Some places in Pattaya can be something of a neon lit mad house. Especially around the Jomtien Complex area. Add in the ‘greeters’ of all persuasions sitting outside restaurants and bars, motorcycle taxis, gawkers and hawkers. But fortunately you can find an escape route and it is on the opposite side of the road from Jomtien Complex and it is called Linda’s Restaurant.
You can’t miss Linda’s on Thappraya Road as you drive down towards the Hanuman statue, as Linda’s Restaurant is on your left and large, being a quadruple shop-house with seating for 200 people.
Outside is a covered al fresco area for smokers. Inside, in air-conditioned comfort, there are comfortable chairs and decent sized tables, with white starched napery. The place mats are fun, with pictures of many of the customers taken with Linda over the years. A couple of the Pattaya Mail rogues were visible in the gallery.
Along the back wall is the cocktail bar, and you are looked after by very attentive service staff. Linda herself is also touring the tables most nights to ensure customer satisfaction.
So how does a Hong Kong born lady end up in Pattaya with a Scandinavian restaurant? Via a long journey from Asia to Norway, dish washing, and right the way through to being a chef in her own right. Assisting her these days is a Japanese chef who also worked in Norway and even published a Norwegian cook book!
It has become difficult to get a good early breakfast in Pattaya these days. Some establishments offer breakfasts which begin at 11 a.m. but Linda’s has a choice of a dozen dishes with most well under B. 200 and available from 7.30 a.m. The Luxury Norwegian breakfast has Norwegian smoked salmon, egg and caviar, homemade beef burger and Italian salad with strawberry, blueberry jam and served with Norwegian brown cheese. If an omelet is your fancy, Linda’s omelet has spinach, bacon, and onion, with fresh fruit toast and jam for B. 185.
Amongst the appetizers is a Norwegian smoked salmon and gravlax with dill stewed potato and mustard sauce, definitely a Scandinavian treat.
Moving along, there are three pizzas on offer with a chicken, salami, beef meatballs, seafood , pineapple, onion, tomato, olive, garlic and mozzarella, there is a Herring Plate for 285 baht, how northern region do you want?
Norsk Husmannskost is next in the menu, with a Norwegian traditional dinner of Bacalao con natas (Gratin dry cod with garlic, New Zealand mussels, mozzarella cheese and potato).
So after a perusal of the very large menu, Madame began with the shrimp cocktail (B. 260) which was large and well presented, and followed that up with Hjemmelaget Fiskeboller i hvit saus (homemade fish balls in white sauce).
I liked the sound of the Potetball / komle / vossakorv/ m tilbehør which in English is lamb meat, sausage and potato dumpling. This was a very considerable portion and had me beaten, but fortunately one of our party did the job and cleared the plate.
Ice creams finished our Scandinavian meal, but I should point out that standard Euro style items were available, as also a comprehensive Thai menu.
There is a rumor that it was the Vikings who discovered America, which may be the true. However, the Dining Out Team knows that the Vikings did discover Linda’s Restaurant for a taste of home and multiple choices of their home fare.
Well worth a trip to lower Thappraya Road.
Linda’s Restaurant, 315/177-180 Moo 12, opposite the Jomtien Complex, Thappraya Road, Jomtien. Open seven days from 7.30 a.m. until late. Telephone Reservations: 038 252 726, www.lindasrestaurant.com, street-side parking. Email [email protected] . GPS 12.901655 N 100.869.
 |
 |
