Valentines
Guest House is well signed, so you won’t miss it and its blue and white
striped awning. It is open on two side, so nice and airy, with overhead fans
to keep the breeze moving. Across the back there is a sit-up bar, and there
is also a pool table for the Alex Higgins’ of this world.
There are nine tables covered with blue and white check
tablecloths with clean contrasting raffia place mats, with comfortable cane
chairs (with arms). The tables have a cane basket with condiments, including
vinegar, HP sauce and tomato ketchup.
The floor is light coloured tiles and the remaining
sidewall is mirror, giving the impression that it is much larger than it
really is. The overall feeling is one of cleanliness, which is also carried
through to the toilets and hand washing facilities.
The
menu is simple and straightforward. It begins with All Day Breakfasts, with
the Full English at the top of the bill - 2 sausages, 2 bacon, egg on toast,
fried potatoes, tomato or beans, tea or coffee. All this for 85 baht. This
is followed by 14 other variations of breakfasts, ranging between B.30-70,
and all of the British genre with eggs, sausages, bacon and beans on offer.
The second page has the soup of the day at B. 50 with
bread and butter or a beef burger at the same price. Pies and Pasties are
all B. 120 with the favourites, chicken and mushroom and steak and kidney
both there. These are all served with mashed or fried potatoes and the veg
of the day.
Six Main Meals are on the next page, with most around B.
120-130, including a large gammon steak, chips and egg or a homemade beef
stew, with sirloin steak, chips, peas and fried egg top of the bill at B.
150. Three salads are next (B. 100) served with French fries, and then there
is an 18 item Thai menu with nothing over B. 65. Finally there is the bar
menu, with local beers B. 55-65, spirits around B. 70 and softs around B.
25.
It was lunchtime, but I decided to order the all-day Full
English breakfast. A very large mug of coffee appeared very promptly, with a
small jug of milk, as well as the usual plastic tube of dairy creamer. Top
marks immediately.
Not long afterwards a large pottery plate arrived with
the Full English on board. The first thing I noted was that the plate was
warm. Totally unexpected, but so pleasant to find. The next pleasant
surprise was the fact that the chips and fried bread had been cooked in
fresh oil - and were consequently very good. At the price of B. 85 I
expected to see a couple of slivers of streaky bacon, but again was
pleasantly surprised by two pieces of back bacon.
Taste-wise, my Full English also passed the test. It was
not swimming in grease, overdone or cold, the condition that sometimes
prevails in budget places. It was certainly no English transport cafe, but
was well cooked pub food, and very enjoyable. Though I did not try the Thai
food, my friend said it was equally impressive. And equally as good value.
There was no disputing the value being offered by
Valentine’s Guest House. In fact, I was surprised by just how good it
really was. Back bacon and warmed plates are not what you expect at ‘lower
end’ eateries. Nor are clean tablecloths, clean toilet and hand-washing
facilities the norm at the budget places. The food was good and correctly
cooked - and at the price, a real bargain! We will certainly be back.
Definitely worth a try.
Valentine’s Guest House, 312/44-45 Soi Lenky, Central
Pattaya, parking on street, telephone 038 720 583, email [email protected]