The Hit And Run Restaurant "review" Thread

[KittenKong]

offers a special on

BEEF WELLINGTON

350 baht including a starter.

They don't do this often. I had it before there and it was decent enough (though don't expect Michelin stars). I think many people know what a special dish this is and usually very expensive... so there it is.

Beef Wellington (or boeuf en croute as the French name it!) can be nice enough and looks fairly spectacular but to me is not very special flavour-wise. A good steak and kidney pie would have more appeal to me.

I dont think that it's really hard or expensive to make (unless perhaps they import the beef) but you do need a bit of experience to get the pastry cooked correctly.

I've seen it on occasions at the Hilton and elsewhere as it makes for a good buffet dish.

My main objection to Jamesons is that they allow smoking inside. This is very off-putting in a restaurant.

[KittenKong]

LA POMME restaurant in Jomtien (Thappraya Road near Continental) previously mentioned on this thread has made some changes:...

This place never seems to have many customers and it seems to close completely at the end of the afternoon. Maybe the menu revamp will help.

I dont think there is enough custom in that area for them and the Continental and the two or three other similar breakfast/Bistro places that are nearby.

[Jingthing]

LA POMME restaurant in Jomtien (Thappraya Road near Continental) previously mentioned on this thread has made some changes:...

This place never seems to have many customers and it seems ton close completely at the end of the afternoon. Maybe the menu revamp will help.

I dont think there is enough custom in that area for them and the Continental and the two or three other similar breakfast/Bistro places that are nearby.

Like I said they are now OPEN in the evenings. Yes they had been closing before in the evenings. New menu. New hours. The past is the past.

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[Jingthing]

Tiny, tiny update on the ever mysterious TAIWAN restaurant, previously mentioned.

Passing by tonight on ye olde bahte busse, I was startled to view a customer eating something out of a LARGE soup looking BOWL.

Now, now, now.

There are no soups or noodle soups on the menu. So nothing on the printed menu that would be served in a SOUP BOWL.

You see I suspect there is a lot more to that place than meets the eye.

So any clue adds to the picture.

No, I won't go back there for quite some time as I was warned the "side dishes" won't be happening for a week or so (my translation, a month or so) but still ... soup bowls ... this could be getting interesting.

IF you happen to be a Chinese speaker reading this, would you be so kind and visit this place and tell us Anglo speakers what's REALLY going to be for sale at this place? (In addition to the TINY menu, of course).

I would be EVER so appreciative of that.

[Jingthing]

"Cheapish" Charles Alert or Value Seekers, etc.

VOLARE Italian restaurant, Soi Buakhow (on corner of road that runs from the back of Avenue mall) trying to stir up business in this LOWEST of low seasons.

Last night they offered any pizza or pasta dish on their menu for 200 baht.

Of course many of those dishes are over 200 baht, so there's the deal.

That was Tuesday. Not sure how often they will offer this.

Also they have an ALL YOU CAN EAT promotion on THURSDAYS.

Now that is 550 baht.

I am not sure what the deal is with that, but IF you can order anything off their regular menu (as opposed to a limited menu or buffet table) that would represent a great value. For those who have no shame and are very hungry, that is.

[OMGImInPattaya]

"Cheapish" Charles Alert or Value Seekers, etc.

VOLARE Italian restaurant, Soi Buakhow (on corner of road that runs from the back of Avenue mall) trying to stir up business in this LOWEST of low seasons.

volare-rest-cafe-friends.jpg

Last night they offered any pizza or pasta dish on their menu for 200 baht.

Of course many of those dishes are over 200 baht, so there's the deal.

That was Tuesday. Not sure how often they will offer this.

Also they have an ALL YOU CAN EAT promotion on THURSDAYS.

Now that is 550 baht.

I am not sure what the deal is with that, but IF you can order anything off their regular menu (as opposed to a limited menu or buffet table) that would represent a great value. For those who have no shame and are very hungry, that is.

What's so special about that...most pizzas and pastas in town are about B200 or less without any special. Is Volare a white table-cloth place, with air-con and proper service, where prices and quality are substantially more than what one would expect for B200? I'm asking because I've never seen anyone mention this place.

Is that price net? How are the drink prices? We have some members who won't pay more than 30-40 baht for restaurant water.

[Jingthing]

What's so special about that...most pizzas and pastas in town are about B200 or less without any special. Is Volare a white table-cloth place, with air-con and proper service, where prices and quality are substantially more than what one would expect for B200? I'm asking because I've never seen anyone mention this place.

Is that price net? How are the drink prices? We have some members who won't pay more than 30-40 baht for restaurant water.

