15 Nov Son in Law, Collingwood

I didn’t even know Bayte had closed down until I saw the Son in Law shop signs start to pop up. I was a little sad to see Bayte go, but having heard interesting things about this newcomer I paid it a visit one late night. Tony Rungapradit and his wife, Oh, opened up Son in Law after owning Chapel Street’s Ayatana. The menu offers contemporary and affordable Thai cuisine, and a bar. It’s retained the split-level design and outdoor seating area from Bayte. As well as creative and modern interpretations of popular Thai dishes, there are fusion dishes like braised beef tacos and tamarind noodle salad.

The crispy barramundi fillets were coated in roasted dry chilli and flavoured with mint, coriander, red onion and roasted ground rice. The slightly firm but still moist flesh was tangy and tingling with spice. They certainly didn’t hold back on the chilli!

Twice Cooked Crispy Pork Belly – Stir-fried with Chilli Jam, Green Beans, Bean Shoots and Kaffir Lime Leaves ($16)

For my larger plate, the twice-cooked crispy pork belly was on the cards. Stir fried with chilli jam, green beans, bean shoots and kaffir lime leaves, the pork belly arrived on the table red and glistening. The skin was more chewy than crispy, and some pieces were a bit dry. It was a shame because the flavours were great. It wasn’t as sweet as other versions of twice-cooked pork belly, yet still had satisfying, punchy flavours.

Son in Law provides this quieter end of Johnston street a hip and casual place to enjoy modern but unpretentious Thai cuisine.

Son in Law
56 Johnston St
Collingwood, VIC, 3066
(03) 9410 0399
www.soninlaw.com.au/