Has Pattaya become the dining out bargain basement of
Thailand? Probably that is a little bit of a sweeping remark, because it is
many years since I dined at some of Thailand’s other culinary centers, but
there is no doubting that there are some great bargains to be had in
Pattaya.
What sparked that above paragraph was the visit by two
friends from Australia, who just could not get over the incredibly
reasonable prices for restaurant meals they experienced while dining out in
Pattaya. Amongst those was a wonderful Thai-style open air restaurant around
a lake, complete with VIP air-con rooms and a band. Part of a group of
around 20 people, the food bill came to B. 7,000 - that’s B. 350 a head. A
bargain. It is on Siam Country Club Road, about 700 meters from the railway
line on the left hand side and is called “Suan Ban Bueng”, and sorry, no
English sign, but a neon “fan” above the entrance! Take a Thai person with
you.
However, the bargains can also be found in the farang
eateries. One such is Jameson’s Irish Pub, a favorite watering hole for the
expat community, which is also renowned for the standard of its food, and if
you look at the “Weekly Specials” you will find quite incredible bargains.
Prices that you haven’t seen for five years, they are so low.
Now when I say “specials”, last week I had the choice in
the first course of potato and ham soup, or chicken Hawaiian salad or Scotch
eggs. Main course choices included fillet steak, pork hot pot or roast
chicken. Desserts were pineapple crumble, ice creams or Thai fresh fruits.
Now the prices: three courses B. 265, two courses B. 250,
one course B. 235. In other words you can have a main course and then pay
only another B. 15 for starter or dessert. Beat that for value!
The specials change each week, and that also covers the
‘Pie of the week’, with last week’s being minced beef and mushroom, with
french-fries, peas and gravy for B. 185. Another bargain.
The a la carte menu, which changes every month, does not
require you to take out an overdraft either. For example, chicken in a red
wine sauce is B. 255, while ‘giant’ pork chops is B. 395 (and anyone who has
eaten at Jameson’s before knows they are gigantic)!
Children are not forgotten either. The Kiddies Menu has
seven choices, with all at B. 95, and that includes a glass of soft drink
and a scoop of ice cream.
There is also a Thai menu (generally B. 105-160) which
has received top marks from our Thai Madame.
But from the adult Specials menu, I decided on the soup,
followed by the pork hot pot. The potato and ham soup came hot to the table,
in a large soup bowl. Plenty of ham too. Great starter.
The main course of pork hot pot was served in a very hot
bowl, with crumbed potato and onion on the top and the sliced pork in a
‘soup stock’ of carrots and onion. The pork just fell apart and the serving
was so large I had to ask for a take-away bag and finished it at home the
next day for lunch. Nobody leaves Jameson’s hungry.
There have been times when diners have said to me,
“Restaurants know you are coming, so you get bigger serves than anyone
else.” I can assure you that was not the case. Landlord Kim Fletcher did not
know I was coming, and in fact it was his night off. The staff did not know
I was doing a review either. The servings we received were exactly as you
will receive.
By the time you read this, the specials will have
rotated, but I have heard no complaints about the food, and certainly no
complaints about the prices. Where else can you get a starter or a dessert
for B. 15? Highly recommended.
Jameson’s Irish Pub, 80/164 Moo 9, Soi Sukrudee (Soi AR),
Central Pattaya. Secure parking. Open seven days 7 a.m. until 1 a.m.
Telephone 038 361 873, email info @jamesons-pattaya.com, and
www.jamesons-pattaya.com.
