The Shell Tangkay name is really one of the most
historical in Pattaya. The Shell Tangkay pier in South Pattaya had a
restaurant on it more than 50 years ago, and the name ‘Tangkay’ even
refers to a Chinese fishing junk. The reviewed Shell Tangkay Restaurant has
been at its Naklua location for the past 20 years. As ‘institutions’ go,
this would have to go close!
A
brief explanation of the ‘Shell’ name. Like the Michelin star
restaurants in Europe, there was a list of restaurants recommended by the
Shell Company in Thailand. These restaurants used ‘Shell’ in front of
the restaurant’s name.
Shell Tangkay Sea Food Naklua is approached from Soi 12,
at the lower (Naklua) end of the Pattaya-Naklua Road. Drive up Soi 12 and
take the right hand fork in the road and then first right (about 50 metres
later) and follow it down to the water.
The restaurant is set on decking out over the water,
beside the pier, with the kitchen and bar area set back. You can look right
around to Laem Chabang port on your right, and then back around towards
Naklua and Pattaya on your left. The seating is of the ubiquitous plastic
chair genre, and the tables covered with colourful plastic sheeting. It is
not the Ritz.
The menu is large, as these seafood restaurant menus
generally are. Appetizers are mainly around B. 100 for such items as fried
crabmeat balls or spring rolls. There is a page of salads between B. 70-190
with the meat varieties at the lower end and the seafood versions at the
top.
Thai food items are next (B. 70-150) with omelette’s
and stir-fries predominating. Soups are offered as small-medium-large with
the majority B. 120-150-200 respectively. The rice dishes that follow have
four sizes with most B. 40-80-120-150.
A couple of pages of ‘Yum’ salad dishes are next with
the average price being B. 120 and includes fish, crab, cockles, squid and
prawn. Another two pages are entitled ‘Oyster’ but this is in reality
‘Hoy’ and covers a large range of shellfish including cockles, mussels,
clams as well oyster, with the majority around B. 100 per serving.
Prawns, lobster, rock lobster, fish and crab tend to be
priced by weight, though there are some at fixed price.
Beers are B. 80-100 for large bottles and juices B. 50.
As a party of three, we tried several dishes. We began
with a tempura prawn dish, which had the prawns in a very ‘crunchy’
batter. Whilst not a delicate covering, it was not at all soggy, and I did
enjoy it.
This was followed by a crab in yellow curry. Despite the
fact that Miss Terry normally eschews crab dishes as being too much work for
too little return, this one was worth it!
We also had a stir-fried vegetable dish, a hor mok talay
- that spicy melange of tastes, served in a fresh coconut. Again a very
different and enjoyable taste sensation.
We finished with a steamed fish with lemon sauce, which
was again an excellent example of these dishes, being served in the lemon
sauce over a flame. The bone just lifting straight out and none left for the
diners.
The end was signalled by the largest finger-bowl in the
world! A huge ‘po-shaped’ receptacle, complete with a towel attached to
one of the handles was brought to the table! Large enough to bath in, but we
restricted ourselves to hands only.
We enjoyed the food at Shell Tangkay and the experience.
It is always pleasant to eat seafood sitting out over the sea, with small
boats moored alongside. The atmosphere is right! This was also not a tourist
trap, with the vast majority of diners on the evening we went along, being
local people. However, with the menu being bilingual, and most of the staff
likewise, there are no communication problems. A shorter drive than to Bang
Saray, and generally cheaper. Worth the trip.
Shell Tangkay Sea Food, 95 M5, Soi 12, Naklua, telephone 038 225 234, 038
225 989-90, fax 038 225 922. Open 10 a.m. through till midnight, seven days.
Secure parking outside and on the pier.
