The earliest known reference to “akvavit” is found in a
letter from the Danish Lord of Bergenshus castle, Eske Bille to Olav
Engelbrektsson, the last Roman Catholic Archbishop of Norway and dated April
13, 1531. He offered some water “which is called ‘Aqua Vite’ and is a help
for all sort of illness which a man can have both internally and
externally.”
However, ‘Akvavit’ today is also a restaurant in Jomtien, on the corner of
Beach Road and Soi 3, and a feature of the Jomtien dining scene for over two
years. Owner and chef is a Swedish national Pelle Pettersson, but Akvavit is
one of those restaurants that somehow had slipped through our net until it
was brought to our attention by one of Pattaya’s more international
gourmets.
It has three distinct sections - a lower area which
includes the horseshoe chrome and glass bar, then a raised dining area and
finally an air-conditioned section behind glass. Efficient staff in black
uniforms are kept busy as it was obvious to the Dining Out team that this
was a very popular venue, not just for Scandinavian diners.
We chose the raised deck and from the wine list (most around B. 1,000)
selected an Australian Stonefish red, which at B. 1450 represents great
value as well as great drinking. Highly recommended.
The menu itself is photographic; again this is something we have been
recommending for some years. Not everyone visiting a restaurant speaks
English (or Thai or Swedish), but a photograph shows the diner just what to
expect.
The first page has the weekly special, and on our visit was grilled pork
medallions served with creamy lingonberry sauce and potato cake.
Incidentally, lingonberry is well known in Sweden and is related to
cranberry and blueberry, but also helps the body replace important
antioxidants, like glutathione, which is a master antioxidant in the body.
Starters range mainly between B. 135-295 with garlic bread and Tzatsiki
sauce at the lower end and S.O.S., being two kinds of marinated herring,
skagen mix, egg sour cream, onion, boiled potatoes with bread and butter at
the top end.
Salads and soups are next up (B. 190-320) with a French
onion soup at the lower end and Caesar salad served with grilled chicken,
bacon, roasted tomato, parmesan cheese and roasted bread croutons in the
upper group.
Pasta includes the interesting Pasta Akvavit, which has tagliatelle with
pork fillet and shrimps in a creamy sauce with a touch of sweet chili and
curry for B. 335.
For those looking for something less formal, there are hamburgers priced a
little over B. 300. The Classic Hamburger has Angus beef (200g) with
dressing, coleslaw, aioli, tomato, onion, cucumber and French fries while
the Akvavit Burger has also 200 gm Angus beef, served with feta cheese and
kalamato olives.
Mains are plentiful and varied, starting with Swedish
Meatballs served in a creamy gravy, mashed potato and lingonberries again,
through to Steak Louise with a filling of Dijon mustard, onion and radish
and finally Australian or Canadian Rib Eye steak (200g) served with butter
sautéed vegetables and your choice of sauces and potatoes.
There is also a Thai menu with all the usual favorites.
We chose an appetizer each, with a pepper marinated salmon roll filled with
skagen mix (B. 185) for Madame and a garlic bread with Tzatsiki sauce (B.
135) for me. Both of these items were excellent starters and we enjoyed
sitting back and lapping up the ambience, while watching the foot traffic on
Beach Road.
For mains, Madame selected a steak, while I went for the special which was
grilled pork medallions served with creamy lingonberry sauce and potato
cake. Both of our mains were substantial portions, so much so I asked Chef
Pelle to confirm these were indeed standard size. He assured me that they
were, as after all, Scandinavians have hearty appetites!
This is an excellent restaurant, serving good international food, and we
have no hesitation in recommending that you try it. Medium priced but top
value.
Akvavit Grill and Bar, 144/4 Moo 12, Jomtien Beach Road Soi 3, Jomtien Beach
Road, telephone 038 233 672, open 8.30 a.m. - 12 midnight, open seven days,
website www.akvavitjomtien.com, adequate on-street parking.
