There is something decadent about discussing diets over afternoon tea. Spooning thick clotted cream onto sugar-dusted scones while considering cutting out carbs,and washing down several small but beautifully formed works of cake art with lashings of tea at The Langham – just before deciding to give the Dukan diet a go. Just protein for the first week, adding fruit and veg for the second, see the full diet plan here. Easy I think to myself.

And for the first day it is, then I come to eat at Thai Square in South Kensington. This Greater London-based chain with restaurants stretching from the West End to Windsor is fast becoming a celebrity favourite – recent sightings include Alicia Keys, Andy Murray, Emily Blunt and Andrew Flintoff. And celebs love diets, right? How hard can it be I think?

Very is the answer when faced with the starters – yes, just the starters and already I’m in trouble... Thai dumplings, deep fried wonton and spring rolls. But there’s also lots of meat, look at these lovely chicken skewers (am conveniently ignoring the words ‘satay sauce’ in the description). So we order the Thai Square platter, which is mostly meat. Then I end up eating a plate of vegetables because we accidentally ordered the vegetarian platter by mistake.

For mains it’s the jungle curry for me (the fact it comes without creamed coconut is my nod to Dukan). It combines tender pieces of chicken with chillis, green peppercorns, Thai aubergines, bamboo shoots, long beans and herbs in a tasty broth, and is a reasonable £7.95. I go for authentic sticky rice on the side (£2.25) – and no, that’s not part of the Dukan diet either. I like the fact Thai Square is flexible about seasoning, so instead of the advertised 3-chilli strength, the kitchen lowers the intensity to two at my request. There’s a good wine list but I am on a diet after all (!) so I just have jasmine tea.

My companion orders from the ‘Chef Recommends’ menu – Prawns Love Scallops – and I can see why he would want to put this name to such a dish, huge succulent scallops beautifully sautéed in a rich sauce, served with prawns on the shell.

The South Kensington branch of Thai Square serves good food and has a lively buzz, it’s cafe style with prices to match – starters average £5, curries £7.95, pay a few pounds extra for the Chef Recommend’s dishes, highly advised if the Prawns Love Scallops is anything to go by. Just don’t try it if you’re on the Dukan diet. Though, in fairness, by the end of the evening I wasn’t either.

For more information and to find your nearest Thai Square restaurant, visit the website at www.thaisquare.net.