It makes little or no difference when a professional man enjoys cooking – he will end up opening a restaurant. Prem’s Garden is the latest and the new direction in the life of the experienced Pattaya Lawyer Prempreecha Dibbayawan. Up till now, Prem has cooked for charity events all over the city and environs, but now, the long time Rotarian is cooking in his own garden.
The restaurant is in two sections, a glassed-in air-conditioned area or an al fresco area along one side of the main restaurant. The all-important kitchen section is at the rear of the building. Seating is probably best described as ‘rustic’ but the ambience is very welcoming. There is seating for 24 inside (air-con) and another 16 outside, and yes they will cater for large parties. You will find the famous Thai smile here.
So how do you find it? Actually very easy, attacking it from the lower end of Siam Country Club Road with the Mitkamol intersection being the simplest reference point. Prem’s Garden is just over one km down, heading towards Mabprachan. Well signed and easy to park street side or at the front of the (real) garden.
The menu is quite extensive, and definitely not expensive. With house wine at B. 60 a glass you’re not going to get a Chateau Neuf du Pape (or a Stonefish) but Prem has some better wines available by the bottle.
The menu starts with spaghetti and pasta with most dishes at B. 80, but you will pay a premium for a chilli salmon at B. 180. Home style Thai and European dishes is the best description.
Steaks are mainly B. 120-180, including pork chop at B. 150. However a further page of steaks (also B. 120-180) offers items such as a chicken or pork cordon bleu (B. 150).
After the steaks there is a page of dedicated Thai dishes (B. 60-80) followed by even more Thai items such as spicy salads (B. 80-150), many fried rice styles and stir fries (B. 90-180). Other roasts and grills has a honey bake chicken in lemon sauce (B. 80) and even the archetypal British dish of fish and chips (B. 140).
Continuing on, there are more Thai numbers such as Acacia leaf omelet and pork spare ribs (B. 150).
We began with hot shrimp crackers to give us something to nibble while the menu items were cooking. Prem insisted that we try many of his dishes including prawns with a tamarind sauce, pork spare ribs and a honey chicken. The wing beans for the salad are actually grown in Prem’s Garden. The sweet and sour chicken with cashews was excellent. Portion size was very generous, and Prem’s Garden really does present home style cooking for its customers, and all in a ‘family’ ambience. It is a fun venue and very good value for money. Worth a trip to the Dark Side. Do try.
Prem’s Garden, 80/45 Moo 2, Siam Country Club Road, corner of Soi Pornprapanimit 23/1, 1.2 km past the Mitkamol intersection, on-street parking.
