This week the Dining Out Team ate at the Royal Cliff Beach Hotel, to give it the full title. Since the Royal Cliff has 11 restaurants, it becomes necessary to state clearly which one we were dining in, and ours was the Breezeo – Be Yourself Dining, a restaurant where you can literally get your feet wet in the waters of the Bay of Siam if you wish. We were happy enough just looking at the water three meters away.
Breezeo has a unique atmosphere, very casual and laid back, but retaining the Royal Cliff’s high standards of service (and food, we found later). Chairs are wicker and tables similar. Along one wall is the open kitchen, the province of Slava, the young Ukrainian chef whose enthusiasm for his food is contagious. (And there is no Borsht on the menu.)
Finding Breezeo in the complex of the Royal Cliff is actually not easy, but here is the easy method (and the longer method if you like a walk before dinner). After walking into the lobby, carry on through and out towards the large swimming pool. Look for the sign for Breezeo and the attendant elevator, and go down to the lower floor. Exit the elevator and you are there!
Now here is the exercise way – from the lobby turn left and walk along beside the Maharani restaurant (great Indian food, by the way) and then follow the stairs down and down and down until you are on a walkway beside the water. Keep walking and you will come across Breezeo. On second thoughts take the elevator!
Take your time to peruse the menu. There are, for example, wines from 16 countries ranging in price from around B. 1,400 to sky’s the limit. We decided on a Riddle Brut Reserve, easily quaffable white from Australia and only B. 1,400. It was perfectly adequate for the evening. The Western Cape reds were also similarly priced (B. 1,500-1,600).
As Breezeo is an ideal venue to sit back and relax, tapas fit well (B. 150-280). Sandwiches and burgers are B. 150-289. Chef Slava said they were producing “New World” snacks such as a Thai relish (ajah) taken with grilled shrimp. King lobster was B. 240 for 100 gm, white snapper was B. 800 for the whole fish, and pomfret was B. 120 per 100 gm. Other seafood included blue crab, mackerel and squid and tiger prawns at B. 220 for 100 g.
Breezeo is known for its grills and we indulged with mussels with grilled cheese, a white snapper and a grilled rock lobster in a garlic mayonnaise plus lamb chops. These dishes are cooked for you on the spot and were really excellent. Grills range between B. 310-330.
It was a most enjoyable evening. The Royal Cliff has managed to give Breezeo its own character, and when combined with good food makes Breezeo another venue worth exploring. The pricing is very moderate and we can recommend Breezeo to you. Do try.
Breezeo – Be yourself Dining, 353 Pratamnak Road, Pattaya, tel. 038 250 421, Open seven days 11 a.m. till midnight.
