Undoubtedly the most spectacular views of Pattaya,
Jomtien and Pattaya Bay islands are from the top of the Pattaya Hill Resort.
This is the 23rd floor of this hotel, and taking up the entire floor is the
Horizon Rooftop Restaurant. This was previously known as “Stars”, but
when the new owner/chef Jack Pfaff took over last September, he also renamed
the restaurant to something more appropriate. With glass on three sides, and
a terrace from which you can look to all points of the compass, the
resulting view is without peer. This was confirmed on the night the Dining
Out team called, as the Western Terrace was being used by a film company as
the set for a movie. It is, as previously mentioned, magnificent.
The restaurant itself is also magnificent. Traditional
wood panelling, tiled floors, Thai/Burmese bric-a-brac and simply amazing
hand basins! There are two air-conditioned sections, each with their own
open-air terraces, and one has a sit-up bar along one wall. On our evening
we decided that air-con was the way to go, but chose a table close to the
window to appreciate the view.
The menu (English and German) begins with the two weekly
rotating set menu choices. These are three courses, each with a choice of
appetizer, and includes coffee or tea and is priced at B. 390. European
dishes are next beginning with hot or cold appetizers ranging from B.
130-250, with home made Swiss style cheesecake and Norwegian smoked salmon
both on offer.
Next
up are three salads ranging from B. 90 to a Caesar at B. 170, and then three
soups around B. 80. Four pasta choices are next (B. 150-220) with fettuccine
and spaghetti featuring gorgonzola and parmesan cheeses.
Into the mains and the first is a seafood section with
sole, salmon and squid (B. 320-410), then a beef and lamb section (B.
370-590) with the differences in price mainly relating to whether you choose
local meat or the imported NZ beef. Next is veal, pork and poultry (B.
180-520) again dependant upon choice of local or Australian import.
There is a Thai selection as well (but curiously no Thai
language script), again with appetizers, soups, salads and mains. These
cover the most popular items such as garlic and pepper pork or green curry
and are generally around B. 120.
The wine list has enough choices, ranging upwards from B.
850 for a French white or red, with others from Australia, South Africa,
Chile and Italy. There is also the house wine at B. 790 or B. 150 per glass,
and both the white and red were eminently drinkable and were our choice for
the evening. Local beers (B. 95), cocktails, spirits and liqueurs are in the
main menu.
We began with tomato soup for Madame, which was brought
hot to the table, and the pita pizza for me which has plenty of cheese and
spicy paprika, and I enjoyed it very much.
For mains, Madame had the NZ lamb chops, which were very
tender though the mustard sauce was very mild, and came with mashed
potatoes; and the Australian veal for myself, which was an adequate sized
portion with very nice roast potatoes and glazed carrots.
Madame did leave room for dessert and the zabaglione was
superb (I did manage to try a couple or three spoonfuls!).
The Horizon Rooftop Restaurant, as a venue, has unlimited
potential. The view is sensational, and this makes it the ideal place for a
late afternoon cocktail and watch the sun go down over the islands. The
location for long romantic interludes, and then perhaps stay on for a
lingering dinner. The concept of the three course rotating set menus is
good, and romantic swains would have to be able to afford the B. 390 per
head just to be able to propose in such surroundings.
Horizon Rooftop Restaurant, 23rd floor Pattaya Hill
Resort, Soi 2 Phratamnak Road (just past the police box turn-off to the
Royal Cliff Beach Resort), Pattaya Hill, telephone 038 250 329, fax 038 250
323, email horizonpattaya @yahoo.com
Open 3 p.m. till midnight every day. Secure parking under the hotel.
