kasi

I do a Centrum silver everyday.

Sometimes if something specific is ailing me I might target it with certain vitamins. ie. Vit C, A, E and zinc are very good for skin problems.

But I also agree with MM that a wholesome diet is more important. I try to eat some Somtam everyday, fresh oysters once a week, a nice steak once a week, mixed in with fresh pinneaple and papaya should cure what ails as well.Massage, swimming and an active sex life are also conducive to vibrant health.

I've been in Malaysia(KL) for the past few days and have been delighting in indian food here. I also visited the cameron highlands and found very nice food there too.

Right now I'm enjoying a take away of lamb curry, dahl, and beef dish,and rice for all of 8 ringit (83 baht) KL prices!

In the highlands prices about the same.

In phuket everyone want's at least 80 baht just for a dahl. Then some places charge 90 baht just for rice. I'm I painting a picture here?

Sometimes i just want a rice and dahl. And It would be nice not to have to pay 200 baht for it!

I know how to cook dahl so I know how cheap it is.

I guess I'll have too get back into cooking. (though it's a PITA to just cook for one)

Maybe I'll just have to wait for my trip into Malaysia to satisfy my indian food urges.

Don't let your preconceived stereotypes throw you. Most of these guys/gals wearing M/C gang colors are upper middle class people from Singapore an Malaysia. They are having a good time spending their money in Phuket.

They are much better behaved than some of the drunken cnuts from AU or the UK! From what I've seen!

Don't tell me... you're a upper middleclass biker ..!

totster

No I wouldn't call myself a biker. I'm a motorcycle rider! My moto of choice would be a BMW GS series. Though right now I'm just a honda dream driver dreaming about BMWs.

I've got several acquaintances who are middleclass "bikers". They get together dress up and go for short rides on their 30K+USD machines dripping with chrome and leather doodads.

They often make parades and raise money for orphans. They like their "tough guy" image but in reality they are mostly a bunch of "pootty cats"! (as in sylvester)

wouldnt it have just been easier to ask her to go get one of the waiters that you do know - im sure any of the staff that knew your face would have explained to her that youre a local...

either way i hope you enjoyed your steak - wherever you went for it

I guess I wasn't in the mood to be doing any explaining to anyone(grumpy sometimes). And yes the steak at Hans and Nok is really quite good,

I went to the PS restaurant a week or so ago for a PS steak. I go there quite often most of the waiters know me and I send them a lot business as well.

It was a quiet evening, the patio was half full and no one was inside. I went inside and sat at a table for 4 as I wanted to edit some pictures on my laptop while I waited( I wanted a little room). The waiter came and I ordered without looking at the menu.

A couple of minutes later another waitress(who I don't recognize) comes and asks me if I'm alone. I say yes. She indicates that she would like me to move to a small table for two.

Incredulous I look around, I'm the only customer inside, then I look back at her and she is pointing to the table she want's me to sit at. (I already had my laptop out and didn't want to move) Nor did I want to have to argue with her! I slowly packed up my laptop and walked out the door and went up the street to Hans and Nok for a steak.

I reckon I wont be having another PS steak for a while!

For a nice vegetarian meal try the "chalong plate" at the Family restaurant in Chalong. Pizzas are good there too.

I've heard about a ""natural" restaurant" in Phuket town that's supposed to be good. Been meaning to try it.

For good thai try the "red onion" in Karon.

As for the dressing on the salad nicoise at capaninas' they had beautiful olive oil and balsamic vinegar. What more could you want??? Kraft thousand island??

I would eat there more often except it a bit out of the way for me.

Sorry I digressed.

Good non thai restaurants.

Salvadores in phuket town.

The swiss delight in chalong

the green man in chalong.

jimmy's lighthouse in chalong.

The Pizza place in rawai. (super pizza and ravioli)

The islander in patong.( down to earth brit food, great steak and kidney pie)

The PS restaurant in patong.(PS steak is exemplary)

the swiss chalet in patong.(fancy expensive but worth it)

Hans & nok in patong. (cheap pepper steak in simple surroundings)

And the list goes on....

