DINING OUT - ENTERTAINMENT

The Delightful Dozen

Miss Terry Diner’s most memorable restaurants of 2002

by Miss Terry Diner

One of the great aspects of a new year is that one can spend some time reviewing the happenings of the past 12 months. For Miss Terry, it is a review of the reviews of the last 12 months of weekly Dining Out. And it has been another year of surprises, and another year which saw some restaurants begin, and yet fail before the year was through and others go on from strength to strength. It was also the year in which my Dining Out Guide to Pattaya and the Eastern Seaboard was published (available at all good bookshops and only 250 baht, great value and highly recommended by Miss Terry, nudge, nudge, wink, wink).

Grill Room Wine Cellar

One of the greatest problems when looking back over 52 restaurants and only selecting 12 is that there are going to be 40 restaurant owners left crying over their fry pans. So to make them feel loved and wanted again, let me say that this list does not necessarily include the best food or best value restaurants in Pattaya, but has the ones that impressed for many reasons, including just the total package.

There were some new ventures in 2002 and two restaurants immediately come to mind - Da Joe in Walking Street and the Jomtien Boathouse and Grill on Jomtien Beach Road. Both of these establishments had a great ‘warmness’ about them, good food, reasonable prices and look out over the water. The fact that Madame and I have revisited each of them more than once must mean they are both doing something right!

Skewers at the Jomtien Boathouse

As a food and wine reviewer, Miss Terry does tend to spend some time in hotels and the Royal Cliff Beach Resort and the Dusit Resort have been eyeing each other off over the last 12 months. The Grill Room at the Royal Cliff always comes to mind as having excellent food and exemplary service. The new Royal Cliff wine selection also makes it easy to find very quaffable wines under B. 1000. At the Dusit, the Empress Chinese Restaurant was very impressive and that makes it memorable. Million dollar views over Pattaya Bay too, and I loved the service, as well as the food.

There are three restaurants in town that have seen Miss Terry many times. They are (in no particular order), Cafe New Orleans in Pattayaland 2, Paradise Restaurant on Second Road and Mata Hari a little further up Second Road. Again these are eating places that truly welcome their customers, and additionally have good food, imaginative food and reasonably priced.

Another pair of restaurants that Miss Terry and Madame have visited frequently in the last 12 months are Bruno’s and Casa Pascal. These restaurants do represent ‘fine dining’ and it is this that makes both of them memorable. When you want to impress, these are the places to go.

One restaurant to which we have returned more than once is Stars on the 23rd floor of Pattaya Hill Resort. This is another million dollar view, and we have taken friends there sometimes just to have a wine and look at Pattaya from on high. It has had its ups and downs in the kitchen, but I believe it has managed to find its feet now.

Shenanigans always comes up when thinking about where to meet and eat. Kim Fletcher has kept the specials varied and the a la carte menu is always good. We have always enjoyed being there, and the personal touch always helps bring people back.

The last one in the dozen has to be the Winemaker’s Dinners at the Royal Cliff Beach Resort Grand Wing. When I think about wine and food, the Royal Cliff Wine Club always comes up. Ranjith Chandrasiri’s concept which became the Wine Club has elevated wine appreciation in Pattaya to new heights, and the dinners have to be the best value for money fine dining in Thailand!

Looking at this list, there is one common factor - personal service, be that from the owners, the maitre d’ or the manager. There are many restaurants with good food, but not as many with excellent service. There is a message there!