Shelford.

A few years ago, the idea of a country pub with an extensive Thai menu might have been something worth commenting on. Yet The Three Horseshoes is now one of a growing trend in South Cambridgeshire, albeit a particularly pretty example, housed in a chic little inn close to the village green with white walls and a black picket fence.

When we arrived for dinner, the restaurant was buzzing nicely, popular with locals who fancied something a little more exotic for their evening fare. The décor was clean and contemporary but perhaps threatened to date quickly, with its black-and-white floral wallpaper, stripped wooden floors and Jack-Vettriano-style paintings. However, the real gem was the secluded outdoor area at the side of the building, set back from the road, surrounded by greenery and facing a row of cottages with roses twining round the doors: perfect for a drink or a meal on a warm summer's evening.

Getting down to business, we perused the extensive -if fairly standard -menu, and began with some excellent vegetable tempura with a substantial, rather thick batter and a generous selection of chunky vegetables: broccoli (our personal favourite), onions, baby corn, carrots and red peppers. For the main course, the prawn pad Thai was tasty with a nice helping of sweet, juicy prawns, while the red chicken curry was fresh and spicy, with a strong coconut flavour followed by a piquant hit of heat. The portions were generous and we were unable to squeeze in a dessert, although the traditional 'coconut ice cream in half a coconut' would have hit the spot nicely, if any spot had been left.

Service was extremely pleasant, if occasionally a little laid-back: when we ran out of water it was not replenished, we were not invited to peruse the dessert menu and at the end of the meal we eventually had to ask for our bill at the bar as we had been left alone for quite some time. Daily specials were also mentioned on the menu, but we were not given any indication of these by the serving staff. Nevertheless, these are minor gripes in what was an extremely nice evening with good food.

The Three Horseshoes also offer a takeaway service, and if we lived in the surrounding area this would definitely be something to take regular advantage of. All things considered, The Three Horseshoes does what it says on the tin: 'Simply Great Thai Food' in a small village where you might not expect to find such an establishment.