West.......gone West?

[Paagai]

I happened to be on the soi where West used to be and there was a sign on the gate saying that West would be reopening on Niemanhamen Soi 5

Conflicting information on this thread about the new loaction. Have they actually opened two places? I've heard the one off Huay Kaew - where drfang describes is called West 2 so I was wondering...... Drove past it a couple of nights ago and its definitely there and open, though seemed to be extrremely small compared with the previous location - taking downsizing to the extreme.

This location is definitely not near Warm Up so what is patopenchiangmai referring too? Also, the location is not on "Niemanhamen Soi 5" though the old market area can be accessed from Soi 3, and from Siri Mangkhalachan Road, next to Soi 5 so perhaps this was some face saving "Spin" to make the location sound like its still in Nimanheminda area? Dunno.

[Steve2UK]

I finally got to eat at West's new location last night. As you'll see from the attached pic, it's not "West 2" - and AFAIK there are no plans for a "business empire" of more Wests (and never have been, come to that).

Location/Access:

1) Entrance from NW-bound side of Huay Kaew Road - immediately opposite Hillside (Hillside Plaza Condotel on most maps) and just before UOB bank.

2) Entrance from Sri Mangalachan Road into Nimmanhemmin Soi 5 and soon turn right (I believe there's also another entry from SM Road - just after N Soi 5 on the way to Huay Kaew Road -that leads directly into the square)

3) Entrance from Nimmanhemin Road into Nimmanhemmin Soi 5, drive most of the way down and turn left

Any of the above will take you into a large open square area with many parking spaces. Various bars and restaurants of different types are dotted around the edges of the square - West is in the group on the (appropriately?) west side. Good to be away from the traffic and the square is large/quiet enough to enjoy West's pleasant choice of music without competition from engines and other venues.

At West's previous location, owner David also included some Thai choices on the mainly western menu. Now it's all western - as he has made arrangements with the next door Nimman Kitchen restaurant (big range of Thai and specialised Lanna dishes) to share menu's. Simple and IMO great idea - it means that you get the best of both worlds........ particularly useful for those with Thai partners/guests who don't want to be restricted to western food.

I don't write restaurant reviews and this isn't intended to be one, but I think most CM-based TV members will appreciate a] some accurate/useful information that b] isn't packed with gratuitous "drive by" snide asides and bitchery about whether it's Nimmanhemmin proper or "how are the mighty fallen" etc. Enough to say that I was more than happy to renew acquaintance with West at its new location. Good menu with enough interesting choices (at good prices) to have you scratching your head at which to go for. Quality of what I and my guest ordered was great - and I saw plenty of happy smiles/contented munching at the other tables. Likewise good, friendly and attentive service from David and his staff.

I actually think the new location is better (easy access/parking, atmosphere etc) - and the shared menu idea is a definite bonus. One last point: in the photo, you'll see vertical wooden slats behind the diners. At the moment these separate the outer "terrace" from the inside tables. I understand from David that these are only temporary (currently necessary for security when the place is closed) and will be replaced when the roll-up shutters are delivered and installed - hopefully in the next couple of weeks. Low (very low) season right now, so not a big issue - though I was pleased to see that there were about a dozen of us there last night. Once there is no divide between inside and outside tables, it'll be much better - though I reckon I'll still prefer to grab a table looking out over the square through the greenery.

[brommers]

I finally got to eat at West's new location last night. As you'll see from the attached pic, it's not "West 2" - and AFAIK there are no plans for a "business empire" of more Wests (and never have been, come to that).

Location/Access:

1) Entrance from NW-bound side of Huay Kaew Road - immediately opposite Hillside (Hillside Plaza Condotel on most maps) and just before UOB bank.

