[caption id="attachment_16011" align="alignright" width="150"]<a href="http://www.yourislandnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/DSC_0110.jpg"><img class="size-thumbnail wp-image-16011" alt="Red curry with mussels, calamari and shrimp." src="http://www.yourislandnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/DSC_0110-150x150.jpg" width="150" height="150" /></a> Red curry with mussels, calamari and shrimp.[/caption]

<b>By Pamela Brownstein</b>

On a recent gorgeous Friday afternoon, the Lunch Bunch met at Papaya, where the outdoor seating area was filled with diners making the most of the beautiful spring weather in Beaufort.

[caption id="attachment_16010" align="alignleft" width="150"]<a href="http://www.yourislandnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/DSC_0089.jpg"><img class="size-thumbnail wp-image-16010" alt="Tom Kah with tofu." src="http://www.yourislandnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/DSC_0089-150x150.jpg" width="150" height="150" /></a> Tom Kah with tofu.[/caption]

But we enjoyed the chic, upscale decor of the inside dining area, where we were under the helpful guidance of our knowledgeable server Amy.

For starters, Kim ordered a lovely bowl of Tom Kah, which is lime-flavored coconut milk soup with ginger, mushrooms and lemongrass. We also all shared the tasty spring roll appetizers.

We also tried two new delightful dishes: Grilled Salmon Salad and Shrimp and Avocado Salad. They both come with big pieces of fresh fish atop a bed of greens and with Papaya’s special ginger dressing — very healthy and yummy.

Irene had the red curry with mussels, calamari and shrimp, a very colorful dish that tasted as good as it looked.

I am always a big fan of the specialty sushi rolls, so we ordered three for the whole table. The

[caption id="attachment_16012" align="alignright" width="300"]<a href="http://www.yourislandnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/DSC_0108.jpg"><img class="size-medium wp-image-16012" alt="The T-Rex roll, the Crunch roll, and the Mango Tango roll." src="http://www.yourislandnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/DSC_0108-300x199.jpg" width="300" height="199" /></a> The T-Rex roll, the Crunch roll, and the Mango Tango roll.[/caption]

Crunch Roll has salmon, crab, asparagus and cream cheese and the whole roll is tempura fried: amazing. Amy recommended the T-Rex made with spicy tuna, regular tuna, cream cheese and cucumbers and topped with avocado and four color of roe. Then we had the Mango Tango roll with eel and crab and topped with mango, roe, sriracha and white tuna.

Papaya Thai and Sushi Bar is at 1001 Boundary Street in Uptown Beaufort, and is open for lunch and dinner seven days a week. Call 843-379-9099.