Pattaya is slowly growing up, and this week’s Dining
Out is witness to that. Rony Fineman, the managing director of the new
Nova Park Apartments, has introduced a joint venture to run a fine dining
restaurant on the ground floor of the new apartment building. This is the
soft opening period and we took the opportunity, at Rony’s invitation,
to experience what Alkemy Restaurant is offering.
The restaurant has a European/Mediterranean feel, with
white walls and archways, black polished tile floors and dark wood
tables. Along one wall are glass doors opening out to a wooden deck
section around the swimming pool, while the other wall features a sit up
bar. The back wall is a bas-relief feature with Khmer style carvings.
Inside, the chairs are high-backed, done in a gold
material and the cutlery is one-off polished stainless steel. Black and
white photographs on the walls depict international icons such as the
heads from Easter Island, the Taj Mahal, a Mayan temple and the pyramids.
It has an understated ‘class’. The loo’s are lovely too!
The menu, in its black leather holder, begins with Hot
Starters, with the first item being Queen Scallops Bordelaise, flambéed
in pastis and served with parmesan and oregano crisp and set on a light
bordelaise sauce. This group ranges from spicy Cajun corncobs at B. 130
through to Tiger Prawns Catalan in hot Virgin Olive Oil infused with
Garlic and Chilli at B. 260.
Cold starters are next (B. 140-220) with gazpacho at
the lower end and gravadlax salmon at the top end. These are followed by
seven charcoal grill items (B. 295-495) including Australian steak and NZ
lamb cutlets.
The next section covers meat and poultry, with hot
shredded crispy duck on a bed of mixed salad leaves topped with a light
hoi sin sauce at B. 180 through Moroccan couscous to herb crusted rack of
New Zealand lamb at B. 595. Fish (all around B. 245) and pasta and
vegetarian dishes (around B. 180) are what’s left and include
swordfish, salmon and snapper.
One outstanding feature of the menu is its ‘internationality’
with culinary items from many countries, not just the usual French and
Italian, but also Moroccan, Mexican, English, American, Swedish, Spanish,
Japanese and even Brazilian.
Wines are particularly well priced, with the vast
majority well under B. 1000, including some pleasant South African
offerings.
We began with the salmon gravadlax for Madame, which
came on a black rectangular plate and was an ‘art’ item, not just
food! I went for the light mousse of duck breast and wild mushrooms
served with thyme and cranberry chutney and hot melba toast, which was a
generous serving and was excellent.
For mains, which were presented under silver cloches,
Madame had the NZ lamb roast, which just fell apart and had a wonderful
flavour, while I went for the fillets of sea bass skewered and wrapped in
bacon, roasted and served on a bed of saffron rice. Again an excellent
and well above the run of the mill fish dish.
Needless to say, the service was attentive, without
being overbearing, and fitted in with the relaxed, classy atmosphere.
Desserts were offered, but we were too satiated for desserts, but did
manage to put away one of Rony’s Irish coffees, after a suitable
breather.
This new restaurant did not appear to have too many
‘teething’ problems, and the kitchen staff and the service personnel
are all well experienced professionals. It is an up-market venue, with a
great ambience. The food is of a very high standard and the presentation
exemplary. It deserves to have a place amongst the top restaurants in
Pattaya, and with the price structure it represents very good value for
money at that level of dining. All of Pattaya’s "foodies"
should try this restaurant (before the world gets there). Alkemy (AKA
Alchemy) was the ‘science’ that purported to be able to change base
metals into gold. The Alkemy Restaurant is certainly a golden dining
opportunity. Very highly recommended.
Alkemy Restaurant, Nova Park Apartments, 80/164 Soi
Sukrudee, Pattaya City, telephone 038 415 304, fax 038 415 309, email
[email protected]
All major cards accepted and there is secure parking.
