A job perk such as a corporate lunch is one of those treats that you always look forward to. And when it’s lunch with nice people, where you don’t need to thrash out any deals, all the better for it. Today Voldemort and I are being taken out to lunch by Y, K and Pete to Longrain.

I have lots of good, but misty memories of Longrain. Misty and blurred since they were so long ago. I recall waiting at the bar for almost an hour for a table (they have a no bookings policy at dinner) but that was no hardship, it was one of those gloriously posey bars where perching on a banquette or lounge is the policy.

Today, in the light of day, I see that little has changed. The interior looks the same as always and the long shared table in the main dining room is full of suited diners. We’re led to the semi private room around the corner where smaller tables sit without having to share the enormous communal tables. It’s a good thing as it’s warmer and slightly quieter there (although by no means is it quiet).

Eggnet with pork, prawns, peanut, bean sprouts and sweet vinegar $28.50

Our selections are made to share and are a mix of textures and flavours. The first to arrive is the Eggnet with pork, prawns, peanut, bean sprouts and sweet vinegar. A spidery fishing net of egg omelette embraces an enormous mound of bean sprouts, prawns and pork, like a catch of the day bounty. The peanut and ginger flavour is strong and tangy.

Crisp duck with banana blossom pomelo and sweet fish sauce $42

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It’s not often that my husband suggests that we visit a place to eat. I know, deep down, he hopes that I will give up the food reviewing portion of my blog and just do cooking. Not that he is a killjoy or trying to kitchen enslave me, rather he was brought up not going to restaurants. Apparently the one time that his family went, as they were raw food vegans it ended up causing such a kerfuffle it gave him Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. However this day, he was so fascinated by the enormous queues spilling out of Satang Thai that he actually suggested that we go.

The reason why there are such queues? The price apparently and it’s prime location right near UTS University. The food must also be good as there are a huge number of eateries to choose from. It’s 9.15pm on a Wednesday night when we arrive and still there are crowds outside, mostly students waiting for takeaway. We take a table right at the front and decide on our order. There are dishes starting at $5 for a thai soup with chicken to $6.50 for BBQ pork and noodles. There’s only one dish that breaks the $9.80 price barrier at $13.50. I order and pay up front and we take our seat and wait. There are only enough seats for 20 people to eat in and for most of the students around us, it’s probably easier to eat at home.

We’re waiting for between 5-10 minutes for our meal and once it arrives it looks and smells good. There is a slightly creepy sensation as if we are being watched. I turn around as I feel all eyes upon us. Indeed the large crowd on the footpath awaiting their takeaway are hungry and are feasting upon our food with their eyes. They’re fairly close and it feels like there are 20 other people seated at our table but not eating. Slightly creepy. Next time we’ll get a table inside if we can.

I try the Drunky Chicken noodles ($8.50). I’m not certain what makes it Drunky but it’s quite delicious. It’s heady in garlic and that fragrant licoricey Thai basil. The chicken pieces are clumped together and there are other vegetables and egg in it as well as thick rice noodles evenly coated with the garlicky, sweet scented sauce.

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Wockbar is a noodle chain that “gave birth” in Manly and spread out into the North Shore from there. Alongside a flyer announcing newer locations in Dee Why and one in nearby Neutral Bay, we also received a buy 2 mains get third free coupon with our mailer. I’m a freebie slut so I need no more persuasion.

Its 7pm on a Saturday night and its not particularly crowded with two other tables having finished their meals but as we sit down and peruse the menu the restaurant fills, mostly with older clientele. Where are the younguns? They’re taking the food away from the take away section to the left of the restaurant and it seems like they are doing so in droves.

I confess now that I knew what to order through examining the menu studiously prior to the visit. There aren’t many seafood or duck dishes with most being chicken or beef. In fact there’s only one seafood dish, a Prawn Pad Thai which we order and only one duck dish being the Roast Duck Curry which I also order. My husband’s favourite Thai dish is the Thai Beef Salad so this is also selected. A lot of food we know but this was to take advantage of the offer you see. Unusually for an asian eatery, there is a dessert selection.

We seem to have beaten the rush and our orders arrive 5- 10 minutes later. They’re fabulous looking curled leaf shaped bowls and I want to appropriate some for myself immediately such is my impressed response when seeing our plates coming towards us.

Prawn Pad Thai $15.90

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