I am not here to answer every restaurant question in the universe or "defend" any restaurant I might mention. I might be willing to play that role for a price but nobody is offering,

I suggest that you read the OP to get a better idea of the INTENTION of this thread, and also, I invite you (and all) to:

CONTRIBUTE your OWN restaurant information/news/gossip snippets

This thread is NOT ONLY for formal and comprehensive restaurant reviews!

Yes they can fit here too, but really it is very OPEN to quite casual information/news/gossip about local food.

For example, say you saw a great looking carrot cake in the window of a place you hadn't noticed before.

It might be interesting to some people just to hear -- wow, that carrot cake at the Martian Cafe looks yummy! Maybe worth checking out.

For those who might be interested in Volare, perhaps you can gain more info about the place here:

http://www.tripadvisor.com/Restaurant_Review-g293919-d3948817-Reviews-Volare_Rest_cafe_friends-Pattaya_Chonburi_Province.html

I never claimed to be an expert on this particular place so I have nothing further to say about it.

Just posted some news that they are having a PRICE PROMOTION (which objectively offers a discount on THEIR regular prices).

Their offer might be an incentive for those who haven't tried it before to give it a chance.

[KittenKong]

We have some members who won't pay more than 30-40 baht for restaurant water.

Some of us would expire in a coughing fit if asked to pay 30B for water outside of a 5-star hotel.

[KittenKong]

Also they have an ALL YOU CAN EAT promotion on THURSDAYS.

Now that is 550 baht.

I am not sure what the deal is with that, but IF you can order anything off their regular menu (as opposed to a limited menu or buffet table) that would represent a great value. For those who have no shame and are very hungry, that is.

Not a bad idea for a group of people who want to taste a lot of different things. The Dim Sum all-you-can-order-from-the-menu lunchtime deals at the Dusit and Cape Dara are good to, but not practical on your own.

[Jingthing]

Also they have an ALL YOU CAN EAT promotion on THURSDAYS.

Now that is 550 baht.

I am not sure what the deal is with that, but IF you can order anything off their regular menu (as opposed to a limited menu or buffet table) that would represent a great value. For those who have no shame and are very hungry, that is.

Not a bad idea for a group of people who want to taste a lot of different things. The Dim Sum all-you-can-order-from-the-menu lunchtime deals at the Dusit and Cape Dara are good to, but not practical on your own.

Well, if it really is anything on their menu, all you want, at their prices you could easily get well over 1000 baht of food with this offer (but I reckon they'd hope you don't do that). Personally, I feel guilt and shame about "milking" a restaurant in that way (the psychology of ordering from a human is different than an open table buffet) but I'm sure some people wouldn't have that problem. Again, I don't know the full "rules" of this offer ... if someone does try it (Thursdays) please do report back!

[Mojomor]

Why is it, that French restaurants cannot cook French fries. I know they were invented in Belgium, but a normal person might think that after 100 years approx, the French might get with the program.

Why do they insist on producing brown, soft, and revolting fries.

[KittenKong]

The use of cheap local cooking oil doesn't help. Nor does the very limited choice of potato varieties.

[JournalistsAreLiars]

Hello, which is the cheapest and most simple armenian or russian restaurant ? I do not like to pay for fancy decoration and small portions. Thank you <3

[Jingthing]

Regarding TAIWAN restaurant, which I still have high hopes about, I did find out what Tube Rice Pudding is!

As you can see in this link, this place has some typical classic Taiwanese dishes on the menu.

But I'm reckon there might be a lot more choices later and I'm pretty sure it's going to be hard to know what they have ... unless they make some kind of major effort to communicate that.

But this link gives some clues of the kinds of the things to hope for and/or expect:

29. Tube rice pudding (筒仔米糕)

Sticky rice and Chinese mushrooms are fried with seasoning and stuffed into a bamboo tube together with pork and egg. The tube of rice is steamed again to further soften the texture until it becomes a cylindrical pudding.

Da Qiao Tou started making its rice pudding in a stall under a bridge more than four decades ago.

The business has since expanded but the rice pudding stays the same.

You should be sure to add the homemade turnip-laced sweet spicy sauce to the tasty

http://travel.cnn.com/explorations/eat/40-taiwanese-food-296093

Another link:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Taiwanese_cuisine

[Jingthing]

Hello, which is the cheapest and most simple armenian or russian restaurant ? I do not like to pay for fancy decoration and small portions. Thank you <3

I would love to know that too. Large portions of good Russian food at a cheap price ... I would be surprised if that exists in Pattaya.

[thaicookingchef]

And is there any more reasonable French restaurant than the usual good friench ?

For Italian food Duono (or Buono ?) on Thapraya road is still the best value ? the owner seems old, hope he stay alive few more years hahahaha...

