DINING OUT - ENTERTAINMENT

Papa David Restaurant - a ‘sleeper’ uncovered

by Miss Terry Diner

Once again I am reminded that Jomtien has become ‘the’ dining out area for Pattaya. There are the heavyweights like Bruno’s which will always be right up there in any culinary polls, Italian pizzerias like Pan-Pan, through to some quaint and quirky French places and the British style Ace Cafe. Now add to those the Papa David Restaurant.

We had spotted this restaurant, nestling behind the gold “Hanuman” statue where the road from Pattaya swings right towards the Dongtan Beach. In an open-fronted double shophouse, there are around a dozen glass-topped tables with large comfortable cane chairs (with cushions). A sign outside promises breakfast from B. 35 and another offers ‘specials’ for B. 195. We were obviously not going to need a platinum credit card to feed here.

The menu, which has photographs to assist the diner (always a good idea) offers 17 breakfasts from about as many nationalities, covering English, Continental, Dutch, German, French, Norwegian, Belgian, American, Swiss and Italian, with prices from the signboard B. 35 toast and coffee through to B. 145 for something larger and more exotic.

The rotating specials follow the same pattern of a soup or prawn cocktail, main course and dessert for B. 195. Depending upon which day you venture in, the mains can be fish, pork, bratwurst, beef or half a chicken. Good choices and amusing spellings!

The menu proper continues with sandwiches (B. 60), or being toasted slightly more expensive or the British favourite ‘Toasties’ with different fillings (B. 80-95). ‘Specialities’ cover omelettes and pastas, with the most expensive being B. 125.

Soups and salads (B. 55-75) are followed by Burgers and Sausages (B. 110-145) and then a general heading of Dinners offers pork, chicken, fish and beef dishes, with the vast majority between B. 155-195. There are also two pages of Thai favourites, with nothing over B. 105.

Local beers range from B. 50-65 and a small, but reasonably varied selection of wines is stocked, with bottles from both the old and new world. Prices run between B. 600-845, around what you would expect to pay in the supermarket!

I decided I would try the Norwegian Breakfast, which at B. 145 included Norwegian smoked salmon, two scrambled eggs, toast, jam, OJ and tea or coffee. Madame felt the need to try some “British” fish and chips, but this came with the top of the line Norwegian cod and French fries (who said the Brits were rigid in their cooking?).

My first surprise came with the size of the Norwegian breakfast, huge! Presented on a large wooden platter, with large cold serves of salmon and ditto, but hot, serving of scrambled eggs. A pepper mill was brought over, without having to be asked for, and the entire breakfast was most enjoyable (and filling).

Madame’s fish was excellent. In a crispy batter and not at all oily. She had chosen garden peas, rather than the British ‘mushy’ variety, and they were sweet and succulent, and the french-fries were also cooked and served correctly. Mention must be made of the tartare sauce that came with this one, made on the premises and suited the fish perfectly. Other sauces and condiments were from the better quality brands. The bottles were clean, too, not encrusted with dried sauce.

For a restaurant that has been going for only seven months, Papa David is well entrenched, and it is easy to see why. The food was good quality, both in the cooking and in the raw ingredients, the servings were not skimpy, the prices were very reasonable (the Norwegian breakfast is well under-priced), and the premises clean and inviting (the kitchen was spotless). The service was at times a little haphazard, but David was on hand to make sure everything went as planned. Well worth a trip, even if just to marvel at the offering of 17 breakfasts! Highly recommended.

Papa David Restaurant, 481/2-3 Moo 12, Jomtien (behind the gold Hanuman statue on the corner), telephone 038 303 909, 01 949 1399. Open from 7 a.m. until 10 p.m. (kitchen) or 11 p.m. (restaurant). Closed Sundays during low season, but open seven days from September 26. Plenty of on-street parking.