Do you remember the Saturday night BBQ around the pool in the Dusit Thani? If you do, you will also remember scampering inside, sheltering from wind and rain. Great BBQ, but nobody can predict the weather. However, the Dusit Thani and Executive Chef Pathma Balagangdaram have come up with an even better concept. A Saturday night Cascade BBQ.
Firstly, the Cascade Coffee shop, on your right as you walk from the lobby. You won’t recognize it. A total make-over with several live cooking stations. The world’s largest and most expensive circular griller. BBQ buffet items from all over the world feature on a central BBQ display and then even more along the back wall.
Cascade was always a comfy and comforting venue, with the same large tables and comfy chairs. Quality glasses (wine always tastes better in good glasses, don’t you think) and well starched napery. Super uniformed and attentive staff.
Dusit Thani’s Cascade has a good range of wines in their fine temperature controlled wine cellar with a good range of inexpensive wines, including their own label. We chose an Australian Chardonny, but then shifted to the Dusit’s own label, and quite frankly I found it superior.
I always recommend that with a buffet, take your time and walk around, otherwise you will likely miss a favorite. With the new Dusit Thani Saturday night BBQ I recommend walking around twice. There is a lot to see, “over 100 items,” said Chef Pathma. Too many to count, let me assure you.
If you are a meat eater, there is a live carvery featuring Grade 7 Wagyu top sirloin/ lamb leg / pork (and our requested sirloin was cooked perfectly – the expensive griller was a great investment).
Japan is well represented with a dedicated sushi and sashimi bar, and going on with crustaceans on ice there are French oysters, and yes, they were fresh. The prawns and crabs feature local river prawns, slipper lobster, king squid, and blue swimmer crab. Norwegian salmon steak, salads, cold cuts and many different condiments.
We were also regaled with a dim sum (made in-house), suckling pig and freshly roasted duck and a pasta station which became a firm favorite with one of the Dining Out crew who was seen going up for seconds (or perhaps thirds?).
It certainly doesn’t stop there. Along one wall are warmers with a hot buffet with a delectable lemon chicken items including soup and bakery items (Dusit Thani being renowned for their bakery.)
As I pointed out at the beginning of this review, there are so many items, take your time in selection.
If you like to finish the evening with cheeses, you can make your own cheese board with hard and soft cheeses from France, Australia and Holland, and you are supplied with a proper cheese knife to carve your choices.
Of course if you have a sweet tooth, there are many dessert items, including the children’s favorite chocolate fountain.
This was a superb Saturday BBQ and undoubtedly one of the very best in Pattaya. Now time to look at the price – THB 1,400 and that makes the Saturday night BBQ at the Dusit Thani a bargain as well. And you don’t have to worry if it rains! Do try on Saturday. You will not be disappointed.
Dusit Thani Pattaya, 240/2 Pattaya Beach Road, Pattaya City, open Saturday evenings 6 p.m. to10 p.m., telephone 038 425 611-7, email [email protected] , secure parking in the resort’s grounds. (Photographs by Marisa Corness)
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