2) Entrance from Sri Mangalachan Road into Nimmanhemmin Soi 5 and soon turn right (I believe there's also another entry from SM Road - just after N Soi 5 on the way to Huay Kaew Road -that leads directly into the square)

3) Entrance from Nimmanhemin Road into Nimmanhemmin Soi 5, drive most of the way down and turn left

Any of the above will take you into a large open square area with many parking spaces. Various bars and restaurants of different types are dotted around the edges of the square - West is in the group on the (appropriately?) west side. Good to be away from the traffic and the square is large/quiet enough to enjoy West's pleasant choice of music without competition from engines and other venues.

At West's previous location, owner David also included some Thai choices on the mainly western menu. Now it's all western - as he has made arrangements with the next door Nimman Kitchen restaurant (big range of Thai and specialised Lanna dishes) to share menu's. Simple and IMO great idea - it means that you get the best of both worlds........ particularly useful for those with Thai partners/guests who don't want to be restricted to western food.

I don't write restaurant reviews and this isn't intended to be one, but I think most CM-based TV members will appreciate a] some accurate/useful information that b] isn't packed with gratuitous "drive by" snide asides and bitchery about whether it's Nimmanhemmin proper or "how are the mighty fallen" etc. Enough to say that I was more than happy to renew acquaintance with West at its new location. Good menu with enough interesting choices (at good prices) to have you scratching your head at which to go for. Quality of what I and my guest ordered was great - and I saw plenty of happy smiles/contented munching at the other tables. Likewise good, friendly and attentive service from David and his staff.

I actually think the new location is better (easy access/parking, atmosphere etc) - and the shared menu idea is a definite bonus. One last point: in the photo, you'll see vertical wooden slats behind the diners. At the moment these separate the outer "terrace" from the inside tables. I understand from David that these are only temporary (currently necessary for security when the place is closed) and will be replaced when the roll-up shutters are delivered and installed - hopefully in the next couple of weeks. Low (very low) season right now, so not a big issue - though I was pleased to see that there were about a dozen of us there last night. Once there is no divide between inside and outside tables, it'll be much better - though I reckon I'll still prefer to grab a table looking out over the square through the greenery.

I agree that the location has excellent parking, is easy to locate and should be better than being in the soi. But there is a real nighttime problem with appallingly loud drums & music coming from a bar that is opposite. On occasions it has been louder than the music playing in Krua Nimman and really spoils an attempt to relax & enjoy theyir good food. I hope that if West & K-N can join forces on menus they can join forces to get the anti-social bar to act like a good neighbour. Or is that too much to ask & to whom would they complain ??!!

[Steve2UK]

I agree that the location has excellent parking, is easy to locate and should be better than being in the soi. But there is a real nighttime problem with appallingly loud drums & music coming from a bar that is opposite. On occasions it has been louder than the music playing in Krua Nimman and really spoils an attempt to relax & enjoy theyir good food. I hope that if West & K-N can join forces on menus they can join forces to get the anti-social bar to act like a good neighbour. Or is that too much to ask & to whom would they complain ??!!

I took a stroll around the square to see what else is there and noticed a live music place diagonally opposite from West way across the square. The usual kind of band (vocalist/guitars/drums) was playing but it was only loud when I was right outside the place itself....... just about audible from West (100 metres away?) but I certainly didn't find it intrusive when I was at my "terrace" table - hence my comment on the point in my earlier post. My enjoyment of other places has been spoilt by the "area-bombing" scale of adjacent live music - not so last night at West. Not sure if we're talking about the same music place in the square? There is another one closer (about 20 metres) on the north side, but I saw last night it has closed down.

[Ulysses G.]

I tried West last night and was not super-impressed, but I did enjoy it and they have lots of parking.

I have a feeling that there are some real gems on the menu, but I did not happen to pick them. If anyone can recommend some of the better dishes, please do so.

I had a blue cheese salad that was inexpensive, but not up to much, and Cajun Dirty Rice that was OK. However, the desert really was inspired - delicious date pudding and ice cream.

My buddy had a tiny piece of lasana - but it tasted fine - and a cream carmel that he didn't like the look of, but it turned out to be pretty good too.

