Heaven for the carnivores
The Beefeater Steak House and Pub had its soft opening
almost one year ago, when we did our initial Dining Out investigation. At
the end of my review I wrote, “This restaurant is a very worthwhile
addition to the dining out venues in Pattaya.” 12 months down the track, I
was interested to see just how it was faring.
The first difference, or development, was that the
restaurant now opens at 9 a.m., rather than mid afternoon, and with the
early opening has several breakfasts (B. 79-199) to choose from, plus a
lunch menu (B. 149-299) as well. The next obvious development was that on
the day we visited, the venue was very busy, so Pattaya must have been
reading its Pattaya Mails!
The
restaurant has two entrances. You can gain access from Soi Diana Inn, right
opposite the Diana Inn itself, or from the other side, in the arcade that
used to be known as the Bavaria House arcade and now called Central Shopping
Arcade, opposite Mike Shopping Mall.
The restaurant has two distinct areas, one ‘outside’
in the arcade itself and very much reminiscent of European pavement dining,
and the second is inside and air-conditioned. The tables are mainly placed
in alcoves and are large enough to seat large people with large appetites! D้cor
is eclectic ranging from a carved bas-relief Bentley to a painting of Jimi
Hendricks! Something for everyone, I suppose.
There is a separate a la carte menu from the breakfast
and lunch volumes, beginning with starters, between B. 55-165, including a
smoked salmon, which is smoked by the restaurant here in Pattaya.
These are followed by salads (B. 70-100), pastas (B.
165-220), Mexican items including nachos, tacos, enchiladas and chili con
carne (B. 159-240) and fajitas (chicken or beef, B.275-325).
Next up are the burgers (B. 175-220), ribs and chicken
and then the grills and steaks, for which the Beefeater is probably best
known. There are eight choices of grills, including pork as well as steak
(NZ, but Argentinean is coming as well) with five choices of potato and nine
different sauces. The steaks include various sizes of portions, from 200 gm
up to a massive 400 gm fillet for B. 595.
The Thai menu covers a couple of pages, with most items
around B. 100, and we were reassured that the Thai chef ensures that the
taste is authentic Thai.
Bottled beers are around B. 80 for a small bottle, and
the vast majority of wines are less than B. 1000, with house wine B. 120 per
glass.
We began with the smoked salmon for me, which was very
well presented, the salmon having an excellent flavor. Madame’s Toast
Skagen was an interesting mixture of chopped shrimp in a dill dressing, on
toast. As a starter it was fine, but the dill dressing did tend to overpower
the shrimp.
For mains, Madame had decided on the hamburger, while I
went for the Steak Minute. Both arrived on very large plates, with salad and
chips plus cheese and bacon for the burger. The meat patty is made in house
from ground beef, with the Beefeater’s own Cajun spices added, making for
a much nicer taste than the usual burger. The good quality bacon and cheese
when added to the burger still kept their own individual tastes too. An
excellent burger.
My Minute Steak was also large, practically filling a
very large plate. The herb butter and the gravy combined to make this
another excellent choice, and one that I can heartily endorse.
With starters and a main course, we were unable to
venture into desserts, having had an enjoyable, tasty and filling meal each.
Once again, I am pleased to report that the Beefeater is
certainly a worthwhile addition to the dining out venues in Pattaya. In a
word, recommended (particularly if you like steak, though remember there are
Thai favorites for Thai partners).
The Beefeater Steak House and Pub, 216/30-31 Soi Diana Inn, Pattaya
Second Road (in the arcade opposite Mike Shopping Mall), Central Pattaya,
telephone 038 720 926. Open 9 a.m. until midnight seven days. Street parking
(or go across to Mikes Department store and park there).
