When sitting relaxing in the Infiniti restaurant in the Sheraton Pattaya Resort
and looking out towards the islands, you can see why they called it ‘Infiniti’.
On a clear day you can see all the way to Borneo, well, it seems that way.
Infinity is where your view ends.
We went on a Friday lunchtime and ate with the GM Michael
Delargy and his delightful wife Caryn, and we were amazed to see just how busy
this open-air restaurant was. The Bangkok battles had obviously not depressed
the spirits of the Sheraton’s guests. There is also the fact that there actually
is a dearth of better places for lunch in Pattaya. Dinner is no problem, but
lunch?
The Infiniti restaurant is around half way down the Sheraton
property, and we did the easy approach by catching one of the many buggies which
drop you almost directly at the restaurant.
Even though it was a hot day, the design of Infiniti is such
as to catch any of the prevailing winds, and the décor is all Mediterranean,
with wood and sandstone predominating. The seating features very comfy cushions
so you can really relax while you take in the view. I had written ‘spectacular
outlook’ in my notes for this restaurant. Another feature of Infiniti (and in
fact all of the Sheraton outlets) is the wonderfully welcoming attitude of the
staff. Probably ‘bouncy and bubbly’ is the best description.
The menu is large (physically) but quite selective with its
dishes. The man in charge of the kitchen is its new director, Spencer Kells, the
chef who delighted the members of the Chaine des Rotisseurs two weeks ago, and
he was very much on duty in the open-air kitchen along one side of the
restaurant. On the opposite side is the cocktail bar.
In addition to the standard menu there is also the specials
menu on a blackboard behind the chefs, which included, on our Friday, some very
interesting items such as a duck ravioli on a red wine sauce (B. 450++), and a
torchon foie gras French vanilla brioche on a raspberry coulis (B. 790++).
However, back to the standard menu, and if you have eaten at
Infiniti before, you will find many different items compared to last year
(before Spencer). It begins with ‘First Bites’ with dips, or quick fried spiced
calamari with blue cheese Aioli and an Insalata Caprese. Salads are up next (B.
320-420) and then some very different sandwiches (B. 360-390) including a tuna
and crabmeat melt, cheddar cheese, wasabi mayonnaise and fries.
Burgers (Between the Buns!) are B. 390 then into the grilled
items (B. 590-890) with a pan-roasted red snapper at the low end and rib eye
steak with a balsamic glaze at the top end.
From there it is into pastas (B. 270-350) with one of my
favorites, a squid’s ink linguine with prawns, lemon, chilli and peas. These are
followed by wood-fired pizzas (B. 280-360), sides and finally desserts. Enough
choices for everyone.
Madame, who very much enjoys duck, went for the duck ravioli
in the red wine sauce, and the ravioli were well stuffed and very flavorsome. I
had decided on the pan-seared scallops with the pork belly, which came with a
delightfully spicy sauce. The scallops were not rubbery in any way, and neither
was the pork belly tough. It was something different, and something most
enjoyable.
It was a most agreeable lunch at Infiniti. Both of us were
completely satisfied with our choices, and it would be difficult to imagine
larger pan-seared scallops, and the sauce that went with them was delightfully
piquant. There was not room for the offered desserts, but we did have a coffee
to finish our lunch.
Infiniti is also open for dinner as well as lunch, and we can
very highly recommend this restaurant as another excellent dining out
opportunity for the gourmets in Pattaya. And don’t forget that it is open for
lunch.
Sheraton Pattaya Resort, 437 Pratamnak Road, Pattaya,
telephone 038 259 888, fax 038 259 899, open seven days 11 a.m. until 10 p.m.
Secure valet parking (and buggies to get you up and down to the restaurant).
