by Miss Terry Diner
One of the newest restaurants in Pattaya is La Notte. At
the top (Siam Bayshore) end of Walking Street, it is located at the site
where Mon Ami Pierrot once cooked its French cuisine. And that is about
where the similarity ends. Where the former restaurant was dark, old
fashioned and walled off from the street, La Notte has completely
redeveloped the site to produce an open plan restaurant and bar with a wide
view over Walking Street. From the outset and the outside, it is inviting.
The restaurant is in three distinct areas. There is an outside terrace where
one can take in the sights and sounds of Walking Street. This leads into the
bar along one side and restaurant proper on the other, with an open (and
spotless) kitchen at the rear. Décor and ambience is modern international,
as is the owner Christophe, a Frenchman who came on holidays and with a
partner bought the restaurant and stayed! The cutlery is very high class,
the tables are covered, and the seating comfortable.
The menu is not large and is international in its direction. There is also a
page of daily rotating specials ranging in price between B. 160-290. The
menu proper has starters and entrees with mussels in garlic butter at the
low end (B. 160), upwards through a fresh and smoked salmon tartare (B. 260)
through to a selection of Italian cold cuts (B. 340).
Fish dishes are B. 360-440 and include an interesting scallops with basil
and curry sauce. Poultry and meat dishes are B. 260-540 and include NZ lamb
chops (B. 410) and imported rib eye (B. 520). There are also pastas at
around B. 250. All these main dishes come with vegetables, roast potatoes or
rice.
The wine list is also not huge, but well chosen and affordable, with the
majority of bottles around B. 1000, with representatives from both the old
and new worlds. House Chardonnay by the glass is only B. 120, and was
perfectly drinkable.
After the house white, we chose a bottle of Rose de Corse Marestagno, which
was a very easily quaffable wine. One becomes so used to heavier reds at
dinner that it is worthwhile remembering a rose from time to time.
We tried a number of the items on offer, with the two salmons entrée being a
novel presentation with wonderfully subtle flavors. Chopped salmon topped
with a slice of fresh salmon, and for B. 260 this was a very filling dish,
which we both enjoyed very much.
Madame had the daily special Andalusian stuffed squid as a main course, and
I have to say I am not usually a fan of the rubbery animal, but La Notte’s
presentation was such that I even asked her for some more than just my usual
tasting sampler. The squid is stuffed with chopped pork, squid and chilli,
then gently seared to make a spicy, Spanish, and different, dish.
I had the braised lamb shank with rosemary sauce (which came in a separate
gravy boat) and accompanied with the roast potatoes and vegetables. Well
cooked and the accompaniments were much better than the usual fare around
town. Presentation was on large square white plates, and again was
excellent.
We were delighted with this restaurant. The food was superb and we will
definitely go back again. It is far enough up Walking Street that the
madness and noise that is part of ‘The Strip’ is left behind. You can relax
and sit back and enjoy the food and the atmosphere. Christophe insists that
La Notte is not fine dining, but the food we ate was definitely of that
category. It is far more than a brasserie, even though the prices are only
in that category. This is a very good addition to the culinary scene in
Pattaya, and the Dining Out team has no hesitation in recommending you visit
La Notte. You will not be disappointed.
La Notte, 220/2-4 Walking Street (opposite L’Espace Francophone), South
Pattaya, telephone 038 429 792. Parking outside (if you are lucky),
otherwise look at the Walking Street parking areas or at Bali Hai pier. Open
seven days from 5.30 p.m. through to 11 p.m.
