I have called this week’s venue the ‘new’ Mercure
hotel, so that I do not send anyone on a wild goose chase along Sukhumvit
Road past Banglamung, where the ‘old’ Mercure stood some years ago. The
‘new’ Mercure Pattaya is a very stylish modern hotel around 300 meters
up from Pattaya Second Road (turn right into Soi 15, almost opposite
Pattayaland Soi 1 on your left).
After
the security staff ascertained that our family vehicle was ‘safe’, we
parked and entered the hotel. Immediately the hotel staff impressed us with
their enthusiastic welcome. We were to review the Cappuccino Terrace, which
is situated around the pool, and this is their dedicated Italian restaurant.
(There is also an Asian restaurant, a tapas bar and a smokers’ corner for
drinks and cigars.)
Being outdoors, the restaurant furniture on the
Cappuccino Terrace is of the garden type, but we found the chairs quite
comfortable. The napery is of high quality and the cutlery is bespoke
stainless steel. There are several large palm trees and tropical plants to
shield the diners from the pool, but the atmosphere is very much
‘resort’. We felt as if we too were on holidays, just being there.
The wine list covers mainly the lower range of prices,
but the French Sauvignon Blanc 2003 house wine at B. 750 a bottle was
eminently drinkable, and suited the Italian repast. (Mercure being a French
hotel group, we felt we should choose a French wine to go with our dinner!)
The menu comes on a large two sided laminated board and
begins with salads and antipasti, with six choices, and most around B. 200.
(I did see another table had ordered a salad and it came in a very large
bowl, be warned!)
There is only one soup, a shrimp bisque, and then eight
choices of pasta (B. 195-240) including a Roman gnocchi with gorgonzola
(sounds and smells delicious, I am sure) and an interesting foie gras
ravioli. The pastas are followed by a couple of risottos (B. 240) and then a
choice of seven pizzas, all at B. 220 and finally eight items “From the
Grill” (B. 290-425) with pork chop, grilled chicken or duck breast at the
lower end, and imported cuts of meat at the top end.
While waiting, the service staff brought Italian bread
sticks and other examples of Italian baking, which arrived with some
individual serves of olive oil. We began with the shrimp bisque cappuccino
soup for Madame, a wonderfully creamy bisque, that was excellent and a
bargain at B. 140. I had chosen the tomato and mozzarella salad, which came
with nice thick slices of the cheese and was a good starter.
For mains, Madame had decided upon the grilled duck
breast with her choice of garden greens salad, while I stayed with the
Italian flavors and chose the ocean seafood pizza, which did come, as the
menu described, with tomato, garlic, oregano and cheese (lots of) as well as
the seafood. Both items were brought to the table on wooden platters, which
I thought was a nice touch, and the pizza featured a thin, non-oily crust,
which was most welcome. One does get rather tired of the thick, oil dripping
varieties, so often seen at the fast food outlets.
We enjoyed our evening at the Cappuccino Terrace. The
food is very pleasant. It is not expensive, and it was a nice surprise to
find that all the prices were net, and not plus plus, as is usually the case
in hotel outlets. The shrimp bisque cappuccino soup was smooth and superb,
and highly recommended. In addition, the all-you-can-eat Wednesday evening
P&P night (pizza and pasta) at B. 360 is a very inexpensive way to try
the Mercure’s Italian food for yourself. This is a forthcoming December
promotion, so I suggest a quick call to make sure it has started!
The ‘new’ Mercure’s Cappuccino Terrace is well
worth a visit.
Cappuccino Terrace, Mercure Hotel, Soi 15 Pattaya Second Road, telephone
038 425 050, fax 038 425 080, email hotel @mercurepattaya.com. Secure
parking in hotel car park. Opens seven days, 6.30 a.m. for breakfast, last
orders in the evening 10.30 p.m.
