Hey, this place is really different.

The other Middle Eastern restaurants in town often feature intense looking unshaven young men smoking hookahs, and given today's political realities, are sometimes offputting to Westerners.

This place is cheerful, decorated with modern simplicity (hey, aquarium tables with live fish!), has lovely Thai ladies in Thai dress to greet you, and serves BOOZE! The place just opened and is really attacting a diverse crowd, some farangs, Indians, Arabic, men and also lots of women. Modern Iranian music videos (all of which appear to have been filmed in Los Angeles) provide backround mood.

Whats not to like?

And the food? If you like Iranian food, you will like this. Kebabs, fancy Persian rice, a stew, baked bread, and some interesting side dishes. Not spicy of course, more like subtle.

For example, for 200 baht you get two large kebabs, some grilled tomatoes, and a healthy serving of fancy rice (the rice really makes it Iranian). Don't forget to ask for the spice powders that go with it, they are not hot spicy, again subtle and herby.

That was the good stuff. This is a very new place (with balloons even) and I think they are getting more biz than they expected. They are working out some major kinks. So don't be in a hurry, you may or may not get what you ordered, but in any event, it will be tasty, well priced, different, an all around fun place and welcome addition to the Pattaya scene.

KAMI Restaurant

59 2nd Road

(South of Pattaya Tai)

very near Beverly Plaza Hotel, accross from Cherry Hotel, also near VC Hotel.

I might go there for lunch tomorrow, i love persian and iranian food.