[Mojomor]

Hello, which is the cheapest and most simple armenian or russian restaurant ? I do not like to pay for fancy decoration and small portions. Thank you <3

I would love to know that too. Large portions of good Russian food at a cheap price ... I would be surprised if that exists in Pattaya.

On Soi Welcome in Jomtien there is a restaurant called Eurasia. It serves a largely Russian clientele, and also frequented by Armenians as it is owned by an Armenian.

[KittenKong]

And is there any more reasonable French restaurant than the usual good friench ?

The food in Le Stroganof II on Pratumnak reminds me of many French restaurants I have been to in France, and is fair value at about 400B for 4 courses.

[seasia]

"Cheapish" Charles Alert or Value Seekers, etc.

VOLARE Italian restaurant, Soi Buakhow (on corner of road that runs from the back of Avenue mall) trying to stir up business in this LOWEST of low seasons.

volare-rest-cafe-friends.jpg

Last night they offered any pizza or pasta dish on their menu for 200 baht.

Of course many of those dishes are over 200 baht, so there's the deal.

That was Tuesday. Not sure how often they will offer this.

Also they have an ALL YOU CAN EAT promotion on THURSDAYS.

Now that is 550 baht.

I am not sure what the deal is with that, but IF you can order anything off their regular menu (as opposed to a limited menu or buffet table) that would represent a great value. For those who have no shame and are very hungry, that is.

I`ve eaten here a few times, one of about 4 Italian restaurants I go to or buy for takeaway from.

My opinion : Food quite good, service OK, friendly owner, when he is there.

I`ve eaten pasta dishes there that I think were about 260- 280 baht so a reasonable discount being offered.

Pizzas somewhat average.( I think Valentinos beats it on that front, albeit at a higher price.

Drinks prices middle range, forgotten exactly how much but didn`t strike me as being excessive.

A glass of wine about 90 baht I think but buying a carafe worked out better value ( as is usual)

Neither the cheapest nor the best but an option.

It is open at least until 1.00 AM, maybe even 2.00AM

Last visit was a little over 2 months ago as been away from Thailand on holiday and just got back.

I`ll return there for a meal again sometime.

[OMGImInPattaya]

This is not a restaurant food hit and run but a convenience store dessert hit and run. Generally, there is nothing worth putting past one's teeth in a "Seven" but they have a new item they are promoting; their new chocolate lava cake dessert. The picture in the poster looked good, and I like chocolate, and the 22 baht (or so...I can't remember exactly) was right so I gave one a try. I peeled back the cover a bit and popped it in the microwave for half a minute and had a chocolaty gooey blob in the cup. It didn't smell bad so in went the spoon. What I tasted was really good...a very smooth and velvety chocolate taste, with the center being semi-liquid and a thin cake shell. Actually, I would put it up there with just about any choco-lava cake dessert I've had in a restaurant for 100 baht on up. (I wouldn't be surprised if resto-chefs started buying them up to serve as desserts, they're that good). Now I don't know what the heck is in them and there is probably a list of chemicals the length of one's arm but the taste is very good and not chemically at all. For the price, these little guys can't be beat for a nice dessert to take home and I just hope Seven keeps them on as a regular item.

[thaicookingchef]

"Cheapish" Charles Alert or Value Seekers, etc.

VOLARE Italian restaurant, Soi Buakhow (on corner of road that runs from the back of Avenue mall) trying to stir up business in this LOWEST of low seasons.

volare-rest-cafe-friends.jpg

Last night they offered any pizza or pasta dish on their menu for 200 baht.

Of course many of those dishes are over 200 baht, so there's the deal.

That was Tuesday. Not sure how often they will offer this.

Also they have an ALL YOU CAN EAT promotion on THURSDAYS.

Now that is 550 baht.

I am not sure what the deal is with that, but IF you can order anything off their regular menu (as opposed to a limited menu or buffet table) that would represent a great value. For those who have no shame and are very hungry, that is.

I`ve eaten here a few times, one of about 4 Italian restaurants I go to or buy for takeaway from.

My opinion : Food quite good, service OK, friendly owner, when he is there.

I`ve eaten pasta dishes there that I think were about 260- 280 baht so a reasonable discount being offered.

Pizzas somewhat average.( I think Valentinos beats it on that front, albeit at a higher price.

Drinks prices middle range, forgotten exactly how much but didn`t strike me as being excessive.

A glass of wine about 90 baht I think but buying a carafe worked out better value ( as is usual)

Neither the cheapest nor the best but an option.

It is open at least until 1.00 AM, maybe even 2.00AM

Last visit was a little over 2 months ago as been away from Thailand on holiday and just got back.

