96 Timeless Coffee and Bistro

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Look for the sign, you have arrived.
Look for the sign, you have arrived.

With the turnover of restaurants in Pattaya, the Dining Out Team will frequently find a new restaurant and make a note to visit to see if it would be suitable for a review at a later date.

This week’s restaurant is just around the corner from our home, but not only did we find this restaurant, but we watched it being built, wondering what this very large building was going to be.

The British favorite Fish and Chips.
The British favorite Fish and Chips.

After some months, signs appeared with “96 Timeless”, which did not give us many clues, but then a sign with photos of food was erected leading us to presume that 96 Timeless was a very large restaurant. We were only half right, as 96 Timeless turns out to be half of the building featuring a very high ceiling, with the other half being a two storey living area for the owner K. Pichai and his wife, the chef.

The interesting name 96 Timeless comes from the fact that the house number is 96 and K. Pichai wants the restaurant to carry on forever – ‘timeless’.

The interior décor is quirky with plants, soft toys and mixed sizes of tables. Tables and seating tend to be designed for foursomes, and more and large. The kitchen area is off to the rear behind a refrigerated cabinet with high calorie goodies. The crockery and cutlery are of a high standard, much better than one would imagine in a suburban Thai restaurant.

The menu is mainly in Thai, though some pages have translation into English. Otherwise take a Thai with you!

The menu starts with Beverages (B. 40-85) and has teas (such as a very piquant mulberry) as well as coffees. K. Pichai said no alcohol at this stage.

Next up are Breakfasts B. 70-99 then single dishes with stir fries and pork, chicken, shrimp and chilli.

Next up are some curries (B. 100-180) including the ubiquitous tom yum goong.

The next section is entitled “recommended” and was mainly European with spring rolls (B. 89), chicken nuggets (B. 70), and fish and chips (B. 180).

After them, there are some more ‘one dish’ items (B. 70-180), chicken with ginger and rice with sausage.

Some meat dishes, and Euro style again are beef steaks (B. 259), chicken (B. 149), pork (B. 189) and dory fish (B. 159). These dishes all come with salad and French Fries.

Desserts are B. 45-50 and are Thai style.

A good sized pork steak.
A good sized pork steak.

We were very pleasantly surprised by the dishes. The panang pork curry was very Thai and spicy for Thai palates and our Thai members of the reviewing team gave it top marks. The apple and cheese toasted sandwich did have a wonderful ooze of cheddar and was very filling. Fish and chips was cooked correctly and not dripping in oil, as we have seen too many times. The fish was dry pan-fried rather than deep fried and came with a small boat with tartar sauce.

We finished with a cappuccino and discussed the meal. High marks were unanimous.

A spicy Panang Curry.
A spicy Panang Curry.

96 Timeless has its own ‘rustic’ charm, and is unlike the run of the mill eating houses. The menu is not extensive, but neither is it expensive. The toasted sandwich, which we have eaten before is almost a meal in itself, but be careful as it can dribble molten cheese in your lap! The cuisine is mainly Thai, but we do live in Thailand, do we not?

Definitely worth the detour off the main road.

Molten cheddar sandwich with apple.

96 Timeless Coffee and Bistro, Soi 19 Porn­prapanimit AKA Siam Country Club Road (Hot Pan on the left at the corner and before Planet Football), follow Soi 19 around and 96 Timeless is on your right after 500 meters. Spacious grounds for parking, telephone 081 982 9383, open 7 Days, Hours 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Sharing the corner with soft toys.
Sharing the corner with soft toys.
K. Pichai at the (non alcoholic) bar.
K. Pichai at the (non alcoholic) bar.