I would give the place a C+ from what we had last night, but the desert earned a B and I have a feeling that there were better choices on the menu. I'll have to give it another try.

[Greenside]

I tried West last night and was not super-impressed, but I did enjoy it and they have lots of parking.

I have a feeling that there are some real gems on the menu, but I did not happen to pick them. If anyone can recommend some of the better dishes, please do so.

I had a blue cheese salad that was inexpensive, but not up to much, and Cajun Dirty Rice that was OK. However, the desert really was inspired - delicious date pudding and ice cream.

My buddy had a tiny piece of lasana - but it tasted fine - and a cream carmel that he didn't like the look of, but it turned out to be pretty good too.

I would give the place a C+ from what we had last night, but the desert earned a B and I have a feeling that there were better choices on the menu. I'll have to give it another try.

Try the fish and chips! BTW while I agree the portion of lasagne is pretty small, it's very rich and about the best I've had anywhere (and that includes Italy).

[Ulysses G.]

Thanks for the hints. I LOVE Lasange and came very close to ordering it.

[Steve2UK]

UG, if you're into good salads - go for the Greek one. I had the Caesar which was certainly OK - but I kept raiding my guest's order of Greek salad and also spooned up the left over dressing from his plate. I've also enjoyed the warm chicken salad several times at the previous location. Likewise the meat-falls-off-the-bone ribs.

This time I had the cabbage-wrapped pork rolls - comes with a mound of mashed potato and a lot of rich but not heavy pureed tomato & things (I ought to find out what else goes into it) . Also had that date pudding after guidance from David - I'd been hesitating thinking it would be heavy like Brit Christmas pudding. As he says, it isn't - but oh, so rich.......

Being a Brit and after Greenside's tip, I'll be going for the fish'n'chips next time. My take on David is that he knows/cares about his subject and picks good things to include on the menu and daily specials. He's also honest enough to say that supplies of things like lamb (even if it's all from NZ) can often vary in quality. I think you're right about there being "some real gems" on his menu and I'd recommend everyone to ask his advice about what's what - he's not shy and I never had BS from him.

The thought occurs to me that, with quite a few of the menu choices being either unfamiliar or done the 'West way', maybe there should be more detailed descriptions of some items......... but then again, maybe better to hear it 'live' from the guy who knows.

Edited August 8, 2009 by Steve2UK

[Ulysses G.]

I wish that I had asked first, but it was a last minute decision to go. Everything that you mentioned sounds good but "meat falls off the bone ribs" are always high on my list.

[Maccheroncini]

Long before they've moved. We visited 'West' at the old location once, I remember it took a long long time for the staff just to get us the menu. Took them a while to take order and we could sense the owner in the kitchen not happy about something. I would give it a C- for food the atmosphere were unwelcoming.

[paulbrun]

Is the same David West that used to have Dominos by the Tha Pae gate?

Unfortunately not. Now that would be a newsworthy item to discuss..!

[piercefilmlid]

Ate at WEST the other night. The fish and chips were excellent and the fixed price menu good value.

[NancyL]

This place seems to be really uneven in its service and quality. My husband and I have eaten there a couple of times. The first time our friends said it was maybe an "off night" and to try it again. The second time we hit another "off night". We arrived on a Friday evening abouth three weeks ago around 9:30 pm and were assured they were definitely still open and welcomed our business. We decided on their "fixed price" specials which seem like a good value since they include salad, entree and dessert. The salads looked beautiful, but were warm -- like they'd been made hours before and left sitting on a counter. The entrees tasted like warmed-up leftovers. Like the meals had been made (and served on the plates) hours before and warmed in a microwave.

There was no evidence of the mythical "Dave". Everyone was Thai and didn't speak English very well. No evidence of a manager, or else we would have taken up our concerns with the manager.

In the end we paid our bill and decided that in the future we'd pay the songtaew fare to go out to Steve's Spirit House near Tanin. The food is of the same style, a bit cheaper and Steve always seems to be around.

