The name “Chrysanthemum” refers to a genus of flowers, and the “Chrys” part refers to gold. So it was with some interest that we went down the spiral stairs in the Royal Cliff Grand to their Chinese restaurant, the Chrysanthemum, hoping for perhaps a golden experience!
According to the Royal Cliff, Chrysanthemum- Dynasty Chinese Cuisine is the heart of Chinese dining at the Royal Cliff and Pattaya. The Chinese Chef is highly skilled at preparing traditional favorites and inspires all with delicious new-age flair, serving customary Chinese dishes with hundreds of years of history. The diversity of tastes and flavors will carry your palate into a realm of dining marvels. The imperial atmosphere enhances the ancient spirit and customs of Chinese culinary art, fully utilizing time-honored techniques and traditions to prepare and serve these oriental delights.
Well, that was the PR release, so how did the Chrysanthemum shape up? As you approach the restaurant, you are immersed in a sea of Chinese red lacquer and Chinese motifs. There is certainly no way that you might mistake this restaurant for a Thai one. The welcoming staff is also dressed a la Chinese style to make the effect complete. The tables have the mandatory turntable, as Chinese dining is best thought of as a communal affair, with sharing being the concept.
Take your time perusing, and discussing possible choices with others at your table – you will after all, be sharing. This is why Chinese restaurants have large circular tables with a rotating top.
The Chrysanthemum kitchen is under Chinese chef Arthid Suntisukhatai, and the cuisine covers mainly Cantonese and Szechuan, though with China being as vast as it is, there can be many different styles.
The menu is quite comprehensive and offers reading glasses for diners who may have left theirs at home. Always a nice touch. Portions are also offered in Small, Medium and Large. Take your time perusing, and discussing possible choices with others at your table – you will after all, be sharing. This is why Chinese restaurants have large circular tables with a rotating top. Practical people the Chinese. Another practicality was the offer of a fork for people like me not adept with chopsticks!
King Lobster in an XO sauce and some spinach with garlic.
During the perusal, Chinese tea is being continually served, but we also chose a very pleasant Shiraz Cabernet Sauvignon from the Australian Penfolds Winery, with this vintage specially bottled for the Royal Cliff.
I had asked for a Szechuan soup, one of my favorite Chinese dishes, while dining partner Christophe suggested a “Peking Duck Lite” as a starter, which sounded very intriguing, and Madame suggested the sautéed broccoli and Garoupa in Chinese brown sauce, and this order was added to by Christophe’s King Lobster in an XO sauce and some spinach with garlic.
Peking Duck is well known throughout the world, not just in Beijing. This roasted item was originally named “Shaoyazi” and was mentioned in the Complete Recipes for Dishes and Beverages manual in 1330 by Hu Sihui, an inspector of the imperial kitchen. The Peking Roast Duck that later came to be associated with the term was fully developed during the later Ming Dynasty, so we were partaking of a slice of history. With the Peking Duck “Lite”, the thinly sliced roasted duck skin is wrapped in a pancake with sauce and sliced cucumber, and this process seemed endless as pancake after pancake would silently arrive on the plate. Certainly a great starter.
My Szechuan soup had the correct amount of “bite” and I enjoyed it very much. The other dishes were also very flavorsome, especially the garlic spinach. Top marks all round, Chef Arthid.
We had dined with Christophe Voegeli, the General Manager of the Royal Cliff, and we did receive the ‘royal’ treatment, but I must quickly point out that so did all the other diners in the restaurant. The Royal Cliff is renowned for their staff training, which results in customer satisfaction, and our service was faultless. Like all the top hotels in Pattaya, their fine dining restaurants are not cheap, and Chrysanthemum is no exception. However, since Chinese dining is traditionally a sharing of dishes, the bill at the end of the evening is not wallet gouging! We enjoyed our evening, and we are sure you will too.
Chrysanthemum restaurant in the Royal Cliff Grand, 353 Pratamnak Road, Pattaya, open 6.30 t0 10.30 p.m. but closed Thursdays. Secure parking in the hotel grounds.
