DINING OUT - ENTERTAINMENT

Shenanigans, The Irish Pub

Quality, consistency and quantity - and loads of it!

With the new a la carte menu at Shenanigans and after a chat with landlord Kim Fletcher, the Dining Out Team felt we should call in and sample the fare. Being somewhat of an institution in Pattaya these days, it should not really be necessary to describe this pub, but for any ‘newbies’, it is down the stairs, under the Marriott Resort coffee shop, about 50 metres past the Royal Garden Plaza.

Shenanigans has an Irish pub character, with Guinness posters, much memorabilia, sporting trophies and knick knacks. It is divided into separate sections, with a central bar and musicians area, then two dedicated dining areas called the Library and the Cottage sections, and another little ‘nook’ and even a private meeting room for about 20 people. For once I forsook the comfortable Chesterfield chairs in the Library and went for the Cottage where we were looked after most attentively by the red-waistcoated Shenanigans waitresses.

The menu is in fold-out sections, beginning with cocktails (it is a pub, after all) ranging in price from B. 100 through to B. 500 for a 12 glass jug of Margarita.

Next is Thai food, with a good selection of salads, curries, stir-fries and grills, all at B. 150.

The next section covers potatoes, snacks and starters, with most between B. 100-200, with some Irish favourites as Colecanon and deep fried Irish cheddar as well as a Thai-Irish jerky with a hot sauce. Soups and salads begin at B. 95 with a large number of choices.

Mains are next, with everything from burgers at B. 195 through ‘classic’ sausages, roast chicken, a chicken curry, pork chops, generally under B. 300, through to a 300 gm imported NZ rib eye at B. 560. Finally there are pies and stews around B. 300, some seafood items (B. 350-545) and desserts.

While there are always daily ‘specials’ of some form at Shenanigans, we did want to try the ‘normal’ a la carte menu. We began by sharing the country pate, which came as two enormous slabs of pate with a tossed salad and grainy mustard. It was very good, but so huge we could have shared it with the next two tables!

After that we had decided to go for the Thai menu for Madame (who is Thai) and Miss Terry would go for the ‘farang’ menu. Madame chose a classical tom yum kung (spicy prawn soup) and the fried egg-noodle with prawns and pork. (By the way, this dish is not fried egg with noodle!) I could not go past the description of the Shenanigans steak, a prime fillet stuffed with mushrooms and garlic in a pepper cheese sauce and mixed vegetables, and little Lek, who took the order did ask just how I wanted my steak cooked.

The Thai food came with steamed rice and a small jug of nam pla prik if the diner wants to ‘spice it up’ even more. Madame described her food as being, “Very nice for Thai people, and not too spicy for farang.” After sampling, I agreed with her assessment. All the flavour and taste without being overpoweringly spicy.

My steak was served on a hot, hot plate, with little Lek warning me more than once. What she should have warned me about was the size! Enormous! The steak was tender, the vegetables lightly cooked and it was an extremely flavoursome and substantial meal.

The overall summation of the evening at Shenanigans was that we had enjoyed well prepared and well presented restaurant food, and in huge quantities. After the Irish coffees at the conclusion of the meal I had written in my tasting notes “a fitting ending to a filling evening!” However, this was not quite correct. It was not the end. We then moved into the central ‘pub’ area and listened to the Wednesday evening band, Pop and the All Stars. This was world class entertainment in a world class venue with no cover charge. A sensational evening. Very highly recommended.

Shenanigans, The Irish Pub, Royal Garden Plaza Complex, Pattaya Second Road, telephone 038 710 641, email [email protected], website www.shenanigans-pattaya.com All major credit cards accepted and secure parking outside.


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Shenanigan's
Irish Pub
Pattaya