Surin Petchkasem Hotel

[lopburi3]

Recent two night stay. Not bad and expect it was quite high class when constructed. Price (with ABF) is as on lampard10 site at 690 baht so quite reasonable. ABF was not the greatest (cold one day but next day food hot but coffee cold. Not many customers and run from 6-10 so that is probably the reason. One bad point is the number of stairs you are required to climb. First from parking area up on floor to entrance, then up another floor to reception. then (if low priced rooms in rear) another four of five steps on room floor. There is an attempt at entry to provide a ramp but it is more like a ski jump so would probably take three persons to push anyone in a wheelchair up it - too steep to even consider walking up. Room was clean but no adjustment of airconditing except fan speed. Very cheap room refrigerator items (can of soda 13 baht). Good TV. Shower water pressure not high but ok. 4th floor room was quiet and no issues with staff. Did not try restaurant.

Tried to find lampard10 place but map in my mind had it further away - guess it is just off the bus stop entry road rather than down at the next stop light intersection. At any rate ate a good dinner at the Majestic Hotel Restaurant (outside of the hotel itself). We were only customers but food was very good.

In sum a good but older hotel. But 100 meters off main drag so you need to ask directions or know the area and keep your eyes open for sign as can not be seen from street.

[lampard10]

Tried to find lampard10 place but map in my mind had it further away - guess it is just off the bus stop entry road rather than down at the next stop light intersection. At any rate ate a good dinner at the Majestic Hotel Restaurant .

If you went from the petchkasem to the majestic, you must have almost passed right by our place.

It's actually in the bus station, where the buses park up.

Edited March 8, 2006 by lampard10

[dugdale]

We always stay in the Petchkasem Hotel in Surin and never had any problems with the steps, yes there are a few (maybe 10) outside and a further few inside (again maybe 10) but I see it as my daily excercise. The ramp that was mentioned is for the bellboy to push his trolley full of luggage up to the reception area however a number of years ago when my wife was in a wheelchair it came in very handy.

I agree that the breakfast can be hit and miss but if something is cold (like the fried eggs often are) there is always someone on hand to cook up some fresh ones.

Depending on how quick you walk The Farang Connection is less than five minutes walk away, Petchkasem Plaza a few minutes walk in the opposite direction and a nice ice cream shop more or less opposite the entrance to the hotel. For rail enthusiasts the hotel also offers rooms which allow you to hear train whistles in the early hours of the morning for no extra charge.

Dugdale

[thai3]

The Farang Connection is less than five minutes walk away, Petchkasem Plaza a few minutes walk in the opposite direction and a nice ice cream shop more or less opposite the entrance to the hotel. For rail enthusiasts the hotel also offers rooms which allow you to hear train whistles in the early hours of the morning for no extra charge.

Dugdale

I like the ice cream shop too but the farang conection is not very good and a bit expensive, even if it were in Bkk. Mrs still goes on about the tom yam as being the worst she ever tasted (she is from surin)

The petch has some very good singers in the cafe who switch between the main room and by the pool in the evening. The food is not so good acording to most surin thais.

[lampard10]

the farang conection is not very good and a bit expensive, even if it were in Bkk.

You must be one of our locals.............................they winge about paying 50baht for a large chang as well.

[finninuk]

the farang conection is not very good and a bit expensive, even if it were in Bkk. Mrs still goes on about the tom yam as being the worst she ever tasted (she is from surin)

.

What ever are you talking about? I eat in the Farang Pub when I'm in town and the food is fantastic. Going by the remarks in the Gaeste Buch, a lot more than me think so as well.It is not cheap, probably if it was I would not eat there, but it certainly is not expensive, except to Cheat Charlies. My wife is the opposite to you, she is thinking that the Tom Yum is one of the best she has eaten. Very, very spicy and thick with it. If your wife is from Surin then she probably likes Kymer food. Enough saying. UUURRGHHH.

and by the way mr lamps..............your chang is 55 not 50...far too expensive

Edited March 9, 2006 by finninuk

[jayenram]

After reading Thai3's comment about the tom yam, I asked the FG (personally I haven't tried it) and she said it was very good. She's not from Surin either so I guess it's a question of taste.

Regarding the prices I agree that they are not cheap but I drink there and I'm a tight fisted Yorkshireman. Just to put the price of *Chang* in perspective, the FC price is almost 10% cheaper than Petchkasem and 30% cheaper than Thong Tarin.

[lampard10]

After reading Thai3's comment about the tom yam, I asked the FG (personally I haven't tried it) and she said it was very good. She's not from Surin either so I guess it's a question of taste.

Regarding the prices I agree that they are not cheap but I drink there and I'm a tight fisted Yorkshireman. Just to put the price of *Chang* in perspective, the FC price is almost 10% cheaper than Petchkasem and 30% cheaper than Thong Tarin.

Thank you for those kind words...........you never know you might even get a free one for supporting me...............

I doubt it though.

[Dave the Dude]

After reading Thai3's comment about the tom yam, I asked the FG (personally I haven't tried it) and she said it was very good. She's not from Surin either so I guess it's a question of taste.

Regarding the prices I agree that they are not cheap but I drink there and I'm a tight fisted Yorkshireman. Just to put the price of *Chang* in perspective, the FC price is almost 10% cheaper than Petchkasem and 30% cheaper than Thong Tarin.

