by Miss Terry Diner
Gone are the days where a restaurant could stand on
just its cuisine. These days, the experienced and ‘switched on’ establishments
are offering a little more. Value added is the catch-cry.
Happy
birthday Kanikar.
One restaurant which has understood this concept for many years is the Jomtien
Boathouse, which is not only a great value place to eat, but also a great place
for entertainment. Elvis Ballard played to packed houses there for many years,
now replaced by Elvis Arthur on Monday and Tuesdays, but there is also an
additional cabaret act with Willy and Mandy on Wednesdays and Thursdays.
The dining out team was able to experience this new act first-hand when we
attended the ‘somethingth’ birthday of the “hostess with the mostest”, Kanikar
Ottesen. Kanikar and husband Ib have developed both the Captain’s Corner on
Thappraya Road and the Jomtien Boathouse on Jomtien Beach Road to be well known
landmarks, and definitely know how to keep customers coming back. No secret,
just good food in an enjoyable atmosphere, heightened by the entertainment
Monday to Thursday. This is one venue where the staff really does welcome you.
This
is one venue where the staff really does welcome you.
If you have not tried this venue for dining out, then it is on Jomtien Beach
Road, on the corner of Soi 8, and is on the ground floor of the Jomtien
Boathouse building, which has 24 top class rooms available for rental.
The restaurant area is divided into three, with an air-conditioned inside
section, which has its own bar and performing stage, and the outside area facing
the sea and relying on the cooling breezes from the Gulf of Thailand. This
second area also has the third section which is a sit-up bar where you can
oversee Jomtien Beach Road.
The
cabaret has ‘em singing in their seats.
Outside seating is at natural wood tables and chairs, which do have cushions for
poorly upholstered bottoms. The service personnel are friendly, outfitted in
black, with long green aprons, and it is service with a smile.
The menu is a photographic one, which is always a good idea. Guests can see what
they are going to get. If only more restaurants would adopt this, especially in
our international resort city where not all their guests speak English! At the
Boathouse there is always a strong Scandinavian contingent, with Ib having come
from Denmark, but many years ago.
Food begins with a page of prawn specials, done in various ways (B. 150-180) and
these are followed by some inexpensive appetizers (B. 65-150) with salmon
asparagus rolls at the top end. A couple of pages of starters are on offer, with
most around B. 130 with baby clams in garlic a popular dish.
Mandy’s
raunchy “Hey Big Spender” had more than one male in the birthday party audience
reaching for their wallets!
The brochettes are very well known and huge! The skewers are swords, rather than
spears and range in price from B. 225 to B. 375 depending upon your choice of
filling. Main courses range from B. 195 through to B. 350 for steaks. There is
also a good range of Thai favorites, and even a children’s menu.
The wine list has both old and new worlds, with the majority being very budget
priced. An Italian prosecco at under B. 1,000 makes for good drinking.
The old and new acts came together for Kanikar’s birthday, and they produced a
cabaret show that kept everyone enthralled until late, non-stop. Both acts know
how to interface with the audience, and Mandy’s raunchy “Hey Big Spender” had
more than one male in the birthday party audience reaching for their wallets! It
was only when she later launched into an Isaan number that the diners finally
twigged that she was a Thai. A brilliant performer in the Liza Minnelli mold.
The Jomtien Boathouse, Hotel, Wine and Grill; Jomtien Beach Road (corner Soi 8),
telephone 038 756 143, fax 038 756 144, email [email protected],
website www.jomtien-boathouse .com. Open seven days, 8 a.m. until 11.30 p.m. I
do suggest you book, especially if you want to see Mandy! Breakfast from 8 a.m.,
lunch 11 a.m. till 6 p.m. and dinner from 6 p.m. until late. On street parking..