[Mapguy]

I have not heard anything good about this place from Thai friends with broad experience in many different types of restaurants.

[Mapguy]

I have not heard anything good about this place from Thai friends with broad experience in many different types of restaurants.

[Ulysses G.]

This place seems to be really uneven in its service and quality. My husband and I have eaten there a couple of times. The first time our friends said it was maybe an "off night" and to try it again.

I went with a friend and had the same experience. I would try it again, but am in no big hurry.

[Steve2UK]

Brief update - I went back to try the fish & chips. Simply excellent, large piece of John Dory (better than cod to my taste) in a light/crisp batter and perfect chips (fries) with interesting home-made tartar-type sauce on the side. I haven't tried other fish and chips in CM - so no comparisons to make, but I used to go often to London's three top F&C eateries; what I had the other night was at least as good as their best.

Next time I'm there, I'll make a point of mentioning the earlier posts that seem to refer to standards in his absence - "Dave" (David) is certainly not "mythical". One other point: IMO, realistically 9.30pm is getting quite late for a place like West and given where it is - I'd certainly expect it to be winding down by that time and wouldn't arrive there much later than 8pm. Small (or no) comfort to NancyL and plainly unsatisfactory when someone has said (in English, presumably) the place is "definitely still open and welcomed our business" - not to mention consistency counts etc.

Edited September 23, 2009 by Steve2UK

[Ulysses G.]

I used to go often to London's three top F&C [fish and chips] eateries; what I had the other night was at least as good as their best.

Really now? Do you mean London Texas?

Edited September 23, 2009 by Ulysses G.

[Steve2UK]

I used to go often to London's three top F&C [fish and chips] eateries; what I had the other night was at least as good as their best.

Really now? Do you mean London Texas?

Thank you, UG. Inexact - not to say complacent - of me to leave out the "England" locator.

We insular Brits (even the half-German ones) have a regrettable tendency to regard the original London as being the only one of note - and to disregard johnny-come-lately imitators. Paris, Texas........ and now London, Texas*............ one can only marvel at what other delights and surprises the lone star state might hold.

So, I stand corrected - and will try to employ the locator in future. Bad enough to trigger the occasional mix-up with London, Ontario (BTW I mean the province in Canada - the country just above the USA on some maps - just in case there's a soon-to-be-unveiled Ontario, Texas); plainly, I naively underestimated the scope for confusion.

* "In the latter years of the twentieth century, the population [of London, Texas] rose to approximately 180."

( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/London,_Texas )

Edited September 24, 2009 by Steve2UK

[Ulysses G.]

Are you maintaining that there is a fish and chip shop in Chiang Mai that is as good as the best in London, England? That would be a nice surprise.

Edited September 24, 2009 by Ulysses G.

[Steve2UK]

Are you maintaining that there is a fish and chip shop in Pattaya that is as good as the best in London, England? Why didn't you post this last week when I was there?

Not sure where or why Pattaya comes into this - I take it you mean Pattaya, Thailand and not a soon-to-be-unveiled Pattaya, Texas (Pop. 12)? Either way, I've never set foot in either........ so I can't - and wouldn't - comment on the relative quality of F&C available there.

[piercefilmlid]

Back in town in 3 weeks and looking forward to trying out Piggy's. I quite enjoyed the F&C at that little place next to Rimping, but to date the best I have had is at West.

[Steve2UK]

Are you maintaining that there is a fish and chip shop in Chiang Mai that is as good as the best in London, England? That would be a nice surprise.

Hmmm, not often that one gets to reply to the same post twice - albeit that the post has now altered somewhat........

