The ever-smiling Bob presides over “Bob’s Bar” with
all the expected beers.
Jameson’s Irish Pub was founded nine years ago, making it
a well-established venue in Pattaya, a city where some restaurants close
before their ‘grand opening’! Mine host is Kim Fletcher, undoubtedly one of
the most professional landlords around, a man who was actually born in a
pub, and will probably die in one as well. (Just joking, Kim!)
A “pub” is judged on the venue environment, the service staff and the food
that is served. I will come to those separately…
Tui brings the food out piping
hot.
The venue is decked out in traditional Irish Pub style.
Several forests donated trees to the building of the pub itself, with wooden
floors, walls and a long bar. Numerous TV screens are scattered throughout
the pub showing all kinds of sports, including a very large screen with
projector. Many sporting groups have made Jameson’s their watering hole,
including regulars such as the F1 group, Pattaya Cricket Club, Pattaya Car
Club and occasionally host to the Hash House Harriers and rugby enthusiasts.
Memorabilia abound with trophies, old books and the like. Several sections
await the pub goers, including the Sports area, Library, Lounge and the Long
Bar. It has that kind of well-established and welcoming atmosphere.
The service staff are always on hand and are genuinely
ready to serve the customers. Nothing is too much of a trouble and they are
all very skilled at making the guests feel special. The ever-smiling Bob
deserves his own mention, presiding over “Bob’s Bar” with all the expected
beers (local drafts at B. 90) and spirits. And not forgetting manageress
Mit, ready to trouble-shoot if necessary.
The food has also become very well known in Pattaya, with Kim (a trained
chef himself) overseeing his own chefs in the kitchen. There is much
movement in the menu, with weekly specials and monthly changes in the a la
carte section. Kim says that many of the specials come as requests from the
customers themselves, and popular ones can later make it into the a la carte
menu.
The a la carte menu is very varied, with Thai food around
B. 200 and very good according to Madame. In the Euro section many dishes
have two prices depending upon whether you want it as an ‘appetizer’ or as a
‘main course’. Pies are a staple, as you would expect in a pub (B. 235)
which come with peas, chips (proper chips) and gravy. Sandwiches are
available right through to an Australian fillet steak of the month at B.
535.
On that particular week the Specials included Meatballs Sub - Pork Meatballs
cooked in a tomato Bolognaise sauce in crispy French bread, served with
crispy Jameson’s chips and a side order of coleslaw (very messy, but
delicious) or a Fillet steak, cooked to your requirements and served with
green pepper sauce, sauté potato and garden peas. Plus one more special I am
coming to!
On the evening I dropped by to sample the offerings, I just could not go
past the Specials and started with a Scotch egg salad. The lettuce was
crisp, the tomatoes fresh and was very enjoyable. (This was such a change
from the many salads one is presented elsewhere with dying greens being
resuscitated by 900 Island dressing - not even good enough to be 1000
Island.)
After the great starter I selected the third choice in the weekly specials
which was Lamb curry with rice, a mild thick curry made with chunks of New
Zealand leg of lamb and potatoes served with vegetable rice, poppadom, Nan
bread and a vegetable somosa.
This was superb. Hot to the table, “mild” as indicated in the menu and so
much that I had to struggle to finish. Do not go to Jameson’s without a big
appetite, or if time is short as you have a bus to catch. Enormous portions.
Jameson’s Irish Pub comes highly recommended as always.
Jameson’s Irish Pub, 80/164 Moo 9, Soi Sukrudee (Soi AR), (go up Soi 4 off
Pattaya Second Road at the Bangkok Bank, and veer right at Nova Park,
Jameson’s is right there), Central Pattaya. Secure parking. Open seven days
7 a.m. until 1 a.m. (kitchen closes at 12 midnight). Telephone 038 361 873,
email info@ jamesons-pattaya.com, and www.jamesons-pattaya.com.