Irish cooking spread throughout the world when families were forced to send their children overseas, following the potato famine of 1845. Bosco’s Irish Pub hasn’t been around that long (in fact it had only been open four months), but the popularity of Irish pubs has remained. Being one of the newer pubs in Pattaya, the Dining Out team went along to sample this new venue.
The décor you could call either Irish or Irish memorabilia or OTT Irish, reflecting the fact that owner Bosco once worked for the Irish national museum, and includes models fully dressed in various Irish uniforms, rare Irish banknotes and a full wall of miniature cars, including a complete set of ‘Garda’ (the name for the Irish police) paddy wagons from the early 1900’s to the present day.
Bosco himself (a nickname relating to the children’s TV puppet - and there is a picture of the original Bosco on the wall, just ask Bosco and he’ll show it to you) is very proudly Irish and deplores “Irish” pubs presenting such items as “stuffed leprechauns” as the genuine Irish article. On the night we were there, listening to the Irish brogues around the place, the genuine Irish articles were certainly there!
Being a pub, it should offer a good range of beers, which it does indeed, and inexpensively. Pints of Heineken and Tiger are B. 80, John Smith’s B. 120, Kilkenny B. 150 and even Guinness is B. 150 for a pint. Bottled beers are similarly inexpensive with most ranging between B. 35-45, including San Miguel Lite.
It would have been easy to settle into an evening of amber fluid, it is really that kind of place, but we had come to sample the food, of which Bosco is very proud. “I stand by my food,” said he.
The Bosco’s menu is not extensive, but certainly not expensive. The ‘all-day’ breakfasts are B. 150 with all the trimmings, and omelets are B. 80-109 and also include free orange juice and coffee or tea.
There is even a B. 99 menu for those wanting snacks, including a KFC chicken and fries (that is obviously Killarney Fried Chicken), mince beef/chicken pie and fries, club sandwich and jacket potato with choice of toppings.
The main menu covers soups (B. 95), baskets with roast chicken, sausages, BBQ spare ribs or scampi (B. 120-279), burgers (B. 150-199), steaks (sirloin, T-bone and gammon) and grills (B. 329-449), sandwiches (B. 80-140) and pies.
We do live in a multicultural society in Pattaya, and Bosco’s has not forgotten that important fact and offers a Thai favorites menu with most dishes B. 140.
I chose the gammon steak (B. 329) coming with a fried egg, pineapple ring, tomato, garden peas and fries, and was cooked correctly, gammon being an easy meat to overcook. Madame (of the hearty appetite) selected the special Bosco Burger, which came with everything including a small container of pickles, all of which she washed down appropriately with a Guinness.
Both of us agreed that our food was good, the portions more than adequate, and were tasty examples of pub food. “It’s an Irish pub,” said Bosco, “not a restaurant!”
We finished our meals with Irish coffees, “Made with Jameson’s and not Kahlua,” said Bosco.
Bosco’s Irish Pub is certainly the venue if you wish to experience the Irish ambience. As the sign outside says “Irish owned and Irish run”. The food is good and not expensive. The liquid refreshments are probably some of the cheapest in town, and with a “happy hour” that begins at 11 a.m. and finishes when the pub closes, you don’t have to gulp the second last pint. If you have even the very smallest amount of Irish DNA in your veins, or have even just visited the emerald isle, you will enjoy the Bosco’s Irish Pub experience. We did, and I can recommend the gammon and the Irish coffee for which I backed up for a second glass!
Bosco’s Irish Pub, Pattaya Central Road (next to Ali Baba and opposite Nova Lodge) and around 50 meters from Beach Road, telephone Declan (Bosco) 089 251 6550, [email protected]. Opens 8 a.m. and closes late, seven days. On-street parking usually not difficult in that area.

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PILC’s Satay Chicken

This is another recipe from the PILC charity recipe book called “Our International Secrets” and since the ladies of the club are very international, the recipes cover a wide range of items from different countries that you can produce in the kitchen. I like this satay recipe as you don’t need wooden skewers!

Cooking Method:   Heat a wok or large frying pan over high heat. Add the oil, chilli and chicken and cook for 2-3 minutes until golden. Do not put too much chicken in the pan at once - best to cook in two batches - or it will stew, not fry. Add the snow peas and cook for one minute, then add the combined coconut cream, peanut butter, soy sauce, stock, fish sauce and sugar and cook for a further minute or until slightly thickened. Stir in the coriander and serve with steamed rice.

Ingredients                   Serves 4
Polyunsaturated oil                 2 tbspns
Chicken breast fillets (sliced)             4
Long red chillies                               2
Snow peas (trimmed)               200 gm
Coconut cream                           ½ cup
Crunchy peanut butter               2 tbspns
Soy sauce                               2 tbspns
Chicken stock                            ½ cup
Fish sauce                                2 tspns
Brown sugar                            2 tbspns
Coriander leaves                     1 ½ cups