Yorkies was established around six years ago
by the very pleasant Yorkshire (is there anywhere else?) couple, Eileen and
Norman Denning. Norman is an old-style British butcher who brought his
skills, experience (and equipment) from the UK to set up in Jomtien.
The establishment is on Jomtien Beach Road, 30 metres
after the Chaiyapruek Police Box, next to a 7-Eleven and just before Nang
Nual Restaurant. A bright green and orange awning and similar coloured
signage makes it easy to spot.
The restaurant has two main areas, an airy outside
covered section and a smaller interior one. The outer area has ‘rustic’
timber settings with several ceiling fans bringing in the cooling breezes
from the sea, while the inner one is more conventional restaurant style, set
alongside the glassed-in butcher’s shop. All sections, including the
butcher’s shop were also spotlessly clean.
I got the feeling after talking with Eileen and Norman
that Yorkies these days is more like a butcher’s shop that does meals,
rather than a restaurant that sells meat. The range of goods available from
the shop is formidable, though Norman just said, “It’s a normal
butcher’s shop.” You can get bacon, ham, sausages, pies (several types),
frozen steaks, curries, stews, hot-pots, kippers, pork chops and fruit pies.
You can even get home-made pickles, done by Eileen. They also do a very neat
shepherd’s pie or fisherman’s pie, that comes in its own ceramic dish.
At less than B. 200 for each, they are a bargain, as the dish is yours to
keep afterwards. Norman’s “normal” butcher’s shop now supplies
customers and supermarkets in Chiang Mai, Bangkok, Phuket and Koh Chang, as
well as Pattaya/Jomtien.
With the emphasis being on breakfasts and lunches, the 8
a.m. start will be welcomed by many, as most others do not open till 9
“ish”. The menu opens with seven traditional English breakfasts, ranging
between B. 90 for the ‘Small’ with one bacon rasher, one pork sausage,
one fried egg, tomato, one slice of toast and a mug of tea or coffee,
through to the huge ‘Gutbuster’ with two of everything you could ever
think of, including beans, mushrooms and fried potatoes at B. 215.
Next up are sandwiches and light snacks, with the
majority of items under B. 100, though the jacket potatoes with different
fillings are around B. 160.
Main meals are up next and there are several pages of
these, covering steak, gammon, pork, liver, beef, lamb, shepherd’s pie,
fish, stews, sausages, assorted pies, and curries. Most items fall into the
range B. 100-200, so are not expensive.
Desserts (or as the British people call them
“sweets”) round out the menu, with fruit pies B. 60-65, sponges B. 65
and ice creams at B. 25 per scoop.
At the back of the menu there are some Thai favourites,
soft drinks and beers, with a large Singha only B. 85.
I went there at lunch time, on a very hot day, and I was
amazed at just how cool the outer section was, with the sea breezes and the
overhead fans. I chose the Cornish pasty and selected the garden peas (not
being a fan of the British ‘mushy’ peas). It came with gravy and mint
sauce, and was a decent sized pasty too. Eileen telling me that it was made
from a traditional Cornish recipe given to them by a real Cornishwoman. The
food was served hot, the peas were correctly and obviously freshly cooked
and lovely, and the pasty filled with meat. I enjoyed it and any larger
would have been a waste.
Yorkies Pork Platter has managed to retain its British
atmosphere, with its no-frills dining, and good solid British food. The
convenience of having the butcher’s shop integrated with the restaurant
means that the take-away butchery business is very strong, with many people
dropping in for lunch and picking up the sausages and bacon for breakfast.
You take Yorkies as you find it. Yorkshire transplanted
to a much better climate! Great food and good portions. Do try it.
Yorkies Pork Platter, 125/4-5 M.12, Jomtien Beach Road,
Jomtien, telephone 038 231 918. Open 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Parking on street
