With the new a la carte menu at Shenanigans and after a
chat with landlord Kim Fletcher, the Dining Out Team felt we should call in
and sample the fare. Being somewhat of an institution in Pattaya these days,
it should not really be necessary to describe this pub, but for any ‘newbies’,
it is down the stairs, under the Marriott Resort coffee shop, about 50
metres past the Royal Garden Plaza.
Shenanigans has an Irish pub character, with Guinness
posters, much memorabilia, sporting trophies and knick knacks. It is divided
into separate sections, with a central bar and musicians area, then two
dedicated dining areas called the Library and the Cottage sections, and
another little ‘nook’ and even a private meeting room for about 20
people. For once I forsook the comfortable Chesterfield chairs in the
Library and went for the Cottage where we were looked after most attentively
by the red-waistcoated Shenanigans waitresses.
The menu is in fold-out sections, beginning with
cocktails (it is a pub, after all) ranging in price from B. 100 through to
B. 500 for a 12 glass jug of Margarita.
Next is Thai food, with a good selection of salads,
curries, stir-fries and grills, all at B. 150.
The next section covers potatoes, snacks and starters,
with most between B. 100-200, with some Irish favourites as Colecanon and
deep fried Irish cheddar as well as a Thai-Irish jerky with a hot sauce.
Soups and salads begin at B. 95 with a large number of choices.
Mains are next, with everything from burgers at B. 195
through ‘classic’ sausages, roast chicken, a chicken curry, pork chops,
generally under B. 300, through to a 300 gm imported NZ rib eye at B. 560.
Finally there are pies and stews around B. 300, some seafood items (B.
350-545) and desserts.
While there are always daily ‘specials’ of some form
at Shenanigans, we did want to try the ‘normal’ a la carte menu. We
began by sharing the country pate, which came as two enormous slabs of pate
with a tossed salad and grainy mustard. It was very good, but so huge we
could have shared it with the next two tables!
After that we had decided to go for the Thai menu for
Madame (who is Thai) and Miss Terry would go for the ‘farang’ menu.
Madame chose a classical tom yum kung (spicy prawn soup) and the fried
egg-noodle with prawns and pork. (By the way, this dish is not fried egg
with noodle!) I could not go past the description of the Shenanigans steak,
a prime fillet stuffed with mushrooms and garlic in a pepper cheese sauce
and mixed vegetables, and little Lek, who took the order did ask just how I
wanted my steak cooked.
The Thai food came with steamed rice and a small jug of
nam pla prik if the diner wants to ‘spice it up’ even more. Madame
described her food as being, “Very nice for Thai people, and not too spicy
for farang.” After sampling, I agreed with her assessment. All the flavour
and taste without being overpoweringly spicy.
My steak was served on a hot, hot plate, with little Lek
warning me more than once. What she should have warned me about was the
size! Enormous! The steak was tender, the vegetables lightly cooked and it
was an extremely flavoursome and substantial meal.
The overall summation of the evening at Shenanigans was
that we had enjoyed well prepared and well presented restaurant food, and in
huge quantities. After the Irish coffees at the conclusion of the meal I had
written in my tasting notes “a fitting ending to a filling evening!”
However, this was not quite correct. It was not the end. We then moved into
the central ‘pub’ area and listened to the Wednesday evening band, Pop
and the All Stars. This was world class entertainment in a world class venue
with no cover charge. A sensational evening. Very highly recommended.
Shenanigans, The Irish Pub, Royal Garden Plaza Complex, Pattaya Second
Road, telephone 038 710 641, email [email protected], website
www.shenanigans-pattaya.com All major credit cards accepted and secure
parking outside.
