An invitation was given to the Dining Out Team to join
‘Oh-so-French’ Christophe and his Francophone wife for dinner at their
Parrot’s Inn on Third Road. We had dined there in their ‘Oh-so-French’
restaurant some time ago but now with Christophe on deck all the time, there
were many changes they wanted us to experience with their traditional French
cuisine.
For those who have not discovered Le Parrot’s Inn yet, it is very easy to
find. Heading towards Pratamnak outbound on Third Road, pass the Soi 17
cross-roads and Le Parrot’s Inn is about 50 meters further on the right.
The venue itself has two distinct dining areas. An ‘al fresco’
non-air-conditioned area at the front which seats around 12 in comfort, then
leading through to the main air-con area with a large horseshoe bar in the
center.
French restaurants are known for their penchant towards
blackboards, and this is one feature that Le Parrot’s Inn has certainly
followed. Despite having a printed menu, for me, the real value was on the
blackboards. Especially with the Set Menu which offered two courses for B.
235 and three courses for B. 295. There are six starters and another six
mains and a couple of desserts, so there are plenty of choices.
The only “snag” is the fact that this is definitely a French restaurant, so
all the blackboard menus are in French. For me it brought back my schoolboy
French, but Christophe and his wife will very happily translate for you if
French was not on your school’s curriculum.
This Set Menu deal included “crevettes surimi au curry” (prawns in a curry)
and “terrine de campagne” (country style terrine) and “oeuf poche du
Parrots” (Parrots’ own poached egg) and a “filet de poisson sauce Provencal”
(fish filets in a Provencal sauce), and more.
The wine list is not extensive, and is (once again) on a
blackboard, with Cotes du Rhone and Cotes du Bourg both at B. 990, then a
Bordeaux and Valpolicella both at B. 1090 and a Petit Chablis at B. 1390.
Being very French there is also the anise drink Ricard, which is served in
the correct manner with the Ricard and the water kept separate for the diner
to decide how much water to be added. Madame and I both decided to continue
with the Ricard, rather than commit to a full bottle of wine, or house wine
by the glass.
We decided to try the Set Menu offerings. B. 235 for two courses and B. 295
for three courses. Madame chose the terrine starter while my choice was the
curried prawn. Both were good-sized portions and very enjoyable. For mains,
Madame went for the chicken in a lemon sauce, while mine was the pork filet
mignon. Once again we were both very happy with our choices, and after
finishing our mains we were both too full to contemplate a third (dessert)
course, but finished the Ricard instead.
We noticed that all th
e diners that evening were treated as if they were part
of the family. It was not a haute cuisine French restaurant, but a down to
earth French bistro providing traditional French food. The prices are such
that one could eat there all week and enjoy very good food at a very
reasonable cost. If you go on a Wednesday, there is also the mussels
special, with an all-you-can-eat bottomless bowl of mussels for B. 275.
If you are looking for a no-frills French restaurant we can readily
recommend Le Parrot’s Inn for a great budget ethnic Bistro. Do try it.
While continuing the ‘ethnic’ theme, we dropped into an Indian dance club
another 50 meters down Third Road. An eye opener in many ways but watch the
chap selling garlands (called a “Har”). I think it must have been something
to do with the Ricard(s)!
Le Parrot’s Inn, 247/28 M10, Pattaya Third Road (about 50 meters past Soi 17
outbound on the right hand side) open 9 a.m. till late, 7 days, telephone
038 050 151 and 080 835 4142, website
www.parrots-inn.com which shows the accommodation as well (from B.
700 a night). Plenty of on-street parking
