DINING OUT - ENTERTAINMENT

Another year over the gums!

by Miss Terry Diner

Being a food reviewer is not all champagne and chocolates, if I can borrow a phrase from the redoubtable Ms. Hillary. Every restaurateur feels that his or her restaurant is the best in its field or cuisine or whatever, and it is easy for them to feel slighted if the write up ends up as a review and not a rave.

Montien Buffets

During the past year, we reviewed over 50 restaurants, and at this time it has become customary for me to bring the list down to a dozen. I should point out that the dozen are not necessarily the ‘best’ restaurants in town, but ones that have stuck in my memory for many reasons; all are ones that I personally enjoyed.

The order in the list has no significance. They are not in some dining competition to produce a first, second and third, but the list will give you a pointer towards restaurants that Miss Terry Diner would suggest you try, if you have not done so already. I have listed them alphabetically, so there can be no claims of bias!

Amor. Always a surprising restaurant. Huge menu and very reasonably priced. 244/15 Pattayaland Soi 3, South Pattaya, telephone 038 710 680, email richard@ amorrestaurant.com, website www.amorrestaurant.com.

Amor Restaurant

Art Café้. Jo Stetten works hard to make this place work, but it has been the venue for some wonderfully relaxed evenings during the year. Some great art shows as well. 285 Moo 5, Soi 16 Pattaya Naklua Road, telephone 038 367 652, fax: 038 367 653, mobile 01 832 6031.

Balcony. One of Pattaya’s survivors in the top end of the market. Great for lunches as well as dinner. 151/35 Moo 5, Soi Ananthakul, North Pattaya Road (opposite City Hall), telephone 038 411 429.

Bruno’s. Helped put Jomtien on the culinary map after the shift from North Pattaya. The visiting young Italian chef has stimulated Fredi and left a few new items in the menu. Consistently excellent. 306/63 Chateau Dale Plaza, Thappraya Road, Tel: 038 364 600.

Café New Orleans. Another stayer in the local scene, with good food and not overpriced. A great start for the evening, for those who would like to try Soi Pattayaland 2 afterwards. Soi Pattayaland 2, South Pattaya, telephone 038 710 805, fax 038 710 784, email cafeneworleans@ csloxinfo.com, website www. cafeneworleans.net.

Art Café

Casa Pascal. Fine Dining in superb circumstances. Pascal keeps the menu changing and does much in the ‘value added’ area, with valet parking and limousine service a boon. Sunday Brunch in high season is a high point in my weekend. 485/M10, Pattaya Second Road, (next to Ruen Thai) Pattaya City, telephone for reservation (recommended) 038 723 660, email [email protected].

The Balcony

Don Joe. In the heart of the noisy Walking Street. My favorite home-style Italian, and the food is great as well! The Don is a wonderful host and dining out over the water makes for a very relaxing night. 112/2 Moo 10, Walking Street, South Pattaya, telephone 038 710 733.

Jameson’s Irish Pub. Consistently good food in trencherman portions. The rotating specials are hard to beat. I go at least once a month for the Monday night steak special at B. 150. Sensational. 80/146 Moo 9, Soi Sukrudee (Soi A.R.), Pattaya City, telephone 038 415 304-8, fax 038 415 309, email: [email protected] and website www.jamesons-pattaya.com.

Montien Buffets. The Montien has several all-you-can-eat buffets, and all of them are excellent value at around half the price of similar in the major hotels. Pattaya Second Road, Pattaya City, telephone 053 428 155, fax, 053 423 155, email [email protected].

Jameson’s Irish Pub

Siam Elephant. The best new restaurant of the year. Attached to the Siam Bayshore Hotel. Fine Dining and Thai cuisine in a superb setting. A place to take visitors from overseas. Siam Bayshore Hotel, 559 Pratamnak Road, South Pattaya, telephone 038 428 678-81.

The Bay. At the Dusit Point, this is one of the most spectacular venues. Imaginative menu with an Italian flair. Good service, good food, good wine list. What more do you need? Dusit Resort, 240/2 Pattaya Beach Road (enter from the Dolphin roundabout intersection of Pattaya Second, Pattaya North and Pattaya-Naklua Roads), Pattaya City, telephone 038 425 611, fax 038 428 239, email [email protected].

The Winemaker’s dinners at the Royal Cliff Beach Resort. Five star food and wine and a bargain at under B. 2000 per head. Executive Chef Walter Thenisch never ceases to amaze me with his innovative menu items (even if my butter koala fell out of its butter tree on the Australian wine night!).

Casa Pascal

So where is Mata Hari do I hear you ask? Currently relocating and will be somewhere really special, and always has as its trump card, the ebullient Louis Noll. It will be one of the top places in 2006. And what about The Grill Room at the Royal Cliff, with its third consecutive Wine Spectator magazine award? It will always be at the top of any ‘desirable’ list, but I didn’t review it in 2005! And the Captain’s Corner and the Jomtien Boathouse? Both first class and the reviews will be next year (2006)! So many great restaurants, and only 50 reviews a year!

Happy dining in 2006.