Goodness me, another 12 months has gone past and with it,
52 dining out reviews. However, in actual fact there were more than 52
reviews carried out - but not all were good enough to make it into the
Dining Out column. Only those restaurants that reached a certain standard
made it through to newsprint! This has been a constant feature of this
column, and that is why you do not read ‘bad’ reviews, bad restaurants don’t
make it into newsprint.
As
Pattaya has become more mature as a tourist resort city, the restaurants
have also continued to move their standards upwards. As Pattaya has grown in
its population numbers, this has also produced an increase in the numbers of
new restaurants, with the Chateau Dale complex being quite remarkable, with
the four new up-market restaurants of Gian’s, Cuvee, Habitu and the News
Café, opening in the past 12 months, all worth a try, though only the first
two have been formally reviewed.
Going to French bistro style restaurants, we enjoyed A Bon Coin (as ever) on
Soi 5 and the new L’Ami Pierrot on Third Road. La Notte in Walking Street
was a surprise and is also well worth a visit. A new Italian, Trattoria
Toscana, scored very well, but is currently relocating. When owner Luca
advises the new location we are looking forward to another review. The
stand-out this year was The Bay at the Dusit, with chef Giuseppe Zanotti
producing prize-winning items. We also dined at Don Joe, a favorite Italian
haunt of ours for many years. Continuing with ethnic cuisine, the
refurbished Chrysanthemum Palace at the Royal Cliff Beach Resort was an
eye-opener with its special wines chosen by the ‘wine-meister’ Ranjith
Chandrasiri to go with its Chinese food and the newly redecorated Rice Mill
in the Marriott Resort and Spa provided some innovative items and menus.
Another new concept in Chinese cuisine with single plated meals was offered
at The Peak, Dusit Resort’s Chinese outlet, and the view is spectacular.
There was only one Indian restaurant dined at during the year, and this was
Ali Baba. Well established, it has, however, revamped itself and is rid of
its previous ‘tired’ ambience. We enjoyed the evening there.
BBQ buffet dining is popular in Pattaya and the Montien’s buffets continue
to amaze with their range and really so inexpensive!
A new steakhouse this year, with Manhattan Steakhouse in the Nirvana Place
building coming onto the scene with a big splash, and even larger steak
knives! And steak reminds me of Jamieson’s Irish pub which continues to
impress with amazing value meals, and the B. 175 Monday three course steak
night is unbeatable value for money. Another reviewed restaurant that scored
highly in the value for money was the Jomtien Boathouse, which has the added
attraction of Elvis on Thursday and Friday evenings. Also in the huge meals
department, complete with entertainment, never forget Greg’s Kitchen or the
Hard Rock Café. Anything but “café” food, you need a good appetite for the
evening!
Another new venue was Mantra in the Amari precinct, a
huge restaurant with seven different cuisines on offer. You could go there
every night for a week and not repeat yourself. A breathtaking experience.
Another restaurant reviewed for the first time this year was Lux’Or, and we
were sorry we had not tried it before. A real ‘sleeper’.
The Mez restaurant in the Sheraton continued to delight, with chef Andrew
Woolford producing a new style of cuisine. We enjoyed this restaurant and
its refreshingly different approach very much.
Finally, our top end restaurants that were reviewed included Casa Pascal,
The Grill Room, Mata Hari and Bruno’s. They all have retained their previous
high standards and are venues of which Pattaya can be proud. Mata Hari, now
in its wonderful new venue in the Nirvana Place, has added to Louis Noll’s
restaurant’s appeal. Casa Pascal continues to impress and represents true
fine dining in a five star venue. Always enjoyable.
Usually I go out on a limb and nominate 12 restaurants, but this year with
so many new venues and such high standards, I am afraid I have given you at
least twice that. However, I do not regret this, as it shows just how
Pattaya has changed in the past 12 months - and all for the better.
