by Miss Terry Diner
Greg’s Kitchen is surely now one of the landmarks in
Pattaya. After nine years, the venue on Second Road just past the Tourist
Police and before the Bangkok Bank on the corner of Soi 4, should be well
known. The driving force behind it all, Greg Sulis, is also well known by
now, and has maintained his ‘hands-on’ approach which has kept up the
standards of this restaurant.
We called in late one Thursday night, and as always, Greg
was there to meet and greet. The restaurant does have that personal and
somewhat homely atmosphere to it. Even if you have never been there before,
Greg makes you feel as if you are an old friend.
The restaurant has an outside courtyard, which Greg refers to as the
Smoker’s Terrace, whilst inside is air-conditioned and non-smoking. As you
walk inside there is a pie fridge on your left, as pies have been a
perennial favorite of Greg’s customers.
The tables are covered, the seats are padded and when you sit down, a cold
towel is offered. It is not intended to be fine dining, but by the same
token it is more of a restaurant than a bistro or café.
The
menu is large, and so is the type face. Hallelujah! You do not need to
scratch around looking for your reading glasses. Blind Freddie could read
this menu!
Since Greg’s Kitchen opens at 8.30 a.m. there is an all-day breakfast, and
there are also lunchtime items served between 11 a.m. and 5 p.m. (late
lunch!). These lunchtime deals are smaller portions (important – see later
in the review) and come with potatoes, vegetables or salad and are priced at
B. 195.
Getting into the main meals of the day, beginning with starters (B.
130-195), you go on into some British favorites with pies and traditional
roasts (B. 265-295) and then some Chef’s specials, with the Braised steak
being very popular (B. 295). Imported steaks are all B. 495 and they come
with 11 choices of potatoes.
However, it should be noted that Greg offers many international and Thai
dishes, including spaghetti, Norwegian salmon, schnitzels and goulash, with
most of these well under B. 300 as well. Add in salads and jacket potatoes
and you have a huge choice. House wines are only B. 150 a glass, and bottles
range from B. 750-1200.
We began with a Prawns Provencale, which came with some very plump prawns in
a white wine, tomato and garlic sauce and garlic bread. Excellent! Not too
much garlic but enough to whet the appetite.
For mains, Madame went for the roast NZ lamb (complete with Yorkshire
pudding), while the gammon, two eggs and chips caught my eye. We were both
more than satisfied with our choices, the lamb was tender (and came with
mint sauce), while my gammon steak was thick and tender and I loved the
rough cut British chips (and came with some genuine Colman’s mustard). What
must be mentioned is the size of the portions. Huge! Greg said, “Hearty is a
good word, but you can order the smaller lunchtime portion.”
We ended up at Greg’s Kitchen, as we always seem to, completely full to
bursting. “You must try my homemade ice cream,” said Greg. Fortunately, in
the name of investigative journalism, Madame rose to the occasion. I could
not, but all reports were that the ice cream was a true example of home made
Italian.
Greg’s Kitchen is far more than just a British kitchen. Greg Sulis is an
international chef and his fare is indeed international. The prawns
Provencale that we enjoyed was just one of the many international choices.
If you are looking for good, no-frills cooking of dishes presented in huge
portions, we can very much recommend Greg’s Kitchen. There is a sign on the
door saying “Come sad – leave happy”. We did! A most enjoyable evening, and
when we feel a little less full, we will go back there!
Greg’s Kitchen, 370/21-22 Pattaya Second Road (Between the Tourist Police
and the Bangkok Bank corner Soi 4) telephone 038 361 227. Open seven days
8.30 a.m. until 11 p.m. Plenty of side street parking in Soi 4.