Thank you for those kind words...........you never know you might even get a free one for supporting me...............

I doubt it though.

Ill support you too!! If I get a free drink ! I may even wear my new Lampard shirt bought today in the Stanford Bridge Megastore sale!!!!!!!! See you next week

[citizen33]

Although Thai3 might have been more diplomatic in his tone, I find myself in agreement with his comments regarding the Thai side of the menu at the Farang Connection. Martin is an excellent host and really stands out from the throng in his attention to detail in dealing with customers, but if I could make one constructive suggestion it would be to extend this attention to detail to the Thai cusine. I took my wife and mother-in-law for a meal there and the immediate reaction was 'mai aroi'. My wife did go with me on one further occasion but ate very little and said never again. By contrast, the verdict of the same pair on the Bamboo Bar, Buriram (one of the few competitor Farang-style bars in lower Isan) was 'aroi marwk'. Indeed it proved to be difficult to get them to eat anywhere else in Buriram. However, in my opinion, the atmosphere in the Bamboo Bar is much less appealing than in the FC and the Farang owner has never been in attendance during my visits. I don't suppose Martin is going to like this post, but I actually feel that the FC would be a great place if this one weakness were corrected. I have no quarrel with the prices. Perhaps he should pop across to Buriram to suss out what really excellent Thai food is like.

[Pink Mist]

After reading Thai3's comment about the tom yam, I asked the FG (personally I haven't tried it) and she said it was very good. She's not from Surin either so I guess it's a question of taste.

Regarding the prices I agree that they are not cheap but I drink there and I'm a tight fisted Yorkshireman. Just to put the price of *Chang* in perspective, the FC price is almost 10% cheaper than Petchkasem and 30% cheaper than Thong Tarin.

Thank you for those kind words...........you never know you might even get a free one for supporting me...............

I wouldn't want yorkie supporting me, he has enough trouble staying on a chair.

As regards the hotel, have stayed there twice not bad and the stairs wern't an issue.

Never ate at the FC, cant eat on an empty stomach.

I doubt it though.

[lampard10]

Although Thai3 might have been more diplomatic in his tone, I find myself in agreement with his comments regarding the Thai side of the menu at the Farang Connection. Martin is an excellent host and really stands out from the throng in his attention to detail in dealing with customers, but if I could make one constructive suggestion it would be to extend this attention to detail to the Thai cusine. I took my wife and mother-in-law for a meal there and the immediate reaction was 'mai aroi'. My wife did go with me on one further occasion but ate very little and said never again. By contrast, the verdict of the same pair on the Bamboo Bar, Buriram (one of the few competitor Farang-style bars in lower Isan) was 'aroi marwk'. Indeed it proved to be difficult to get them to eat anywhere else in Buriram. However, in my opinion, the atmosphere in the Bamboo Bar is much less appealing than in the FC and the Farang owner has never been in attendance during my visits. I don't suppose Martin is going to like this post, but I actually feel that the FC would be a great place if this one weakness were corrected. I have no quarrel with the prices. Perhaps he should pop across to Buriram to suss out what really excellent Thai food is like.

I do tend to agree with you, but only in a way. It really depends on who the Thai chef is at the time. If my wife does the cooking or one of the girls we use all the prime meat, no fat, no gristle, you know the bits the Thais throw away.We have now employed one of the best cooks in Surin, and she does it the Thai way, throws the breast away and uses the head and the feet. We do still get lots and lots of people coming here that think our Thai food is wonderful. Maybe we should concentrate on the Thai food as you say,ditch the Farang menu and change the name to 'The Thai Connection'

No seriously, we chose the shall we say UK style ( use prime chicken and beef not the left overs) for cooking Thai food for a reason. A lot of Falang tourists come to us to try Thai food, and if we served up the local Isaan stuff, a lot would not be very pleased. There are literally hundreds of good Thai restaurants in Surin, but only us that serves Thai food to cater for the European/Antipodean/American palate. Still saying that, our pluses outweigh the minuses by 10-1

And I do not mind people having their honest say about my food. How could I run a really good restaurant if people didn't complain when it was bad. Unfortunately the Thai way of doing it is to say Aroy Mak Mak in the restaurant and then pull it to pieces when they get out of earshot. I know. My wife does it often enough.

[finninuk]

Once more I must to be going with Lamps on this one. Last year I came to the FC with friends, and as usual our English meal was perfect. The three Thai girls in ours company also said the thai food was 'alloy mack ' When we got outside however the girls fell into disagreement. One said it was good, another said it would have been good but it was 'mai ped' and the three said no it was too ped. what can you say. Do THEY know if it's good or not?

[jayenram]

I tend to stick with the theory, farang restaurant for farang food, Thai restaurant for Thai food. FG does not particularly like farang food but there's an excellent noodle cart which passes through the bus station around three times a day from which she can buy her favourite for Bht 20.00.

Anyway, where else in Issaan can you purchase a cheese and pickled onion sandwich like this?

Edited March 11, 2006 by jayenram

[lampard10]

Anyway, where else in Issaan can you purchase a cheese and pickled onion sandwich like this?

PPHHHEWWWWWWWW.............................glad you didn't put the price

Anyway.........................................about the Petchkasem?