A friend who has an office on Second Road told me about a
restaurant that delivers their lunches. Inexpensive and good food and
lashings of it, he told me, so we decided to take the Dining Out Team to try
it.
Called the Munch Shack, it is on the right hand side
inbound on Pattaya Second Road, exactly opposite Soi Pattayaland 2, that
bewildering forest of neon signs and nubile young ladies!
The Munch Shack is under English management and has been
on Second Road for the past 12 months (previously there was a Bangladeshi
restaurant there).
Being a guest house and pub, it features eight rooms
(from B. 350-650) and a bar at the rear of the restaurant area. There is
also a pool table off to one side (free for diners) and a sit-up eatery at
the front, looking out over the amazing sights of Pattayaland!
The main restaurant area has free-standing polished
tables with bamboo slat place-mats and cushioned chairs. Several sauces are
already on the tables, including HP, Worcestershire, tomato ketchup and the
ilk, and other sauces and condiments come with dishes that require them,
such as malt vinegar, mustards and mayonnaise.
The menu is selective, rather than being comprehensive,
and is in both English and Thai. It commences with a dozen All Day
Breakfasts. The Munch Shack offers these from B. 25, through to the most
expensive ‘Super’ breakfast which has two eggs (scrambled or fried),
sausages, back bacon, mushrooms, beans and coffee or tea with a free refill.
There is even kow tom for those who want a true Thai breakfast.
Appetizers
and soups are next, with shrimp cocktails at B. 75 and various soups for B.
55, other than goulash at B. 95. Soups come with freshly baked bread rolls.
Seven salads are up next, and the Munch Shack emphasized
that all their food is fresh, being delivered each day from the markets.
Salads range between B. 45-85.
A section just called Favorite Dishes (B. 150-200)
includes (breaded) fish and chips and Chicken Maryland. These are followed
by burgers (200 gram, we were told and served with french-fries) and
sandwiches with the most expensive being B. 105.
Steaks range between B. 150-300 (for the T-bone), then
spaghetti dishes at B. 85-95, omelets (B. 45-95) and baguettes and
sandwiches (B. 25-75) and then a couple of pages of Thai favorites (all well
under B. 100).
Local beers are available from B. 49 upwards, and there
is even house wine.
Being a lunchtime foray, we did not go for starters,
despite some looking very enticing, and Madame (of the large appetite)
decided to go for the Chicken Maryland, while I (of the smaller appetite)
chose the baguette with chicken.
The Chicken Maryland came with salad and french-fries and
practically overflowed the large plate. For B. 150, it was a bargain even
before Madame picked up her cutlery to begin eating. The chicken was
delicately and correctly cooked, with the schnitzel neither greasy, nor
dried out. Great value and great eating.
My baguette arrived at the same time, and really, it was
enormous! Filled with shredded chicken breast meat and some salad, it was
wrapped in a beautifully soft and tasty fresh bread roll. I had to recheck
the menu to confirm that this only cost B. 45! It even came with its own
bowl of mayonnaise.
There was no question about the value that the Munch
Shack is offering. Very large portions and even Madame’s chosen cup of tea
was extremely large as well. No demitasse here, but a big hot steaming mug!
This restaurant does not pretend to be anything other
than a budget eatery, but it does offer great value and correctly cooked
food. I can see why my friend’s office rings up for deliveries on a
regular basis. Definitely well worth remembering, especially if you work in
town. A great meal that will not burn a hole in your pocket.
The Munch Shack, Pub and Restaurant (and guest house), 194/7-8 Second
Road, South Pattaya, telephone 038 421 741, website www.munchshack.com. Open
9 a.m. until midnight, seven days. Local deliveries catered for.
