by Miss Terry Diner
This week’s Dining Out was accidental. We were supposed to be reviewing
another restaurant and it had all been arranged, but when we got there the
staff looked at us as if we had just arrived from the moon. The manageress,
who was off site, was contacted and said she didn’t want us to review the
restaurant without her being present and would we come another evening.
Quite frankly, this was unacceptable, so we took our leave.
Faced with going home and cooking our own dinner, we decided we would just
go and have a meal somewhere else! Being close to Jameson’s Irish Pub we
went there. We were both delighted with our meals, so much so that we
decided that this would be the Dining Out review. One restaurant’s loss was
another restaurant’s gain, even though I did have to come back later to take
the photographs!
Jameson’s Irish Pub has certainly made its presence felt in Pattaya dining
and drinking circles in the past 12 months. Part of the Nova Group, and
attached to the Nova Park development on Soi AR central Pattaya, it is under
the watchful eye of the landlord, Kim Fletcher. Kim’s background is in
restaurant kitchens, having been a professional chef before moving to the
front of the house, and this shows in the standard of the kitchens under his
care, right from Jools in Bangkok some years ago, through to Jameson’s
today.
There are those who still claim that the venue is too difficult to find, but
this is not really the case, but for those who are unsure, here are the two
best ways to approach the pub. Firstly from Pattaya Second Road, turn right
into Soi 4 (next to the Bangkok Bank, after the Grand Sole Hotel on the
right and before Soi 6 on the left). Follow Soi 4 up to the top where it
then bends to the right. Nova Park and Jameson’s is on your left, drive 20
meters past and the large car park is clearly marked. The other easy way to
get there is to come down North Road from Sukhumvit Road, cross over Third
Road and turn left into the Central Festival Center Road (the one that runs
behind the Big C supermarket complex). Follow this road to the T junction at
the end, turn left and follow the road round to the right (as you have
joined the Soi 4 route at this point), and Nova Park and Jameson’s are again
on your left. There are at least two other ways to get there, but these two
are the simplest to explain.
Now back to eating! From the extensive (but not expensive) menu I chose the
tomato and rum soup (B. 95), to be followed by the beef and Guinness pie (B.
260), while Madame ordered a steak sandwich (B. 225).
The soup, which came in a small tureen, had a goodly tot of rum in it, and
certainly sparkled up the simple tomato and whetted my appetite for the
second course.
The mains arrived together, and Madame’s first words were “Oh my God!” when
she saw the size of the meal. A large serving of chips, plenty of vegetables
and a huge section of crisp French bread, filled to overflowing with sliced
steak and an onion gravy. My pie, in a large bowl, was covered with well
baked filo pastry and was full of very tender, juicy chunks of beef. Both
were excellent examples of first class pub food.
We were both thrilled with our food served that evening, especially so as
this was not a ‘scheduled’ dining out. From the staff and kitchen point of
view, we were just two diners. The head chef, who had just started that
week, was also oblivious to the fact that his work had become subject of
review. However, we both gave Jameson’s Irish Pub a highly recommended
rating. While we have enjoyed the daily rotating specials in the past, do
not overlook the standard menu either. Great food, well prepared and good
value.
Jameson’s Irish Pub, 80/164 Moo 9, Soi Sukrudee (Soi AR), Central Pattaya.
Secure parking. Open seven days 8 a.m. until 1 a.m. Telephone 038 381 873,
email [email protected], www.jamesons-pattaya.com
