By all reports, Italian food is the most popular cuisine
in the world, and I have had some wonderful Italian meals where the
chef/owner has joined us at the table and the gourmand has taken over from
the gourmet!
The newest Italian restaurant in town is La Bruschetta on Second Road around
50 meters before Royal Garden Plaza. It would be difficult to miss it with
the umbrellas outside and illuminated signage and the Italian flag. Make no
mistakes about this, La Bruschetta is seriously Italian, with an Italian
restaurateur owner (Riccardo Neri of Valentino’s restaurant) and an Italian
chef. And by the way, it is pronounced ‘brusketta’.
The restaurant had only been open for two weeks when we descended to do this
review, but having experienced meals in Valentino’s many times, we were sure
there would be no nasty surprises!
La Bruschetta is in a single shophouse with two storeys.
There are two tables outside under the umbrellas (a great place to watch the
tourists walk by), four inside (aircon) and another six tables upstairs.
With red check tablecloths, service staff in red and black and the chef in
white with a black striped toque, it gives a very clean and fresh
appearance.
At the front there is also a large barrel dispenser for the house wines. We
tried both, and though I personally found the white (a Trebbiano) a tad
sweet, the red was most palatable, and at B. 90 per glass, or B. 290 for
half a liter made for very cheap quaffing.
The menu also offers five white wines (B. 990-2,400) and 13 reds (B.
900-1,800) and includes a Barbera D’asti Piedmonte and a Valpolicella
Ripasso/Veneto. Also very naturally, all the wines come from Italy! Is there
another wine producing country? Riccardo doesn’t know of any!
For those who are not conversant with Italian cuisine,
‘bruschettas’ may be considered the Italian counterpart of Spanish tapas (or
vice versa)! Small bite-sized snacks designed to stimulate the appetite,
which are made on bread and topped with items such as tomato, garlic and
basil (the ‘Classica’) or Mortadella ham (the Contadina). There are eight of
these starters on the menu at B. 60 each and they come served on special
wooden plates carrying three different types.
Next are the Crescioni (B. 160-190) a type of Italian wrap sandwich and the
four pizzas (B. 90-160) on offer are the classical Margherita, a mushroom, a
meat and a combination.
Seven Piadine “sandwiches” (B. 180-240) including ham, salami and roast pork
are followed by four salads and eight pastas (B. 140-220) with a choice of
four sauces.
Meat dishes include steak, pork and chicken (B. 240-320) followed by some
deep-fried items and desserts.
The menu finishes with drinks, local beers (B. 60-90) and softs and wines.
The food is home-style and cooked on the premises, and
that includes the different breads. All prices include VAT and service, so
no nasty shocks there either.
We began with the Bruschetta, with my favorite being the classical tomato,
but I have yet to learn how to keep the chopped tomato on the bread and not
on my shirt!
We also tried the Piadine Romagnole, which is similar to a pizza bread
sandwich and the Prosciutto Rucole e Squaccheroni (Parma ham, rocket lettuce
and cream cheese) and this was almost a meal in itself.
This was followed by a plate of the Penne pasta Amatriciana, which was
really too much by that stage. We struggled and failed (but did take what
was left home in a doggy bag - far too good to waste)!
We had two children with us and a Tiramisu and a Panna Cotta were in order
with both receiving top marks from the junior taste team.
Riccardo offered me a coffee and the traditional espresso was a good way to
finish what had been a pleasant Italian culinary excursion.
La Bruschetta is a new addition to the many different ‘ethnic’ restaurants
in Pattaya. If you enjoy Italian food, you will enjoy La Bruschetta. Do go
and try it.
La Bruschetta, 50 meters before the Royal Garden Plaza on Second Road, open
seven days, hours 5 p.m. until 1 a.m., on-street parking, telephone Riccardo
086 107 0322.
