The
BBQ runs from 6-10 p.m. and is held in the Starz Dining area, a typical
up-tempo Hard Rock venue, complete with the giant mural of the Beatles
crossing Abbey Road in London and guitars and drum sets left behind by some
untidy rock and roll bands! Around the perimeter of the dining area there
are hot and cold buffets, while just outside overlooking the pool is the
live cooking BBQ section. The dining area is also huge, so if you want to
put a large party together, this is easily arranged.
In the center of the main dining area was a small
elevated stage, and as the music turned to (now Sir) Cliff Richard’s
“The Young Ones” we were treated to some lithe young dancers and a
cocktail mixer who put on a drink mixing and bottle tossing performance for
the diners. I applauded heartily at the end and was rewarded with a
cocktail! (It was very nice too!)
After
a pre-BBQ drink, which we ordered from the typically ‘bouncy’ Hard Rock
service staff, we walked around to see what would catch our eyes. For me, it
was the Japanese station offering sashimi, nigiri and others of the
‘sokitoomi’ genre with all the sauces and condiments (yes, wasabi!) and
soba noodles with its sauces and condiments too. For Madame, it was straight
to the oysters - large and opened for you on the spot. Nice touch! What was
also a nice touch was that the names of the chefs who had prepared the
particular menu items were displayed prominently.
While mentioning chefs, J.K. Tan, the executive chef of
the Hard Rock Hotel, who was featured a few months ago in the local
personality column, had just returned to Pattaya after winning some culinary
competitions in Bangkok.
The range of food on offer is so extensive that it is a
good idea to take your time, or you may miss something you would otherwise
not expect. One dish that I found was a smoked salmon salad, which was
really excellent. There were also other ways of presenting salmon, so if
salmon’s your favourite, you were well catered for.
Madame, who is Thai, found that there was more than
enough choices in Thai cuisine as well. On our evening these included tom
yum gai and a river prawns with hot basil and fresh green pepper corns.
We also strolled outside to the live BBQ section and I
was very tempted by the rock lobsters and then I noticed the full selection
included river prawns, blue crabs, grilled squid, whole fish wrapped in
banana leaf, seafood skewer, grilled German veal sausage, Chiang Mai
sausage, marinated lamb chops with lemongrass and beef tenderloin. And
tender was the correct word for the beef - and beautiful!
Desserts? Lots! And again for all tastes. Try fruit and
platter, bread raisin pudding with brandy sauce, almonds tofu and longan,
assorted royal Thai sweets, a variety of French pastries, taro ball and sago
in coconut cream and even ice cream with assorted topping and fudge!
The Dining Out Team came away from the Hard Rock Saturday
BBQ, not only full of great food, but also full of praise for the range of
food on offer. With choices including Japanese, Italian, seafood, steak,
Thai, Mongolian, Indonesian and more, we enjoyed just strolling around in
contemplation. Little things impressed too, but Bacon Bits and water
chestnuts just added to the flavour sensations of an evening out. At the
price of B. 550 (plus plus, it’s a hotel remember) it is still excellent
value (especially when looked at against other hotel BBQ’s). We enjoyed it
and we are sure that you will too. Highly recommended.
Starz Diner, Hard Rock Hotel, Pattaya 2 Road (next to
Montien), telephone 038 428 755, fax 038 421 673, all cards. Secure parking.
