When a well known restaurateur contacts you and suggests
another venue for you try, you can be assured that it must be something
special. This was the case with Miriam’s Restaurant and so the Dining Out
Team headed out to Soi Nongketnoi 6. Please do not panic if you haven’t
heard of Soi Nongketnoi 6 - neither had we (and neither had the explorer
Magellan).
To come clean immediately - we got lost! Not for ever,
but we did get lost. However, to also state our final judgment on this
restaurant right at the beginning of the review, it was so enjoyable that I
will give you specific directions to ensure you can enjoy it as well. The
way (from Pattaya) is to head towards Banglamung on Sukhumvit, go past
Cholchan Resort and then swing hard right under the overpass and drive
towards the Regent’s School on Highway 36. Long before the school (over 4
km in fact) there is a Shell Service Station on your left. Take the first
U-turn after the Shell and you will see the illuminated sign for Miriam’s
Restaurant. Soi Nongketnoi 6 is on the left and drive down this soi for a
little way and you will see the brightly lit restaurant on your right. Do
not try and get into Soi Nongketnoi 6 from Sukhumvit. Even Magellan would
get confused trying it from that end! (For students of history, Magellan
however, did get confused fairly easily!)
The
restaurant building is in immaculate grounds, and the air-conditioned dining
area is in the lower floor of the beautifully refurbished house. Beige tiles
on the floor, cane furniture, shining bronze cutlery, contrasting green
tablecloths and throw-overs all add to the bright looks. The service staff
are also brightly dressed, but more importantly, have bright welcoming
smiles. We were certainly made more welcome than Magellan was in the
Philippines in 1521, where he was killed on April 27!
The menu is varied, without being too many choices. Five
cold Antipasti (B. 180-390 large serves) include beef and fish Carpaccios
and the (almost obligatory) Parma ham and melon, and are followed by five
hot Antipasti (B. 150-210 large serves again) with mussels, scallops, squid
and prawn items on offer.
Being an Italian restaurant, there are 17 choices in the
Pasta and Rice section (B. 120-480, with most under B. 200) and has some
interesting variations on the Italian theme, including a zesty sauce of
anchovies, olives and capers.
Soups are next (B. 100-155) with a Minestrone at the
lower end and a Mediterranean fish style soup near the top. Mains are split
into Fish or Meat (B. 210-410) and include an ossobuco and a fillet of sole.
Tiramisu and a cheese platter to end it all, plus a well
chosen wine list, with most bottles under B. 1,000.
We decided to try the whiteboard daily special menu and
the delightfully smooth pumpkin soup for Madame, and the deep-fried
mozzarella with home made tomato sauce set the tone for the evening. Lovely!
We also had pasta and salads before going into the mains
which were an oven-baked sea bass for Madame and a rack of lamb for myself,
with one of the nicest risottos I have tasted. Both of us were totally
pleased with our choices. By the way, the Abbott’s Farm Cabernet Shiraz
2001 was excellent and went well with the Italian cuisine.
We truly enjoyed our evening at Miriam’s Restaurant,
and could have happily stayed on chatting with the owners Sergio and
Thanaporn Rigone for many hours. It is that sort of place. The food is
excellent and shows not only the skills of the chef (12 years in a top
Italian restaurant in Bangkok), but also Sergio’s passionate nature
towards the food of his country. The venue is spotlessly clean and should
become one of the preferred Italian restaurants for the Eastern Seaboard.
Very definitely recommended. Just remember to enter Soi Nongketnoi from the
Highway 36 end! Magellan has spoken!
Miriam’s Restaurant, 73 M 7, Soi Nongketnoi 6, Banglamung, telephone
and fax 038 223 073, mobile 09 259 6629. Secure parking inside compound.
Open 5 p.m. till late Tuesday through to Sunday.
