The Zeppelin German Restaurant and Steakhouse has been
another of those well established Pattaya restaurants that tends to become
forgotten, with all the new places that are popping up. The Dining Out
Team decided it was time to re-acquaint ourselves and see if the Zeppelin
was still flying!
The restaurant is almost at the corner of Beach Road
and Pattaya Klang, and these days has some tables and chairs on the
forecourt between the restaurant building and the pavement - all very
continental.
Inside the restaurant, much of the decor is in natural
wood, with the continuing theme being that of a giant beer barrel, with
you sitting in the middle! Around the perimeter are windowed alcoves, with
circular tables for up to six diners, while in the centre of the dining
area is a very large circular table, complete with carousel, for ten
people. The chairs are large and comfy cushioned rattan items, inviting
you to linger and the lighting is subdued, to give a warm and inviting
ambience.
The menu is quite extensive and is in German, English
and Thai, and is also in beer keg shape, to continue the theme. It begins
with nine hot and cold starters, ranging between B. 130-280, with prawn
cocktail at the low end and imported salmon at the top end.
Seven soups are next with most at B. 90, including a
Bavarian liver dumpling soup and a green pea with bacon, as well as the
mandatory Hungarian goulash. Next up is a section called the Master
Butcher’s Favourites with a selection of typical German sausages with
the Wursts at B. 160 and the Farmer’s assorted sausages at B. 225.
The next section cover schnitzel items (B. 220-290) and
has chicken, pork and beef on offer. Next up was a limited seafood section
with four items (B. 230-340) presenting red snapper the cheapest and
grilled salmon steak the most expensive.
The Zeppelin favourites are next (B. 220-420) with a
large choice of European items including a goulash fillet and lamb chops.
A dedicated steak section is next (B. 290-450) with steak and eggs at the
bottom through to a 300 gm T-bone at the top.
Finally there are cheese platters and deep fried
Camembert (B. 170-210) and a page of desserts (B. 90-140), with apple
strudel and ice cream of course.
While waiting we tried the house white wine (B. 110 per
glass), which was very pleasant and neither too sweet nor too dry, and
were given hot bread rolls and those dreadful fiddly refrigerated butter
pats in foil.
We began with the duck pate for Madame and the
deep-fried prawns for myself. The pate was more like a terrine, with two
very thick slices, which were exceptionally good, great flavour, and with
the aspic and green peppercorns on the side all adding to the taste
experience. My tempura prawns were also good, the batter being fresh and
the serving dish being hot as well.
For mains, Madame chose the pepper steak, which was
presented to her order, while I went for the pork fillets, stuffed with
champignons and pancake potatoes. The steak was tender and delicious, and
my pork likewise. For both of us, the serving was too much - very generous
helpings. We were also joined by a friend who ordered the Oktoberfest
chicken, and this appeared more like half an eagle, it was so huge!
We were more than pleasantly surprised by the Zeppelin
Restaurant. The feeling was not that it had just maintained its position,
but more that its standards had risen. It had always been considered to be
good value, and the size of the portions continued to make that the
situation. However, the food was also very tasty and of a very high
standard, and when viewed against the prices charged, makes the Zeppelin a
restaurant you should definitely consider for those times you feel like
some European food - and lots of it! Highly recommended.
The Zeppelin German Restaurant and Steakhouse, cnr Beach Road and
Pattaya Klang (behind Nova Lodge), Central Pattaya, telephone 038 420 016.
Parking on the street, or in the Nova Lodge, entrance from Pattaya Klang.
