Dining Out: Casa Pascal - warm, friendly and fabulous food

by Miss Terry Diner

Casa Pascal is one of the newest of Pattaya’s fine dining restaurants. Run by Pascal Schnyder, previously the executive chef at the Dusit Resort, with his wife Kim and Dominic Barth, ex-Amari Orchid Resort, it oozes “class” the minute you walk inside.

Polished terracotta tiles, padded blue chairs and yellow tablecloths, white walls and high ceilings give it a bright and airy atmosphere. The large square black glass place settings with polished heavy cutlery, long stem crystal glasses and polished brass candlestick holders all add to the feeling that Casa Pascal is something special.

We were met by Dominic and his delightful and friendly waitresses and shown to our table near the window. The dining area has three alcoves along one wall which will take up to eight diners at each table, then there are the more usual tables for four in the air-conditioned restaurant. There is also a terrace area outside, but on the evening the Dining Out Team attended it was raining heavily.

Having been made welcome we perused the menu. This comes in a large hand-crafted Sa paper jacket, and begins with Cold Appetizers (between 160 and 480 baht) and includes a Caesar salad and Pascal’s goose liver terrine with potted Washington apples, marinated plums and baby corn salad with truffle dressing. By the time you have read page one you know that this is going to be truly ‘fine dining’.

The following page has three cold soups (around 110 baht) with a wonderful sounding iced avocado cream soup with orange segments and cilantro. These are followed by six hot soups (B. 120-220) with a beef consomm้, truffle flavoured mushroom soup and a chicken cream soup with calf’s sweetbread on offer.

Next page and we were still not into the Mains, with five warm appetizers (B. 160-430) beginning with pan-fried goose liver on onion and tomato confit. Next up are eight pasta dishes (B. 160-280) with spaghetti and risotto.

A page of fish and seafood follows (B. 280-660) with a genuine imported Dover sole served with lobster and a white wine sauce top of the bill. Poultry is next with a chicken breast dish and a roasted duck breast as well. They are followed by five meat dishes (B. 310-520) with pork, pig’s trotter, veal and NZ rack of lamb done in different ways.

Next are eight grill items (B. 280-630) covering salmon, prawns, lamb, veal and four steaks with two American imports. These come with your choice of roasted potatoes, rice, buttered noodles, garlic mashed potatoes or french-fries and your choice of sauces from Caf้ de Paris, mushroom cream, red wine or rosemary gravy. The final page has desserts, sherbets and ice creams.

The wine list is also extensive beginning just under B. 1000 going through to some very expensive vintages, but something for all palates (and pockets).

We began with a scallops and prawns and marinated artichokes for Madame and a gazpacho Andalusia for Miss Terry. Madame, who is particularly fond of artichokes, was enraptured with hers and my soup was just fabulous, with four containers to allow me to add my own capsicum, onion, cucumber and croutons.

The mains were equally as good, with Madame’s duck breast almost “steak” sized, while my American Angus steak with the garlic potato was sensational. The portion sizes were definitely not the undersized “nouvelle cuisine” you often get given in “better” restaurants. We both agreed that we had enjoyed truly excellent food and the epitome of fine dining.

Mention must be made of the restrooms (I could not possibly call them mere “loos”). Large, with decor items from Kalae and original black and white photographs done by Pascal’s father on the walls. A sumptuous sit-down!

As the newest in the fine dining range, the Team could do nothing but give this restaurant top marks. The food was excellent, in decent sized portions and the friendly service just capped off what was a memorable evening. Highest recommendation, without a doubt.

Casa Pascal, Pattaya Second Road, next to Ruen Thai, telephone 723 660.

When one door closes: In recent weeks Fun Town has presided over the demise of the Lovely and Star Night ogling dens (in Naklua and Soi 6 respectively) but, as always, hope springs eternal and yet another chrome pole palace has opened its doors.

My e-mail address is: [email protected]