The question was : are there any restaurants with decently-priced, quality food with good service.

ps. I'm not German and I rarely complain but am getting really jack of being ripped off for mediocre food served by bitchy staff. Maybe you have no idea at all, Kasi! Maybe you have money to burn? Have a laugh on me see if I care!!!

All the restaurants i listed have very good food at reasonable price. IMO!

My point is if you think capanina's is a rip-off you are probably a difficult customer who is hard to please.

I've been to capaninas twice very recently and found the place to be outstanding in terms of food and service.

So indeed I will have a laugh at your expense!

BTW if you don't have money to burn stick to eating from the street vendors. The food and service is also very good for the most part and the prices can't be beat. Personally I like the plastic stool ambiance!

Or I'll take it "bpai ban" to my air-conditioned condo if it's too hot out.. The stupid thai restaurant here cater to tourists and don't usually serve somtum and kao niaow which is what I like.

I wonder if anyone has opened an endangered specie restaurant?

Chiangmai Zoo.

really! what is the speciality? White tiger steak? Panda bear loins?

in fact, i, too, am looking for a rental in phuket. preferably chalong.

i am after 1-2 bedroom. partially furnished. asdl available.

if anyone has any ideas for me, please let me know! im going crazy looking for a place!

Look at my post #6.

PM me if you want the #

Is that little french bakery still open on the road from Phuket town to Chalong? We haven't been for a few years but last time we were there the baked goods were wonderful and they served some luncheon special that was quite tasty. (it was next door to the second hand restaurant equipment supply store and opposite lumpoons but down a bit--if these directions make any sense at all after 2 years! )

There are a couple of good bakeries in the area. Flints-one near the used furniture guy (2km!)

And there is a good one on the other road to Chalong from central next to the old sailmakers factory.

Sorry I digressed.

Good non thai restaurants.

Salvadores in phuket town.

The swiss delight in chalong

the green man in chalong.

jimmy's lighthouse in chalong.

The Pizza place in rawai. (super pizza and ravioli)

The islander in patong.( down to earth brit food, great steak and kidney pie)

The PS restaurant in patong.(PS steak is exemplary)

the swiss chalet in patong.(fancy expensive but worth it)

Hans & nok in patong. (cheap pepper steak in simple surroundings)

And the list goes on....

Having just entertained my family for 3 weeks on Phuket I found very FEW good non-Thai food restaurants serving quality food, with friendly service at a decent price. The local seafood restaurants in the south were reasonable.

I was so disapponted on many occasions with the prices compared to quality (or lack of). Even Cappanina's at Kata - which was recommended by a few on this forum was a sore disappointment. My nicoise salad was extremely ordinary at 180 baht (an expensive salad considering it was made with all local grown foods). The other dishes at the table looked ok but nothing special .

I was prepared for surly waitresses by this quote from Dive Mistress in the Indian Food thread:

"HOwever Capanina surely has staffing issues however the food is reasonably priced and is amazing. its worth the unfriendly looks from the moody waitresses who are still adapting to the learning curve of good service."

I must say, the service - if that is what it is meant to be called- is so appalling that I completely lost my appetite and I doubt I will EVER return there. How long does it take to adapt to a learning curve of good service? We were not even offered a drink by any of 4 waitresses sitting zombie-like with just 2 tables to take care of. Maybe cos the owner was nowhere to be seen at luchtime, the place is not good value in the daytime?

Just getting tired of paying high prices for ordinary food and slack service. Can anybody recommend good non-Thai food restaurants on this island?

I just recently had the salad nicoise at Capanina and thought it quite good. You maybe the difficult to please type person who thrives on complaining about everything. Are you german per chance? (it's the germans who I hear doing the bulk of the complaining). There is no shortage of germans in Phuket! I now just laugh to myself when I hear one ranting!(which is often) I'm laughing a lot. I love it!

I just had a german approach me in makro grumbling about the elections and not being able to buy booze! Oh well!! Good for another laugh.

Perhaps someone should notify all expats that a sense of humor is required to live here!~

I wonder if anyone has opened an endangered specie restaurant?

In Alaska I've eaten bow head whales and they are tasty!

Are whale sharks good to eat?

Moral:

large quantities of alcohol or katoeys+3am walks= almost guaranteed problems.

