by Miss Terry
Diner
It had been over two years since the Dining Out team had
been to the Zeppelin Restaurant on Beach Road (now called the Zeppelin Bar
and Grill), though we had been more than a couple of times for private
dinners. It is actually one of the oldest established restaurants in
Pattaya, with discussion at our table as to whether it had been there
(though in different guises) for 30 or was it 40 years!
Whatever, the restaurant does have a ‘comfortable’
ambience, with the wood paneling everywhere adding to that, and the
welcoming smile from the young ladies in their white aprons is certainly
timeless. Along the front of the venue are several bay windows, allowing for
alcove seating and views across Beach Road. Since our last visit, the al
fresco dining tables outside seem to have disappeared, but to be honest, I
never saw anyone using them, the diners appearing to appreciate the
air-conditioning inside.
There are various sized tables as well as the window
alcoves, with some circular ones able to seat up to 12 diners, great for
large parties. Along one wall there is a sit-up bar area, and a table set up
with wines on promotion that month.
One obvious difference is in the direction of the menu
which has lost its heavy “German” leanings to have now a much more
international flavor. The menu is still in English and German, but although
there are still the favorites such as pork knuckle with sauerkraut and
boiled potatoes (B. 250), they are outnumbered by more international items
such as the British fish and chips (B. 175) or the European grilled salmon
steak with B้arnaise sauce (B. 295).
There is also a page of pastas and pizzas, all around B.
150, and another page of Thai favorites at B. 120 per item. On a separate
photo menu are the 40 cm brochette items, covering pork chops, lamb chops,
mixed fillet, prawns and steaks and sausages, with all around B. 220-295.
While perusing the menu, we nibbled on the hot
breadsticks and rolls (though they still come with those fiddly foil-wrapped
butter pats that I dislike). A beer seemed to be in order, and the draft
Heineken at B. 70 for 300 ml went down well.
We began with a traditional French onion soup (which did
come with the bread floating in the middle, covered with melted cheese at B.
95) for Madame, while I went for the deep-fried prawns in a light dill sauce
(B. 140). This was a superb dish. Good batter and the dill sauce light and
refreshing, though I wish they would remove the tails from the prawns,
rather than me!
For mains, Madame went for the imported fillet steak,
served on a sizzling platter (B. 295 - the local is B. 195) and it was
pleasant enough. I decided to go for the 40 cm brochette offering 400 gm of
pork chops. This was an enormous dish, and the pork was tender and I did not
really need the steak knife that was brought with the order.
Whilst the more usual zeppelins in history have all let
their customers down in the end, our local Zeppelin Bar and Grill has not.
The standards have remained consistently high, probably in no small part due
to the “maitresse d”, the delightful Khun Donna, who has been there for
more years than she would care to admit.
Large tables and a children’s menu does make this
restaurant a good venue for family outings, and the prices are such that it
will not break the family bank either. We did enjoy the food and the
evening. Definitely a place that you should keep in the back of your mind.
Parking is not a problem either, as you can park in the Nova Lodge secure
car park and walk through to the Zeppelin.
The Zeppelin Bar and Grill, corner Beach Road and Pattaya Klang (next to
Big Ben and the City (mini) Golf Course, behind Nova Lodge), Central
Pattaya, telephone 038 420 016. Hours: opens midday and closes midnight.
Parking on the street, or in the Nova Lodge, entrance from Pattaya Klang.
