The question that comes up time and time again for the
Dining Out team, usually re-directed from the Pattaya Mail itself -
“How do we get our restaurant reviewed?” The answer is really quite simple -
invite us! There is no charge. You do not charge us, and we do not charge
you.
With hundreds of hits each week, the Dining Out column of
the Pattaya Mail is one of the most read columns in the newspaper,
and it is obvious that people do follow the Dining Out team around. Some
restaurateurs have even reported having diners coming in with the Pattaya
Mail newspaper in their hand and referring to it as the evening goes on.
For some restaurant owners, one worry has been just how
many people will come and dine? I know there have been occasions where other
reviewers from different sections of the media have arrived with a football
team in tow. We do not do that. For the Pattaya Mail Dining Out team
the reviewers are myself and one other, unless there is a specific
children’s element to it, or some real reason for there to be more than two
people. Items such as fondues often need more than two people to make it
work, for example. We choose different items from the menu and sample each
other’s choices, so we end up with some consensus as far as the item is
concerned.
Some restaurants want to provide special items for us to
try, but we do not believe in that either. The food we review should be the
same food that you can order - exactly the same. That goes for the size of
the portion as well. We do warn the establishment that we will be taking
photographs of the food, so huge helpings given to us, but not given to the
ordinary diner, is soon shown in the photo.
For the above reason, we do not come for Dining Out to
sample special food that the chef had specifically made for us, and find it
is something which is not on the menu. To write “the truffles were
excellent,” when there are no truffles on the menu, is not good for the
restaurant at all.
In the review we like to give an indication of the price
ranges the diner may expect. Not doing so is a disservice to both the
restaurant and the potential diners. To find that the items are beyond the
family budget when you actually sit down to eat and read the menu is
embarrassing for everyone. Of course, you must remember that food prices can
alter between the week of doing the review and the actual printing in the
Pattaya Mail, so please don’t start a fight with the maitre d’ if the
price of the lobster bisque has gone up 20 baht.
We have been asked why there are no ‘bad’ reviews, but we
counter that by saying, “What earthly use would that be?” Diners are not
going to try a restaurant that receives a bad rap, are they? And contrary to
some of the feared reviewers in the US and the UK, who can make or break a
restaurant, we do not feel that our function is to break someone’s rice
bowl. No, if the restaurant does not come up to the standard we would
expect, we advise the owner/manager and stop the review at that point, and
do not write about it. We advise what is wrong, and if and when they are
ready in the future, we are happy to come back for the full review again.
Following our dining, we confer on the event and our
final summation takes into account the overall dining experience which
covers the venue and the ambience, the food, taste and presentation, and the
service staff. In a cheap and cheerful restaurant we do not expect silver
service - but in a fine dining establishment we do. However, all restaurants
should know by now that white wine is served cold and red wine served around
a cool room temperature, and preferably allowed to ‘breathe’ for a few
minutes.
You can contact the Dining Out team by email [email protected].
