Forgive my Norwegian in the title, I copied it from Linda’s website and have no idea what it is in English. Of course, Linda’s restaurant is fluent in Norwegian, as well as English and has Thai-speaking staff. This is reflected in the menu which offers Norwegian items, European items and Thai.
Linda is also an interesting multi-national person, originally from Hong Kong but worked in Norway for many years running her own restaurant and that explains how she is fluent in Norwegian. Multi-talented as well as multi-national.
This trip to Linda’s was an invitation from the lady herself to familiarize ourselves with her new menu, driven by Chef Kato, who is now a business partner with Linda in the restaurant. Kato himself is almost as interestingly varied as Linda herself, being a Japanese national who worked in Norway and even authored a book of Norwegian recipes.
Linda’s Restaurant is large being a triple shop-house with seating for 200 people, with a covered al fresco verandah outside for those who wish to smoke. 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.
The décor has changed also and the lighting as well. The stage has gone and along the division is a row of bain maries for the Scandinavian Sandwich Buffet which runs from 12 noon to 5 p.m. and is only B. 198, a very keen pricing. Choices include roast beef sandwich with potato salad and a Gravlax sandwich with dill stewed potatoes and mustard sauce, and for the dyed in the wool Scandinavians there is Lakse cabaret med majones and carbonade med lok.
There is a separate lunch menu as well (B. 155-165) with salmon steak with salad and French Fries, or BBQ Spare Ribs and even a 180 gm Australian beef burger with French fries to go with that on offer.
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 has a choice of 11 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, home made 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, onion with fresh fruit toast and jam for B. 149.
A daily rotating menu (B. 295 including tea or coffee) is in Norwegian, but relax, there is an English translation for each one. It begins with Monday and Fersk Kjott Looksaus and Gronnsaksuppe which is boiled beef meat, onion sauce and vegetable soup. Or come along on Saturday for Kjottboller Flotesaus Tyttebaer Og Potatmos which is a Swedish Meatball Dinner with mashed potato
It is always difficult to make something which was already good, into something even better. However Linda and Kato have managed to inject a new ‘freshness’ into the restaurant, especially with the lighting and lowering the prices. Well done! Do go and try. The Pattaya Mail regulars will be coming even more often.
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.
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