5 minutes ago, FritsSikkink said:

Nah, most likely never been to a Michelin starred restaurant.

i've been to many!

 

but never in Thailand.

 

I'm afraid the service wont be up to standard.

 

bob.

Just now, bob smith said:

I'm afraid the service wont be up to standard.

 

bob.

Easy to find out if you have as much money as you claim to have.

4 minutes ago, FritsSikkink said:

Easy to find out if you have as much money as you claim to have.

I have money because I don't waste it!

 

I save the Michelin star stuff for when I'm in Paris.

 

bob.

3 minutes ago, bob smith said:

I have money because I don't waste it!

 

I save the Michelin star stuff for when I'm in Paris.

 

bob.

Better go to Tokyo, the have more 3-star restaurants than anywhere in the world.

there's no such a thing as "Thai restaurant" <<< it's redundant.

even at Shangri-La, BKK

who eats there anyway? Chinese at Somboon's Crab? Families at MK-Suki? young hipsters at Sizzler? 

Som-Tam is som-tam, tilapia is tilapia wherever you order it - market or posh "Thai restaurant"

same sh*t, different table cloth. 

 

The term "restaurant" has a certain meaning, not filthy papa-mama diner no matter how many lamps and candles you stick around. get real

4 minutes ago, FritsSikkink said:

Better go to Tokyo, the have more 3-star restaurants than anywhere in the world.

I hate suhsi.

 

bob.

2 minutes ago, bob smith said:

I hate suhsi.

 

bob.

You think that is the only thing they serve?

Tokyo 3 Stars MICHELIN Restaurants – The MICHELIN Guide

14 minutes ago, bob smith said:

I hate suhsi.

 

bob.

I don't care for suhsi, also.  But, I enjoy all kinds of sushi.  In fact, Japanese food is one of my favorites.

I’ve noticed service can really vary by location. In smaller, locals-focused places, it feels warmer and more attentive, while busy city spots sometimes seem rushed or a bit disorganized.

On 6/23/2025 at 1:54 PM, Mediappy said:

I’ve noticed service can really vary by location. In smaller, locals-focused places, it feels warmer and more attentive, while busy city spots sometimes seem rushed or a bit disorganized.

I've had similar experiences with staff forgetting parts of my order, especially during busy hours. What helped me a lot was lowering expectations and just going with the flow, especially in casual places. If I’m craving something more polished or romantic, I’d rather go somewhere like a romantic restaurant singapore where service tends to be more consistent and attentive, even on packed nights.

 

On 9/2/2024 at 6:07 AM, Cameroni said:

The most obvious issue, that does repeat, is that meals do not come at the same time, but whenever they're ready. So organization is often off. That's the only thing I find can be improved

100% agreed.

Same location, same dishes ordered, and it comes what is finished first. Always. Regardless if full house ore empty. Never the same.

 

I mostly give a (local) restaurant 2-3 chances, except it was really bad food. Everyone can have a bad day or worries about whatever is happening in her/his life right now.

 

 

I prefer places with counter order and pickup.  For breakfast my favorite place has a fill in a form order option and a server just places the food on the table.  I then pay by walking to the counter and the QR code pops up.  All with minimal contact with the staff. The concept of a "full service" restaurant is different in LOS then in western countries.  My expectations in LOS has been adjusted. That is adjusted really low. I just want the food to be something similar to what I asked for. 

On 9/2/2024 at 9:40 AM, Everyman said:

1. Arrive at the restaurant and are either ignored or ordered to sit down.

 

2. Presented a menu and expected to “MAKE UP YOUR MIND RIGHT NOW AND ORDER IMMEDIATELY OH MY BUDDHA WHY ARE YOU TAKING SO LONG.”

 

3. Staff run off as soon as you order one thing. So you have to get up and chase after them to them the rest of your order. (in the case of western food)

 

4. Staff deliver your food requiring that you acknowledge them and interrupting your conversation to do so but then run away like the devil himself is chasing them.

 

5. Staff disappear or engage in a very noisy conversation with the fellow staff and never check on anything.

 

6. You could wait all day for them to bring your bill but they never will. You have to stand up like you are going to leave. 

 

I know someone will say “oh no Thailand is not like that at all.” sorry. i don’t believe you. 

