by Miss Terry Diner
At the Siam Bayshore end of Beach Road (in the continuation of Walking Street) is Mon Ami Pierrot Restaurant, and opposite Espace Francophone. This is the “French Quarter” of Pattaya. The Dining Out Team had never officially visited this restaurant before, so this was to be a new experience.
We were met by Georges Merle in his traditional long apron and his staff of young ladies, all looking efficient in white shirts and black skirts. The restaurant itself has an undeniably French feel to it, with its terracotta floor tiles, posters advertising the Moulin Rouge and Saint Etienne, paintings of Paris and the Notre Dame cathedral and even subdued French music. The tables are covered with white tablecloths and the napkins are natty white folded linen numbers.
There is also a separate area for private parties and Mon Ami Pierrot also has a temperature controlled wine cellar. So before perusing the menu we had an aperitif, and the French Ricard, with water on the side, seemed an appropriate choice.
The menu is in French, with English subtitles, and there is also another menu written in Thai, with English subtitles as well. It begins with two set menus, one of three courses (with a choice of items in each course) for 270 baht and the second of four courses for 390 baht. These are followed by another set menu of 360 baht, but no choices, just the chef’s recommendations, and another “gastronomique” priced at B. 540 which includes smoked salmon, sea bass in a cream sauce, plus a choice of meat dishes and desserts.
The next page has entrees and soups (B. 80-220) including pate and a crab soup with cream and cognac and this runs on into the seafood mains (B. 190-280) including a dish with three fish with different sauces. Meat mains are up next (B. 190-350) plus a fondue Bourguinonne at B. 560 for two people. Finally there is a page of desserts, but it does not end there. There are true blackboard specials “Nos Suggestions” which change daily, and this includes the “Vin de Jour” priced at B. 680 on our night.
To go with our meal, Georges selected a very pleasant red, a Cotes du Rhone, 2000. Let it breathe a little and it was excellent. Georges then presented us first (after the “amuse bouche” of ham and melon and small quiche cubes) with a seafood salad, which contained the plumpest mussels I have ever seen. The accompanying dressings were a vinaigrette, a mayonnaise and a garlic mayonnaise, with the vinaigrette really highlighting the seafood of crab and rock lobster.
Next we had a plate of escargots and clams in garlic butter. Wonderful! And we both used the bread (French, naturally) to wipe out the small containers.
Georges then brought the three fish plate to the table. These include Plakapong, Sole and Daurade, plus the sea bass on a separate plate for us to sample. The sauces were superb, still allowing you to taste the difference between the fish species.
If that were not enough, he then brought out the three meat dish and both of us agreed that the beef in the green pepper sauce was excellent. The accompaniment of potatoes gratin Dauphinois was to the same high standard.
We did find a little room for desserts, but there was no room for coffee! It had been a very comprehensive sampling of some exceptionally good food, thank you, Georges!
The Eiffel Tower is an institution and undeniably French. Mon Ami Pierrot is also an institution and again undeniably French. This is the place to remember your schooldays French language lessons, though the helpful staff will always get you over any problems. The cuisine is classical French, with all the sauces redolent of Paris and the French countryside. If you are a lover of this cuisine, this is the restaurant for you. On the last page of my notes I had written, “Very Fre nch, very filling, very nice!” Our verdict? Very highly recommended, even if you don’t speak French!
Mon Ami Pierrot, 220/3-4 M 10, Beach Road, South Pattaya, tel. 038 429 792.