It is one thing to ride a Harley but do we need all these dickheads riding around Phuket wearing motorbike gang colours. Wearing leather jackets in 35 degree weather. Give me a break.

Maybe they don't realize 90% of people are laughing at them. Its like the guys going around with Phuket board-riders on their t-shirts, like they are out surfing monster swells everyday.

Don't let your preconceived stereotypes throw you. Most of these guys/gals wearing M/C gang colors are upper middle class people from Singapore an Malaysia. They are having a good time spending their money in Phuket.

They are much better behaved than some of the drunken cnuts from AU or the UK! From what I've seen!

These modern biker clubs contribute to society by helping orphans and other philanthropic causes.

So what if they dress different from you!

My idea of backpacking is loading up a motorcycle with gear( a big a$$ BMW with the big panniers), eating somtum on side of the road while sitting on a plastic stool, then spending the night in a 5 star resort!

Last trip I made up that way (oct 05) I bought a 1 liter bottle of Glennfiddich from the big "Duty-Free" shop across the border ... 970 baht I think ... (Over 1600 baht in BKK) How many bottles can you bring back? and do you think it is REAL? ((Tasted like aged single-malt to me!))

There's a metallic seal over the top of the bottles. If it's missing and the booze doesn't taste right ...

I bought a bottle of glemorangie at the Phuket duty free once and turned out someone had repalced the contents with some cheap scotch. That bottle was missing the seal. I always check the bottle inside the can now!

I think you're only allowed 2 liters.

I know I wouldn't rent mine to anyone!

I am looking to rent

I know of a house 2 bedroom, 1 bath in Chalong for 15K a month. 1 year lease. Good quiet location, very nice neighbors and landlords. PM me if interested.

The indian restauranteurs strike me as being greedy for the tourist money. If they tailored their businesses toward what they themselves would like and feel comfortable paying for they might have more success. All it really needs to be is excellent food at slightly above average prices and be consistent day in day out.

Dear Kasi,

if I wanted to be greedy for the tourist money. I would have opened in Patong.

I choose Phuket Town, now Phuket City because its "away from the maddening crowd".

No one has complained about my food being over priced just the follwing

(1) The Wine and I changed all that when I got back to Phuket last year.

(2) Service or lack of, as I stated I am there everynite.

Kind regards

Billy aka The Sikh

Well I'll have to give your place another go. I always thought the cooking was good. I was just put off by a couple of the things you mentioned.

I was referring to the indian restaurants in Patong as being greedy. The quality overall is abysmal.

Yes I recently opened a business in Patong and have been studying management aspects and tourist demographics more lately as a result.

And yes I konw no one is perfect but you choose to be open when you were understaffed (?) at our expense. Of course I will never go back. It seems to be an issue. In a small village like this one I would think reputaion is of the utmost importance.

HOwever Capanina surely has staffing issues however the food is reasonably priced and is amazing. its worth the unfriendly looks from the moody waitresses who are still adapting to the learning curve of good service.

I've been to capaninna twice in the past 3 weeks and each time found the service to be bordering on the excellent.(admittedly it's a slower time of year) The food is so good and reasonably priced that I would go back even if the service was erratic.

But back to Billy and Karnasutra: His location mandates having a local client base. If he doesn't get it, it wont fly. I gave him a fair chance too because I like Indian food (I went there 4-5 times). Billy I think if you managed the restaurant yourself for a while you might be able to turn it around because you are clearly a very well educated and well spoken man.

Your food is good and if the client perception of getting a good deal existed you would have more returning business. Getting people to return to your restaurant is key. Are the local tailors patronizing your restaurant? If they aren't perhaps the answer as to why not might be of importance for you.

regards.K

A good lesson in exemplary restaurant service can be had at the Swiss Chalet restaurant in Patong.( Steaks and cheese fondues are excellent too)

They have to provide exemplary service to make up for the fact that they serve swiss food

I don't know what's wrong with swiss food. The food at the swiss chalet is very good IMHO!

Kao Jai.

The picture you posted looks like a poser bike( I agree she looks nice). Trucked in to show off. From your description the owner in on a head trip in lala land.

There are tons of cool machines around right with some real people riding who love to ride.