Pattaya is an amazing city. New businesses seem to pop up
overnight and new restaurants as well, but then close before their grand
opening. However, there are some that will survive, and Steak & Co. is in
that group.
Going now for three months, Steak & Co. is where the China Garden restaurant
used to be in Soi Leng Kee, but the venue has been totally re-furbished in a
bistro style.
Signage proclaims genuine imported Australian quality beef and even ‘Wagyu’
burgers, so between the name Steak & Co. and Australian beef, you know this
is not a vegetarian restaurant! There was a bumper bar sticker many years
ago in outback Australia which had the message “This is cattle country - eat
beef you bastards!”
The venue has bench seating along the walls, with
generous sized tables and comfortable chairs. At the front there is an open
air section for smokers and people watchers, leading into the fully
air-conditioned restaurant proper. There is an open kitchen at the back of
the house, the lair of Scottish executive chef Gerry Graham, while the front
of house is watched over by the Ukrainian manager Yuriy. The service
personnel are in uniform, welcoming and obviously well trained.
When you are seated, you are presented with placemats showing the different
cuts of meat from an Aberdeen Angus, and even suggestions as to how the
steaks should be cooked.
The menu is quite substantial, and begins with a
historical background showing just how animals from Aberdeen in Scotland
came to be roaming all over Australia, with 62,000 calves registered with
Angus Australia in 2010. These can be traced back to “Old Granny” which was
born in 1824, living to 35 years of age and producing 29 calves. A
formidable Old Granny indeed!
The wine list is predominantly Australian and under B. 1,000 per bottle or
around B. 220 per glass.
Sixteen starters (B. 195-295) cover soups and salads and a crab and avocado
which interested me.
The next section is steaks with 11 choices. Many give you the option of 200
gm or 400 gm, and come with a choice of sides and sauces. The smaller steaks
range between B. 495-695, while the larger cuts are B. 895-995.
There is another section called Mains (generally around
B. 375), with pork, beef, chicken, lamb and even a steak and ale pie.
Burgers follow B. 295-365, Mussels (B. 395) and then six Thai favorites (B.
160).
We began with the crab and avocado starter for me, and the smoked duck with
raspberry vinaigrette for Madame. We both enjoyed these and then we attacked
our steaks. A ‘blue’ Angus rib-eye for Madame and a med/rare fillet mignon
for me. Both presented exactly as ordered. Top marks again!
Scottish people are not renowned as being demonstrable in
the Italian way; however, Chef Gerry is the exception to the rule, speaking
passionately about his food and how it should be prepared, cooked and
presented, right down to the need for warmed plates for his steaks. When it
came to desserts, it was apparent that chef Gerry was not going to let us
out without trying his tiramisu, which was excellent.
We found the portions very large, and unless you have a very large appetite,
go for the smaller cuts of beef. The food was top class, and would hold its
own in any of the fine dining restaurants in Pattaya. We both decided that
this restaurant was an enigma. Bistro style venue but totally up-market
food. The prices are reasonable and this restaurant gets a very high
recommendation. Definitely worth the trip, though parking can be a problem.
Best to park on Third Road and walk down Soi Leng Kee.
On leaving Steak & Co. with its emphasis on Aussie beef, I walked up the
road and couldn’t help dropping in to the Ned Kelly bar (Australia’s most
remembered bush ranger) and listening to AC/DC numbers (Australia’s most
remembered rock and roll band). It was that kind of Aussie night!
Steak & Co., 312/53-54 Moo 9 Soi Leng Kee, telephone 038 425 001, mobile
(chef Gerry) 098 738 7453), hours 12 noon until 11 p.m., seven days,
on-street parking.
