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!