by Miss Terry Diner
You have probably never heard of the Nam Tok
(Waterfall) Beer Garden. I must admit Miss Terry and the Dining Out team
had never heard of it either, but in our defence, it has only been open a
few weeks. It is also part of the Horseshoe Point Resort and Country Club
out along Siam Country Club Road, and if you have not been there already,
be prepared to be amazed.
We joined a group of people including one of the
owners, Chainarin Srifuengfung and manager Jo Stetten, so the Dining Out
team was a hefty size by the time we sat down to eat.
The
Beer Garden is in the grounds adjacent to the hotel. Open air but under
leafy trees, there is an open plan kitchen in one corner. Tables and
chairs are mainly polished wood ‘refectory’ style. On the opposite
side from the kitchen there is a small stage and the Heart and Soul
Filipino band plays easy listening music six nights a week (off Mondays).
The service crew are dressed as ‘cow girls’ with shirts and jeans, and
the atmosphere is definitely European country style beer garden.
Nam Tok opens at 11 a.m. and closes at 10 p.m., so the
menu reflects this with both breakfast and lunch items as well as main
dinner courses. Mains begin with a Thai Corner (80-170 baht) and includes
khao pad, panang and massaman curries, a pad krapau (stir fry with basil)
and pad pak (vegetables).
These are followed by 3 pastas (B. 140-250) and then 7
roasts (B. 150-495) with Euro favourites such as fish and chips, wiener
schnitzel and the top item being an 8 oz beef tenderloin, all roasts
coming with baked potato and sauce of your choice. There are also some
blackboard specials behind the chefs in the kitchen area.
Back to the menu, there are individual side dishes, too
(B. 60), with French fries, baked potatoes, mixed and potato salads. It
finishes with 3 desserts (B. 80-140) with apple pies, ice creams and fruit
cocktails.
On the reverse side there are the beverages on offer,
with Heineken draught beer B. 250 per jug, bottled local beers B. 90
(including Singha Gold, thank you Jo), plus a good selection of imported
premium beers around B. 150. There are also fruit juices, soft drinks and
house wine by the glass (B. 125) and the current “in” drink, the
Bacardi Breezers.
We began with some clams (that evening’s special)
which were served with a chilli sauce, a green pepper sauce and a Cafe de
Paris butter sauce. The latter was superb, with Miss Terry admitting to
cleaning up her plate with a well practiced swipe with a slice of bread.
The next courses were varied, and as we had such a
large table, I was able to sample many of the dishes, as well as my wiener
schnitzel, which incidentally was very well cooked, not dried out, and
very delicately bread crumbed.
The panang chicken was not too spicy, and had the
slight sweetness that comes from the use of thick coconut milk in the
cooking - top marks! The massaman was also very good, with cashews instead
of the more usual peanuts - order one.
The Nam Tok Beer Garden was quite a revelation. The
food is definitely not your average “beer garden” quick stir-fry, but
definitely restaurant quality items. The Thai items were excellent as well
as the European dishes. With three chefs on duty, there is enough
expertise to cover all the cuisines on offer. The surroundings are very
picturesque and the entertainment makes for a great fun evening. Our
suggestion is to put a few friends together and make a night of it. You
will not regret it. Highly recommended. One small reminder - until Siam
Country Club Road is fully concreted, take Soi Nern Plabwaan (the soi
after Siam Country Club) and then left into Soi Farm Jorake and then right
back onto Siam Country Club Road again and follow the signs.
Nam Tok Beer Garden, Horseshoe Point (off Siam Country
Club Road - well signposted), telephone 038 249 415.
