Jomtien really is the restaurant capital of the Eastern
Seaboard. There are high class fine dining restaurants, ethnic restaurants,
cheap restaurants and family restaurants. And as opposed to Pattaya, there
is still ample parking in Jomtien.
This week we went to a small family restaurant on Jomtien
Beach Road, the first restaurant past the Chaiyapruek T junction, and almost
opposite the Chaiyapruek police box. Called Jin’s Place it is owned and
run by a small enthusiastic lady called Jin, and is her first venture into
the restaurant business. She also owns the beach concession opposite the
restaurant.
The
restaurant is not large, being a single shophouse, but since the building is
set back, use has been made of the area running up to the footpath. This
gives an outside section, but covered, which can get the sea breezes as well
as using overhead fans.
Floors are tiled and quality wooden tables and padded
chairs predominate. Stonewear plates and serviceable cutlery completes the
package. There is a small sit-up bar in the back section which offers
Heineken draft on tap. A pool table is also in the rear section.
The menu is not large but covers breakfast, lunch and
dinner, as is necessary for a family restaurant, and especially one that
also supplies the beach-goers. It begins with breakfast favourites, with
most items around B. 60, including beans on toast, eggs on toast and
pancakes with syrup. There is also an ‘all day’ breakfast which offers
two eggs, bacon, sausage, tomatoes, baked beans, toast, fruit juice, tea or
coffee for B. 120.
Drinks and juices are next (B. 30-60) and then beers,
with local brands at B. 50-60, or draft Heineken at B. 45. House wine, white
and red is B. 95 by the glass, and Jin tells me that she will be introducing
a dedicated wine list soon.
Jin’s
International Dishes are up next, with most items around B. 185 including
chicken schnitzel (served with potato salad and two vegetables), or fish and
chips with peas, while the imported lamb chops and the Norwegian salmon
steaks are at the top end at B. 320. Soups are B. 75-85, salads B. 120-140
while snacks and burgers are B. 85-120.
Following the international dishes, there are two pages
of dedicated Thai items, for which Jin has a Thai chef (she cooks the
international dishes herself). The vast majority of Thai items are under B.
100.
The menu finishes with sandwiches (B. 85-120) and ice
creams and desserts.
We began with a goulash soup, which arrived hot to the
table. This was thick and ‘meaty’ and flavoursome. Addition of some
pepper by the diner depends on the individual’s taste buds! The soup also
arrived with some thick pieces of crusty bread. Nice touch.
For
mains we had the special herbed fish of the day for Madame and imported NZ
lamb chops for me, which came with vegetables and fried potatoes and onions.
Both dishes came with good sized portions and we had no room for the offered
desserts or coffees. We certainly did not leave hungry.
The ambience is certainly relaxed, as befits a family
restaurant; however, the food standard is a cut above the usual Thai family
eatery. The Thai food in particular was of a very high standard and the
herbed fish speciality received very high marks from Madame. For me, the
dish of the night was the goulash soup, full of meat and potatoes and
vegetables in a thick soup (almost a stew and a meal on its own) and at B.
85 a true bargain.
Take Jin’s Place as you find it. It does not pretend to
be haute cuisine, but you will certainly find some filling, well-priced
items on the menu. Wine choice very limited to the house wine, but at B. 95
a glass who’s complaining? Since Jin also has the beach concession it is a
good place to go to watch the sun going down from the beach deckchairs and
then crossing the road to the restaurant for dinner. Take a group with you.
Jin’s Place, 131/7, Jomtien Beach Road, M12, Jomtien, telephone 09 895
1523. On street parking. Open 10 a.m. until 10 p.m., seven days.