I`ll return there for a meal again sometime.

300 baht a dish ? Totally useless compared to the Italian on Thappraya which serves pasta for 200 maximum.

But if you are right and it's possible to go there at 1am to eat, naybe it is the only Italian that serves food at night ?

[Awohalitsiktoli]

Regarding TAIWAN restaurant, which I still have high hopes about, I did find out what Tube Rice Pudding is!

As you can see in this link, this place has some typical classic Taiwanese dishes on the menu.

But I'm reckon there might be a lot more choices later and I'm pretty sure it's going to be hard to know what they have ... unless they make some kind of major effort to communicate that.

But this link gives some clues of the kinds of the things to hope for and/or expect:

inline-30.-rice-tube-pudding.jpg

29. Tube rice pudding (筒仔米糕)

Sticky rice and Chinese mushrooms are fried with seasoning and stuffed into a bamboo tube together with pork and egg. The tube of rice is steamed again to further soften the texture until it becomes a cylindrical pudding.

Da Qiao Tou started making its rice pudding in a stall under a bridge more than four decades ago.

The business has since expanded but the rice pudding stays the same.

You should be sure to add the homemade turnip-laced sweet spicy sauce to the tasty

http://travel.cnn.com/explorations/eat/40-taiwanese-food-296093

Another link:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Taiwanese_cuisine

I walked by the "Taiwan" place today and a woman came out and we talked in Thai. She told me that they open at 5 pm and their menu is limited (which we already knew). Then she added that in a few weeks the menu will expand with more "vegetable items." What? I do not know. I hope that they make some food items that I am familiar with (mainly southern Chinese food/American-Chinese food), along with Taiwanese food, and avoid Thai-style crap. We will see, and yes, before you say it, I know Taiwanese food is a bit different from mainland Chinese food, which people from Taiwan tend to think is too oily.

[thaicookingchef]

Where is this Taiwan restaurant exactly ? Thanks.

[Jingthing]

Where is this Taiwan restaurant exactly ? Thanks.

It's a bit South of the famous BOAT restaurant on 2nd road.

To the other poster:

There is no way they will be doing American Chinese food, for Christ's sake! Why would they?

What's wrong with a SPECIALIZED Taiwanese restaurant?

Looking forward to their more robust menu.

[KittenKong]

There is no way they will be doing American Chinese food, for Christ's sake! Why would they?

Because they are slap bang in the middle of a tourist zone?

Anyone who wants to succeed around there is more or less obliged to cater to "international" tastes (or charge so much that they can live off just a handful of clients per day).

Now if they were in Bangkok they could be more highly specialised and authentic and people might go a fairly long way to eat there, and they would have a much larger catch-pool of potential customers to work with.

[Jingthing]

I don't agree. There are lots of CHINESE tourists. They have zero interest in westernized Chinese food. There are also existing so called Western Chinese places already ... and they don't seem to be gold mines either. I bet this place will do very well ... I can tell already their food is credibly Taiwanese and their prices are surprisingly LOW ... without any westerners at all. But they'll be getting some if they cater to them or not ...

[Awohalitsiktoli]

Where is this Taiwan restaurant exactly ? Thanks.

It's a bit South of the famous BOAT restaurant on 2nd road.

To the other poster:

There is no way they will be doing American Chinese food, for Christ's sake! Why would they?

What's wrong with a SPECIALIZED Taiwanese restaurant?

Looking forward to their more robust menu.

They might make American/Western Chinese food and other-related Chinese food in order to be successful, make money and do something nobody has done in Thailand: serve decent American/Western-style Chinese food. People try to do it and have no idea what they are doing and end up out of business (usually the food gets turned into some horrible Thai-Chinese version). There are lots of Westerners here who are familiar with American/Western Chinese food--few are familiar with authentic Chinese food. Almost none are familiar with Taiwanese food. A specialized Taiwanese restaurant might attract too narrow a "fan base." We will see. I look forward to trying the place in the future.

[KittenKong]

I don't agree. There are lots of CHINESE tourists. They have zero interest in westernized Chinese food.

True, but do they eat independently or are meals included in their tours? I suspect the latter.

[Jingthing]

OK, you've shared your opinion.
Accepted.
Personally, I don't understand why people think every restaurant has to be everything.

Also, in my experience restaurants that try to do too many different things are usually CRAP.

My interest is mainly the food experience.

I also think a place that does a limited menu really well at good prices is doing the most honest thing business wise and stands a fair chance of success from doing that.

[Michaelaway]

"I also think a place that does a limited menu really well at good prices is doing the most honest thing business wise and stands a fair chance of success from doing that. "

Agreed... now, if we could only find a few more 'round here.