As you have reason to know, UG, "West" is not a "fish and chip shop" - so the comparison you suggest can't be made. West includes fish and chips (when not sold out) on a very varied/eclectic menu and, yes, I do maintain (IMHO basis, natch) that their fish and chips is the equal or better of the best I have had in London, England. For afficionados, the three London, England venues I have in mind are, in order of my preference:

1) Faulkners (Kingsland High Road - an athletic stone's throw from where I lived for some 30 years)

2) A place in Theobald's Road (whose name I unfortunately can't remember but it's also a firm favourite of many London cabbies - and I know better than to argue with the eaterie judgements of London cabbies)

3) Geales (Notting Hill)

I could also have mentioned the original Harry Ramsden outlets, but those are mainly in the north of England and I only got to them a few times in my student days. What with the passage of the years taking their toll on my all-too-subjective memory (plus global warming etc), I thought it inappropriate (and overly verbose - even for me) to include them in my original comparison.

Are we done now?

[Greenside]

Since starting this thread I've eaten at the new venue three or four times and enjoyed it, especially the fish and chips, lasagne and crème caramel. If I had a comment to apply to all the meals it would be that the salads are a bit small and on the unimaginative side - both easily remedied issues. That said I'll be returning when the opportunity presents itself.

[Ulysses G.]

yes, I do maintain (IMHO basis, natch) that their fish and chips is the equal or better of the best I have had in London, England.

Sorry, I've been in Pattaya and got confused with a F & C place that residents were talking about when I was there. That is why I quickly amended the post (but not quickly enough).

I just wanted to make sure that you think that West's fish and chips are as good as London's best. I've never had the plaesure of trying them there, but I have already heard that they were as excellent as Indian style curry is supposed to be in London, so I wanted to see how others who have been there responded to that statement.

[anonymouse]

Are you maintaining that there is a fish and chip shop in Chiang Mai that is as good as the best in London, England? That would be a nice surprise.

2) A place in Theobald's Road (whose name I unfortunately can't remember but it's also a firm favourite of many London cabbies - and I know better than to argue with the eaterie judgements of London cabbies)

I

The place on Theobald's Rd is called the Fryers Delight and you pre-empted me on questoning your three choices

Fryers Delight IMHO is the best Fish & Chip shop in London if West's can produce F&C's better than them then he will surely be giving Charlie's and Piggies a run for there money.

The best fish and chips shops in the UK though are usually by the coast for really fresh fish and also should be cooked in beef fat rather than vegetable oil.

[Ulysses G.]

It sounds like I have a good excuse to visit West again!

[Steve2UK]

The place on Theobald's Rd is called the Fryers Delight and you pre-empted me on questoning your three choices

Fryers Delight IMHO is the best Fish & Chip shop in London if West's can produce F&C's better than them then he will surely be giving Charlie's and Piggies a run for there money.

anonymouse, I owe you at least a jar of pickled onions ("proper" ones ) for saving me further brain-racking about the name..... aka "Friars Delight" - one of the worst puns in catering?

[Steve2UK]

yes, I do maintain (IMHO basis, natch) that their fish and chips is the equal or better of the best I have had in London, England.

Sorry, I've been in Pattaya and got confused with a F & C place that residents were talking about when I was there. That is why I quickly amended the post (but not quickly enough).

I just wanted to make sure that you think that West's fish and chips are as good as London's best. I've never had the plaesure of trying them there, but I have already heard that they were as excellent as Indian style curry is supposed to be in London, so I wanted to see how others who have been there responded to that statement.

UG - mai pen rai krub . From what I hear, being in Pattaya beats any doctor's sick note to excuse confusion.............

[anonymouse]

The place on Theobald's Rd is called the Fryers Delight and you pre-empted me on questoning your three choices

Fryers Delight IMHO is the best Fish & Chip shop in London if West's can produce F&C's better than them then he will surely be giving Charlie's and Piggies a run for there money.

anonymouse, I owe you at least a jar of pickled onions ("proper" ones ) for saving me further brain-racking about the name..... aka "Friars Delight" - one of the worst puns in catering?

I'm currently in the UK so I'd prefer a nice plate of som tam to the pickled onions yes a pretty bad pun, curl up & dye was a pretty good one for a local hairdressers