by Miss Terry Diner
Joe Parlati is well known in the Pattaya food circles,
having been mein host at Ciao Italian restaurant for some years. Da Joe
(“Come to Joe’s”) is his latest foray into the culinary scene in
Walking Street (between Marine Bar and Simon complex) and is advertised as
a Mediterranean restaurant.
The entry off Walking Street is narrow, and you
actually walk through the wine cellar to gain entry to the restaurant
proper. You are immediately struck with the Mediterranean atmosphere, with
white stucco walls, colourfully upholstered corner lounges in the alcoves,
overhead fans, Italian, Spanish and Greek paintings on the walls, salmon
pink tablecloths and red napkins. It is bright, it is airy, it is
Mediterranean. Even the music is Italian tenors. And then there is Joe
himself, always smiling, always enthusiastic and just so very Italian.
The menu begins with the Antipasti, commencing at 50
baht and running through to 350 baht selections of imported cheeses. The
following page is Pasta and Soups (B. 140-200) with favourites as
minestrone or spaghetti Napoli with others, not so well known, such as
tortellini filled with ricotta cheese and spinach or home made egg noodles
with wild mushroom and cream sauce.
A page of main courses follows, mainly around B.
200-250 including roast beef, chicken breasts and pork steaks all done in
varying ways. These are followed with a page of seafoods (B. 150-300)
including steamed fresh Norwegian salmon.
Of course there are pizzas, if that is your fancy (B.
140-250) from the classic Margherita through to pizzas made with Parma
ham.
Towards the back of the menu there is a page of Thai
favourites, generally B. 100-120 and then desserts and beers and wines,
with locally available beer at B. 70 and house wine B. 120 per glass. Joe
also said that his wine cellar had the largest wine selection from
southern Europe. Looking at the bottles in the cellar as you walk in, I
would not doubt this. The prices ranged from 400 baht right the way
through to 15,000 baht.
We began with a plate of Antipasta with eggplant
marinated in extra virgin olive oil as well as rice salad, bell peppers
and potato, a bowl of garden salad tossed with oregano and another plate
of assorted salami. Joe selected an Orvieto white to go with these, and it
cut through the olive oil with its clean finish.
For mains we switched to a southern Italian Zinfandel
to go with some pork medallions done in a red wine and mushroom sauce,
with potatoes done in Rosemary plus a salmon, steamed over wood, with
shrimps and vegetables in a sauce done from cream, garlic, lemon and white
wine.
The pork was soft and the mushroom red wine sauce
superb and the Rosemary potatoes gained universal approval, however, it
was the salmon dish that got the vote that evening. The thick salmon
fillets were not at all oily, with a subtle flavour, and not overpowered
by the sauce. Truly a superb dish.
By this stage we were all fully satiated, but Joe was
not ready to let us leave. There was a dessert which turned out to be home
made Italian ice cream on raisin bread, with an accompanying glass of
Amoretto sorbet. Let me tell you that this was just a fabulous
combination. We pigged out!
We rounded out the night with Limoncello and grappa and
short black coffees. A sensational night of culinary indulgences!
The Dining Out team left Da Joe, unanimously of the
opinion that we would all be back. It is refreshing to eat at a restaurant
where the food is an “event” to be enjoyed and lingered over. Joe
stamps his personality on everything and you cannot help but be impressed.
We enjoyed the food, we enjoyed the ambience and we are sure that you will
too. If you like Mediterranean food you must put Da Joe on your visiting
list. As Joe himself said, “It’s not Bruno’s - it’s Joe’s.”
Whatever, it is certainly food with soul. Very highly recommended, and
don’t count the calories!
Da Joe, Walking Street, (opposite Soi Saemsamran) South Pattaya, tel 06
826 0495.
