by Miss Terry Diner
Restaurants often undergo a slow change in their
direction; however, the change which has produced the new Mini-Golf Pub on
Thappraya Road is very dramatic. Formerly known as PolTony’s, the Mini-Golf
Pub has been rapidly carving out a new image for itself in the
Pattaya-Jomtien dining out scene. From being a restaurant with ambitions in
the haute cuisine area, it has changed to become a family pub with the
accent on value for money. This being the case, the Dining Out Team felt we
should investigate.
We were met by Paul Gielen, the MD, and chatted at the sit-up bar along one
corner of the restaurant and discussed the new direction of the
establishment. With the popular mini-golf course at the side and behind the
restaurant building, he had felt that the restaurant should be pitched more
to accommodate the needs of the mini-golf players. This would dictate a more
casual approach to dining, and a cheaper menu. While talking I had one of
those wonderful (and potent - 9% alcohol) Belgian Chimay beers, while Madame
settled for an eminently drinkable house white at B. 80.
The restaurant itself has been repainted inside in a terracotta colour, and
with the bright blue tablecloths presents a very colourful image. In another
corner of the room is the large screen TV with some Formula 1 photographs,
Tony being a fan of F1 and plays host to a loyal band of enthusiasts at the
Grand Prix telecasts.
The new menu is small, both in size and contents, but
still offers 46 choices of European food, 32 Thai items, plus a separate
children’s menu (between 60-85 baht). The menu proper begins with three
pages of drinks, with local beers around B. 65 and house wines B. 440 for a
1 litre carafe. More expensive wines can be ordered from the wine racks too.
Being a pub, it opens at 10 a.m. and runs till 11 p.m. and so starts with
breakfasts, ABF and English (B. 90-95) and then into omelettes (B. 85-100),
sandwiches (around B. 90), pastas (B. 95-145), soups (chicken, onion, tomato
- B. 60-70), and salads (B. 85-95).
Next up are 11 choices of mains (B. 130-235) covering chicken, pork, fillet
steak, fish and beef stew. All mains come with your choice of sauce
(mushroom, pepper or mustard) and french-fries.
After these are pizzas (B. 110-145) including the classic Margarita. At the
end comes the Thai items, generally around B. 80 other than a couple of
steamed whole fish or deep fried pla kapong (B. 245-285).
It does not end there, as the last page offers a set menu (B. 175) which
changes daily and has a starter, a main, a dessert and then tea or coffee.
These are items that may not necessarily be on the main menu either.
We decided to try the daily set menu and began with the mushroom soup (a
consommé style, rather than the usual cream) which was very pleasant with
just a hint of pepper spice. This was served with a wonderful crusty French
bread roll.
The next dish was the main, which was, on that evening, pan-fried chicken
breasts with curry sauce and rice. The breast fillets were thick and the
curry sauce excellent, with a small gravy boat with extra sauce being
supplied if the diner wanted more. Miss Terry Diner did!
We finished with a choc-chip ice cream dessert, but were too full for the
offered tea or coffee. And that was only 175 baht!
The Dining Out team felt that the Mini-Golf Pub did indeed offer excellent
value for money, for well prepared and good quality food. It was not “pub
grub” that we were offered. The surroundings are excellent and with the
mini-golf it can be an ideal family venue. Send the children out to play
while you finish your meal in a relaxed manner. With security patrolled
off-street parking, this is another plus for this venue. Highly recommended
for a cheap fun night out.
The Mini-Golf Pub, Thappraya Road (opp. The Captain’s Corner, Café Cosmo and
Mr. Mac’s Hotel), on the way to Jomtien, telephone 038 250 318.
