Fifty-two weeks of Dining Out have been much more than
just one year of sitting at new tables. It has been a year of culinary
enlightenment, as Pattaya provides even more choices for the discriminating
diner, with new restaurants bobbing up so fast it has been difficult to keep
up.
Unfortunately there is also a fair swag of restaurants
that disappear every year, for a variety of reasons, but mainly because the
restaurateur forgot that there is more to a successful restaurant than just
the food. Service, presentation and price also come into the equation. And
while location may also be important, there are many restaurants in Pattaya
that have dreadful locations, but the rest of the package is so good, the
diners come back for more.
To pick the 12 restaurants that stood out from the 52 we
reviewed this past 12 months gets more difficult as restaurateurs have
lifted their game over the past few years. There are very few that serve
room temperature white or chilled red wines these days – but it still
happens, but they won’t be there next year! The Pattaya winer and diner is
becoming more discerning.
So to restaurants that have excelled. One has to mention
the Royal Cliff Beach Resort’s Grill Room and Wine Cellar. This restaurant
has now won two international awards, back to back – and is superb in all
respects. Not the cheapest night out, but one of the best.
Another favorite, and one that never fails to delight, is
Mata Hari, run by the ebullient Louis Noll, the Bailli of the Chaine des
Rotisseurs, the world’s oldest gourmet organization. Imaginative cuisine,
affordable wines, great service and tall tales from Louis. Always a great
night out.
Casa Pascal, Pascal and Kim Schnyder’s signature
restaurant, continues to impress with many changes in the menu during the
year, special promotions including a set menu plus all the wines for under
B. 2000 (which incidentally I tried at my birthday last month) and the value
added items being offered now includes limousine service (which I really
appreciated when going home after the birthday!). The Sunday brunches are
also superb. Coming up for four years in Pattaya, Casa Pascal is now very
secure.
Bruno’s, in its (relatively) new location in Jomtien,
and under the leadership of Fredi Schaub, continues with unswerving
adherence to what it does best – serving fine dining food, with fine
dining service. Predictable, and always a pleasure.
Two Indian restaurants sprang up during the year. One de
novo, the other a reincarnation. Indian by Nature proved that Indian
restaurants and Indian cuisine can be regarded as fine dining, and its
acceptance into the Chaine des Rotisseurs emphasizes this fact.
The other is The Raj, taken over by an enthusiastic
Indian gentleman by the name of Raj. No pretensions to be fine dining, but
just excellent food in comfortable surroundings.
For Chinese food, it is still difficult to go past the
Marco Polo Restaurant in the Montien Hotel. Consistently high standards in
cuisine, venue and friendly service. Their Peking Duck takes some beating.
While on ‘ethnic’ food, I must mention the Da Joe
Italian Restaurant on Walking Street. Fun, flavoursome and filling, with the
omnipresent Joe Parlati ensuring that every diner is satisfied.
Another reincarnation during the year was The Bay
Restaurant out on the point in the Dusit Resort. Known previously only for
its Saturday BBQ, it has moved itself up-market with a 10 million baht
make-over. Definitely one to try in 2005.
Another, slightly tucked away venue, is the Art Caf้
in Naklua. Jo Stetten has combined art and food, and deserves the faithful
following he has built up over the past couple of years.
For those looking for value for money, the well
established Captain’s Corner Steak House Texan BBQ still takes some
beating, whilst its sister establishment, the Jomtien Boathouse, has also
carved out a niche market in BBQ brochettes (skewers) that seems unshakable.
By the way, my list is merely representative of the many
restaurants tried during the year. Omission of your favorite establishment
does not mean it was necessarily lacking in some way!
The Grill Room and Wine Cellar, Royal Cliff Beach
Resort, 353 Phra Tumnak Road, South Pattaya. Cuisine: European. Tel: 038 250
421.
Mata Hari, 216/3 M 9, Pattaya Second Road, Central
Pattaya. Cuisine: Adventurous and eclectic. Tel: 038 420 939.
Casa Pascal, Second Road, South Pattaya, (opp
Marriott Resort and Shenanigans Irish Pub), in front of Ruen Thai
Restaurant. 485/4 Moo 10, Pattaya Second Road. Cuisine: Continental European
Fine Dining. Tel: 038 723 660.
Bruno’s Restaurant and Wine Bar, 306/63 Chateau
Dale Plaza, Thappraya Road, Pattaya/Jomtien. Cuisine: International. Tel:
038 364 600.
Indian By Nature, 306/64-68 Chateau Dale Plaza,
Thappraya Road, Pattaya/Jomtien. Cuisine: Northern Indian. Tel: 038 364 656.
The Raj, 3/110-111 M6, Third Road, North Pattaya
(opposite Pattaya Driving Range). Cuisine: Indian. Tel: 038 370 704.
Marco Polo Chinese Restaurant, Montien Hotel, Pattaya
2nd Road, (100 metres up from the Central Pattaya Road intersection),
Central Pattaya. Cuisine: Cantonese and Schezuan. Tel: 038 428 155.
Ristorante Italiano Da Joe, 112/2 Moo 10, Walking
Street, South Pattaya. Cuisine: Original old-style Italian. Tel: 038 710
733.
The Bay Restaurant, Dusit Resort, 240/2 Pattaya Beach
Road, North Pattaya. Cuisine: International/Italian. Tel: 038 425 611.
Art Caf้, 285/3 Moo 5, Soi 16 Pattaya Naklua
Road, Naklua. Cuisine: Mediterranean. Tel: 038 367 652.
Captain’s Corner Steak House, 146/107 Thappraya
Road, South Pattaya. Cuisine: Texan BBQ steaks and seafood. Tel: 038364 318.
Jomtien Boathouse, 380/5-6 Jomtien Beach Road (Cnr Soi 8), Jomtien.
Cuisine: BBQ brochettes (steak and seafood). Tel: 038 756 143.
