Le Mignon is a new upscale venue in a somewhat down-scale street. Around half
way up the one-way Soi 13/2 (AKA Soi Post Office) on the left is Le Mignon,
standing out from all the bars and massage parlors with its clean white décor
and inviting glass front.
Enter and you find a sit-up bar running along the right hand
side of the single shophouse. On the other side of the bar is a spotless
kitchen, run by a young chef, but one with many years experience in the Sheraton
Bangkok. It does not take you long to realize that Le Mignon is different.
We decided to have a relaxing drink before progressing, and
one of the locally produced beers fit the bill (B. 80), even though we were
rather tempted by the special offer in the cocktails (generally around B. 160)
of ‘buy one get one free’.
After you wind down and take in the white chairs and mirror
walls, you suddenly realize that there are no tables! Relax, the tables and
chairs are on the next floor up, still continuing with the clean white d้cor
with freshly starched white tablecloths and starched white napkins and mirror
walls.
We perused the wine list, first noting there were bottles
from both new and old worlds, and some selected wines available by the glass.
Most were priced between B. 1100 and B. 1800. We chose a bottle of Australian
Cackleberry Shiraz and at B. 1450 makes for very pleasant drinking, but give it
five minutes to breathe.
The menu shows the cuisine to be mainly in Euro style (but
there are also several Thai favorites with most between B. 90-150). Salads and
cold appetizers lead off, with a Caesar salad only B. 100, or if produced with
smoked salmon, it is only B. 120.
Soups (B. 50-120) included a French onion at the low end and
a lobster bisque with cognac and garlic bread at the high end. These are
followed by hot appetizers (B. 180-220) with items as clams in garlic sauce and
baked spinach with cheese and garlic (B. 180).
For those whose taste is just hamburgers and steak
sandwiches, there are choices for you too (B. 140-180). Hot dishes (B. 130-370)
includes steaks and fish, and pasta is also on the menu generally around B. 130.
Main dishes cover chicken, fish and pork (B. 130-340), plus another section with
grills, including imported Australian sirloin and fillet (B. 150-530).
Thai favorites indicate whether they are spicy or otherwise,
for the westerner, with most around B. 110.
By the way, there are weekly specials on food and cocktails,
so read the offers carefully.
Madame began with the lobster bisque and this was very
pleasant, while I enjoyed my French onion soup, hot and cheesy. We also tried
the tuna salad, which was on a bed of fresh garden greens.
For our mains, Madame went for the 250 gm pork chop and it
was all of that, served on a large plate, with the accompanying vegetables. The
pork was correctly cooked and not at all tough.
I had chosen the pork medallions wrapped in bacon (B. 170)
and the flavor of the bacon was through the pork - delicious! Again this was a
very large portion, so there was no room for the offered desserts.
We certainly did enjoy this new venue (only open three
months) and found ourselves just sitting back and relaxing after dinner. It is
certainly not a restaurant that makes you want to eat and run. The food is of
good quality and the portion size is excellent, and the prices are very
reasonable. The vast majority of main dishes are less than B. 200 and even items
like the surf and turf were only B. 340, or the pan-fried fillet of sea bass was
just B. 210.
This restaurant is definitely one you should try. The Dining
Out team is quite sure you will enjoy it. Highly recommended.
Le Mignon, 183/41 Soi 13/2 (Post Office), Moo 10, Pattaya
Second Road, telephone 038 710 999, open seven days 11 a.m. until 11 p.m. On
street parking, or in The Avenue.
