by Miss Terry
Diner
It is difficult to comprehend that Café New Orleans in
Soi Pattayaland 2 is now in its eighth year. In the vibrant and
ever-changing Pattaya, and especially in the neon tube environment of Soi
Pattayaland 2, to be still trading, and in the original location, is almost
Guinness Book of Records material.
If driving, you have to come up Soi Pattayaland 2 from
Beach Road, and look out for parking places, otherwise park on Second Road
and walk down the soi. You will not miss Café New Orleans, on the corner of
the soi and Pattayaland 3, otherwise known as Boyztown.
The restaurant is long and narrow, but very well lit
inside. The staff is also very welcoming, dressed in their very distinctive
“formal” aprons. The walls are covered in New Orleans photographs, to
add to the atmosphere. Upstairs, on the mezzanine level, there is another
dining area that can be used for private functions.
The menu is large, both in content and physically, and it
is worth the while to sit and study, as there are many specials, as well as
the standard menu items. There is also a separate Thai food menu for those
who do not want to try the American Cajun-Creole/European food in the main
menu. Within the menu there are also 22 vegetarian items, which bears
remembering if you are entertaining non-carnivores.
Appetizers are generally in the B. 150-200 region and
include Cajun calamari, gambas and stuffed bell peppers with crabmeat. The
famous ribs feature heavily, plus various BBQ combinations at around B. 400.
Steaks range between B. 495-750 including a Beef Souvlaki.
From
there, it is on to Chicken, Seafood, Pasta and others called Extra Special
Creations. There literally is something for everyone.
While we waited for our food, a small loaf of hot toasted
crusty bread was delivered to the table, complete with a herb butter pat. We
had looked through the wine list and chose “Yellow” by Yellowglen, an
Australian Methode Champenoise, since one is not allowed to call these
‘champagne’ any longer. At B. 1,500 this is a wonderful sparkler and
goes very well with the food.
We had selected the Oysters Kilpatrick for me, and Madame
went for the tangy mushrooms. I have had these oysters before, and Café New
Orleans is the only restaurant I know that serves multiple oysters on the
one shell. A wonderful and tasty and very filling appetizer. Madame enjoyed
her mushrooms too.
For mains, Madame went straight to the top with the B.
750 extra thick cut filet mignon, ordered rare. These steaks come from
Australia and this was cooked to order, and was truly a melt in the mouth
item.
For me, I decided to see if the ribs were as good as the
restaurant claims, but after the filling oysters, I only had a half slab of
baby back ribs at B. 375. To go with our meals, we decided to try the
Broccoli potato boat B. 125 (large size). These are made to owner Steve
Burke’s grandmother’s recipe and were another very filling and very
flavoursome side order to our excellent mains.
Somehow we were talked into desserts, which were again
superb, and certainly finished an indulgent evening.
Perhaps it is something to do with the ‘electric’
atmosphere of Soi Pattayaland 2, but I have always enjoyed meals at Café
New Orleans. It is a bistro-style restaurant, so has that laid-back air
about it; however, the food is far better than you would imagine from a
bistro. The proud boast is that they have “The best steaks and ribs in the
kingdom”. That would certainly be open for discussion and different
interpretations, but I have to say that we were totally satisfied with our
meals at Café New Orleans, including our steak and ribs. The standard was
very high, and even more importantly, the high quality has been maintained,
hence it still being busy after eight years! Highly recommended. And do try
the Yellow sparkler. A wonderful party starter.
Café New Orleans, Soi Pattayaland 2, South Pattaya, telephone 038 710
805, fax 038 710 784, email cafe neworleans @ csloxinfo .com, website
www.cafenewor leans.net. Street parking. Open 3 p.m. until midnight, seven
days.
