Tropical poolside.
The Mercure Hotel in Pattaya has been established for
around 10 years, but being tucked away in Soi 15 off Pattaya Second Road,
many diners do not even realize this Accor hotel is there. However, with all
the surrounding building finished with the new condominiums like City Garden
on Soi 15, the Mercure precinct is much busier than it used to be. And with
the access to the Mercure and Soi 15 through The Avenue, it means the
Mercure is actually very central.
We were met by the GM Alex Chakrabarti, one of those
wonderfully cosmopolitan chaps blessed with endless enthusiasm. We had
arrived to experience the 300 baht “all-you-can-eat” Saturday BBQ around the
pool (6.30 p.m. to 10 p.m.) - and so had many others! It was fortunate that
Alex had reserved a table for us, as it was a very busy poolside.
BBQ beef.
Alex, also being the perfect host, suggested we relax
with a wine first, before touring the items available in the BBQ. The wine
list is not extensive, but comprehensive enough to find something enjoyable.
Most wines fall into the B. 750-2000 bracket and with Accor being French,
French wines predominate and we chose the Cotes du Rhone, Maison Chapoutier
2009, which at B. 1490 is good value. A limited selection of wines are also
available by the glass. By the way, all prices are net.
The atmosphere around the pool is very much ‘resort’, and
we felt as if we too were on holidays, just being there, and pampered by the
attentive staff. The tables have yellow covers and the seats are
comfortable. The cutlery is heavy polished stainless steel and the glasses
good quality. The Saturday BBQ may only be B. 300, but you do not feel that
you are ‘bargain basement’.
Crab curry.
With ‘all-you-can-eat’ dining, I always recommend that
you take your time and walk around and see just what is there, before
plunging in and finding something you adore later, when you have no room
left.
One item that this BBQ has is a little Mongolian BBQ
corner, where you select your meat and vegetables and this is wok-cooked on
the spot for you, complete with the necessary theater of noise and flames. I
do believe BBQ’s should always be fun as well as food.
The BBQ grill is kept busy with pork, chicken, beef and
ribs and there is also a carvery with enormous sides of beef waiting for
you.
Poolside dining.
The cheese board has a selection of five cheeses,
including a very nice blue, which I teamed up with a slice of pineapple and
some of the crusty French bread from their own bakery. Lovely!
One of the items being held in hot pots was a very
pleasant lobster bisque, and again some of the wonderful French bread went
well here. There was also a crab dish for those who enjoy fighting crabs
(too much work for too little return in my book), but Madame said it was
very tasty.
One item which differentiates the Mercure Saturday BBQ
from all the other BBQ’s in Pattaya is a magic show, put on by staff member
K. Moo. He begins on a dais at one end of the pool and then walks around the
diners with table magic to amuse and mystify. I will admit that I have been
a sucker for magic tricks all my life, and the Mercure’s magician just
topped the night for me.
After numerous trips to experience as much as we could of
the BBQ, we finally had to come to a halt. You beat us, Alex Chakrabarti!
Did we enjoy the Saturday BBQ experience? We certainly
did (both the eating and the entertainment), and at the price, this is one
of Pattaya’s bargains. Definitely worth the trip into town on the Saturday
night, but I do suggest you book. If you are unsure of Soi 15, then park in
The Avenue and walk the 50 meters to the Mercure.
Mercure Hotel, Soi 15 Pattaya Second Road, telephone 038
425 050, fax 038 425 080, email hotel@ mercurepattaya.com. Secure parking in
hotel car park. Saturday BBQ 6.30 p.m. until 10 p.m.