 

someone will say “oh they’re not professional staff in Thailand they’re just helping out.” really? more like they don’t care are you are making excuses for them. 

 

Try a good restaurant next time and not the cheapest one.

I am always amused when I go to a restaurant alone in Thailand and the server confirms that I just want one of whatever I ordered, even if it is a buffet.  I am not sure why they do that, although it must translate into something they do in Thai according to Thai customs.

 

I have asked in Thai why they ask me if I want only one but no one has understood what I am asking or why I am asking it.  Realistically my Thai is not good enough to explain.  

1 hour ago, ricklev said:

I am always amused when I go to a restaurant alone in Thailand and the server confirms that I just want one of whatever I ordered, even if it is a buffet.  I am not sure why they do that, although it must translate into something they do in Thai according to Thai customs.

 

I have asked in Thai why they ask me if I want only one but no one has understood what I am asking or why I am asking it.  Realistically my Thai is not good enough to explain.  

 

It has nothing to do with Thai customs. It has to with being willfully brainless. 

 

If you speak fluent Thai and ask them and why they do that, you will stare at you with an utterly gormless, drooling look and say “I don’t know.”

 

If you press, they will get their manager and like ten people will become involved in answering a simple question. 

 

Eventually if they finally understand they will be angry at you.

 

Most Thais aren’t actually stupid, but they are so averse to thinking they get angry if you ask them to. It’s offensive to them. 

On 9/2/2024 at 9:40 AM, Everyman said:

1. Arrive at the restaurant and are either ignored or ordered to sit down.

 

2. Presented a menu and expected to “MAKE UP YOUR MIND RIGHT NOW AND ORDER IMMEDIATELY OH MY BUDDHA WHY ARE YOU TAKING SO LONG.”

 

3. Staff run off as soon as you order one thing. So you have to get up and chase after them to them the rest of your order. (in the case of western food)

 

4. Staff deliver your food requiring that you acknowledge them and interrupting your conversation to do so but then run away like the devil himself is chasing them.

 

5. Staff disappear or engage in a very noisy conversation with the fellow staff and never check on anything.

 

6. You could wait all day for them to bring your bill but they never will. You have to stand up like you are going to leave. 

7. I shall Stop moaning and won't go back. 

 

 

Plenty of restaurants to choose from. 

 

I’ve had the same thing happen—getting food before drinks or starters arriving late. I just smile, eat what comes, and don’t expect Western-style sequencing anymore.

2 minutes ago, Medvedia said:

I’ve had the same thing happen—getting food before drinks or starters arriving late. I just smile, eat what comes, and don’t expect Western-style sequencing anymore.

 

 

We quickly learned, at local (Isaan) restaurants, to order starters first and then order a main course when the starter arrived.

 

 

We had a restaurant (95% Farang customers) and another issue was we could knock out a khao pad for madam in a few minutes but a mixed grill for the Farang was going to take a lot longer. We actually asked if they wanted all the food served together  -  most people respected the fact that we bothered to ask. The staff were also trained to ask if the customers wanted to order a drink while they were looking at the menu (rather than take the drinks order then stand aimlessly waiting for a decision on the food order).

I like when they stand next to me outside if I peruse an available external menu.

 

It can get lonely standing out there and being a dumb-dumb farang I need the assistance of Thai staff to turn the menu pages before I'm ready and point at irrelevant items on their menu for me.

 

It's usually around then I walk away. Plenty of other options. Vote with your feet but don't forget to smile as you depart.

Had a meal once where the service was all over the place—ended up spending more time chasing staff than enjoying food.

 

On 7/28/2025 at 7:12 AM, sqwakvfr said:

I prefer places with counter order and pickup.  For breakfast my favorite place has a fill in a form order option and a server just places the food on the table.  I then pay by walking to the counter and the QR code pops up.  All with minimal contact with the staff. The concept of a "full service" restaurant is different in LOS then in western countries.  My expectations in LOS has been adjusted. That is adjusted really low. I just want the food to be something similar to what I asked for. 

Try chicken rice from a street vendor for brekky. Some seriously good chile sauces around. A 50 Baht note will see you on your way.🙃🙃

lemme guess: you went to kiss resturant ?