DINING OUT - ENTERTAINMENT

The Lobster Pot

And they caught quite a few fish as well!

It has been some time since the Dining Out Team went to Walking Street for dinner. Again it was one of those occasions where we suddenly realized that with all the new restaurants arriving on the scene, we had been neglecting some of the well established ones. The Lobster Pot was a prime example of this.

The restaurant is on the water side of Walking Street, about 50 metres from where Pattaya Beach Road swings into South Pattaya Road. The entrance is well illuminated, and there are smiling uniformed personnel to entice you to come for dinner too.

We were welcomed by the owner, Khun So, and ushered through the covered section on to the ‘boardwalk’ where you could hear the waves lapping under your feet, and out onto the ‘tent’ covered deck section. It was a balmy night and we enjoyed the cooling breezes from the sea, as we sat and looked at the lights of Pattaya Bay.

There are a couple of different formats for the menu. One is written in English and Thai, while the other is a full photo menu in English and Russian. For visitors, the photo menu is an excellent idea. The menu is also enormous with 162 items to choose from.

My menu began with the seafood platters at B. 475 for one, or B. 890 for two. Following this was a special set menu, with three courses for B. 525. This has many choices in each course, including steamed mussels, clam chowder, and steak, fish or chicken as a main. There is also a Chateaubriand for two at B. 750.

Next up are the a la carte appetizers, with most in the B. 135-175 range including prawn satay and lobster or prawn cocktail. These are followed by a range of soups (B. 75-175) and then a page of international items with the majority in the B. 285-375 range, with steaks done in many ways, pork, wiener schnitzel, chicken and even an English style fish and chips!

From there it is into the seafood items with most under B. 300, including whole fish items. Crustaceans become more expensive, with the Lobster Pot’s signature lobster items at B. 975 for those with large appetites. Next are two pages of Thai and Chinese items around B. 135-195 for the majority.

Desserts and drinks finish, with local beers B. 75-85 for small bottles. There is also a separate wine list, with most bottles just over 1,000 baht.

We chose the Sangria as our beverage for the evening, from the recipe Khun So brought back from her trip to Portugal - and it is very refreshing. At B. 595 per litre, it is cheap too!

Madame chose oysters on the shell to begin, which came with fried garlic and ‘kratin’ vegetable and lime. I had decided to try the special set menu and had selected the steamed mussels as my starter. Both were very good choices.

I then had the lobster bisque - very creamy with plenty of lobster meat. Again of high standard. As mains, Madame had ordered a steamed sea bass in lime sauce, while I had decided to see if a seafood restaurant could present chicken in a red wine sauce correctly. Again both were very good, with Madame stating that the sea bass was the best she had ever tasted!

On our re-visit to the Lobster Pot it was obvious that standards had not slipped in any way, and in fact the venue has been going through a steady improvement in its decor and facilities. We were very impressed by the food, both in its freshness and in the cooking, which was excellent. For Madame to be still talking about the steamed sea bass in glowing terms the next day, speaks volumes. This is one restaurant where you can take visitors and be assured of the standards and the food itself. Very highly recommended - but we are not the only people to have found the Lobster Pot - I suggest you book!

The Lobster Pot, Walking Street (opposite Soi 14), South Pattaya, telephone 038 426 083, www.lobsterpotpattaya .com. Open from 12 noon till late.