Chilli Joe, pictured above with son Thanat (Foil) and wife Charida (Nam) in front of that kitchen, he was ecstatic with the response to his reopening.
“I just didn’t expect this, on the first day back,’’ he said.
He told the Voice he was fully booked for dinner on Friday and Saturday night, with solid numbers for lunch on the weekend, as well.
“It’s amazing,’’ he said, referring to the lack of notice that they were reopening.
On Monday he told us that almost 250 Chilli Joe Thai Cuisine fans had been through his new look restaurant inside the bowlo’, which has seating for just over 60 diners.
A Campbelltown restaurant legend, Chilli Joe came to prominence with Thai Chilli, which won the best Sydney Thai restaurant award.
Chilli Joe moved his operation – and the best Thai food in Macarthur – to Wests Leagues club at Leumeah.
When that venture ended, Joe and Nam started dishing out their great food from the Campbelltown Bowling club kitchen.
The club is owned by Campbelltown Catholic Club, who decided to close it down for a makeover inside the premises.
After six months Joe and Nam were able to move back in, with a gleaming new kitchen at their disposal.
Nam, who does the cooking these days, along with Thanat, was especially pleased to have modern facilities at her disposal.
But as they say, the proof of the pudding is in the eating, and those guests at the South West Voice table devoured the delicious steamed dim sims, crispy prawns, Penang chicken curry and coconut rice, among others.
Chilli Joe says trading hours have not changed, with Wednesday to Sunday lunch at 12 noon to 2.30pm, and dinner 5.30pm to 9pm.
For those from out of town, the bowlo is located on the corner of Browne and Howe Streets, Campbelltown.
Phone 4625 1043 or 0451 917 956 or check out the Chilli Joe Thai Cuisine page on Facebook.
