The
restaurant is on the water side of Walking Street, about 50 metres from
where Pattaya Beach Road swings into South Pattaya Road. The entrance is
well illuminated, and there are smiling uniformed personnel to entice you to
come for dinner too.
We were welcomed by the owner, Khun So, and ushered
through the covered section on to the ‘boardwalk’ where you could hear
the waves lapping under your feet, and out onto the ‘tent’ covered deck
section. It was a balmy night and we enjoyed the cooling breezes from the
sea, as we sat and looked at the lights of Pattaya Bay.
There are a couple of different formats for the menu. One
is written in English and Thai, while the other is a full photo menu in
English and Russian. For visitors, the photo menu is an excellent idea. The
menu is also enormous with 162 items to choose from.
My
menu began with the seafood platters at B. 475 for one, or B. 890 for two.
Following this was a special set menu, with three courses for B. 525. This
has many choices in each course, including steamed mussels, clam chowder,
and steak, fish or chicken as a main. There is also a Chateaubriand for two
at B. 750.
Next up are the a la carte appetizers, with most in the
B. 135-175 range including prawn satay and lobster or prawn cocktail. These
are followed by a range of soups (B. 75-175) and then a page of
international items with the majority in the B. 285-375 range, with steaks
done in many ways, pork, wiener schnitzel, chicken and even an English style
fish and chips!
From there it is into the seafood items with most under
B. 300, including whole fish items. Crustaceans become more expensive, with
the Lobster Pot’s signature lobster items at B. 975 for those with large
appetites. Next are two pages of Thai and Chinese items around B. 135-195
for the majority.
Desserts and drinks finish, with local beers B. 75-85 for
small bottles. There is also a separate wine list, with most bottles just
over 1,000 baht.
We chose the Sangria as our beverage for the evening,
from the recipe Khun So brought back from her trip to Portugal - and it is
very refreshing. At B. 595 per litre, it is cheap too!
Madame chose oysters on the shell to begin, which came
with fried garlic and ‘kratin’ vegetable and lime. I had decided to try
the special set menu and had selected the steamed mussels as my starter.
Both were very good choices.
I then had the lobster bisque - very creamy with plenty
of lobster meat. Again of high standard. As mains, Madame had ordered a
steamed sea bass in lime sauce, while I had decided to see if a seafood
restaurant could present chicken in a red wine sauce correctly. Again both
were very good, with Madame stating that the sea bass was the best she had
ever tasted!
On our re-visit to the Lobster Pot it was obvious that
standards had not slipped in any way, and in fact the venue has been going
through a steady improvement in its decor and facilities. We were very
impressed by the food, both in its freshness and in the cooking, which was
excellent. For Madame to be still talking about the steamed sea bass in
glowing terms the next day, speaks volumes. This is one restaurant where you
can take visitors and be assured of the standards and the food itself. Very
highly recommended - but we are not the only people to have found the
Lobster Pot - I suggest you book!
The Lobster Pot, Walking Street (opposite Soi 14), South Pattaya,
telephone 038 426 083, www.lobsterpotpattaya .com. Open from 12 noon till
late.
