There are not too many restaurants in Pattaya that have
been in existence for more than a decade - and even fewer in the same place.
Ib and Kannikar Ottesen’s Captain’s Corner Grand Texan style BBQ has been at
the same location on Thappraya Road for over a decade and has watched other
restaurants find the location, but only a few have survived the test of
time, and there still is only one Texan BBQ.
The Captains Corner has become very well established as
one of the better family dining restaurants in town and at B. 395 for all
you can eat, is not expensive (and children under 10 years are half price).
The restaurant is in two sections. The outside garden setting which is under
cover, or on the pool terrace, but we dined under cover. The staff are all
dressed in “nautical” uniforms, and nothing was too much trouble, even when
I lost my BBQ number! The atmosphere is pleasant and relaxed. And if you are
a fan of Elvis, he still lives and can be caught at the Captain’s Corner
Saturday and Sunday night at 9 p.m.
There was a special offer on wine on the evening we
visited, a Hardy’s Grenach Shiraz at B. 800. Great drinking at that price.
Definitely recommended.
The Grand Texan style BBQ certainly is ‘grand’ with an
enormous number of items you can choose for your BBQ. It is far more than
just throwing another prawn on the Barbie!
The BBQ concept is very simple. Along the far side of the
garden area are the makings of your BBQ. You choose a plate, which has a
number tag. Put the tag in your pocket to display on your table, fill the
plate with the items you want for your BBQ dinner, the staff take your plate
and it is delivered to your table when your choice is cooked.
Taking the BBQ first, there are steaks, fish, prawns,
squid, BBQ skewers, pork chops, pork tenderloin, chicken drumsticks, spare
ribs, home made sausages, sausages wrapped in bacon, hamburgers, maize corn
and baked potatoes.
Having made your selection you can then go back to the
salad bar which has seasonal vegetables, freshly baked bread with butter and
garlic bread. However, there are also choices of green curry, chicken
stir-fry, crab sticks, French bread with herb butter and garlic bread. You
will not go hungry while waiting for your BBQ items.
I enjoyed the stir-fry so much, I went up for a second
helping, while Madame gave the green curry full marks. The children enjoyed
the garlic bread while waiting for their BBQ.
The BBQ chefs are a hard-working pair, and I remarked
that it was amazing that they managed to get the correct items back on the
numbered plates - but they did, and I saw no-one complaining that they did
not get their choices.
I had chosen a baked potato with a green pepper pork
steak and two small pork medallions, while Madame had selected some prawns
and the very large spare ribs and sweet corn. All of our choices were cooked
correctly, including the baked potatoes in foil. There is also a large range
of sauces and condiments.
Even though the much vaunted famous flamed Irish coffee
was on offer (B. 165) we had made such gluttons of ourselves, we could not
possibly fit anything else in. All you can eat deals certainly bring out the
pig in one’s nature, and with a BBQ as comprehensive as this, the end result
was definitely porcine!
As a family and in a total agreement for once, we judged
the Captain’s Corner to have great food and to be excellent value. It is a
place you can safely take the whole family, or visitors from overseas. You
will not be disappointed. Very highly recommended.
By the way, if you are a visitor, they have a minibus
service to pick you up from any hotel in the Pattaya-Jomtien area and drop
you back later, just phone 038 364 314-5.
The Captain’s Corner, 146/107 Thappraya Road, South
Pattaya, telephone 038 364 318, email [email protected]. Plenty of
on-street parking outside. BBQ buffet from 6 p.m.
