The Hilton Pattaya has certainly made a name for itself in a very short period of time. However, with the two restaurants Edge and Flare, they have covered much of the dining out market from relaxed casual eating through to fine dining.
The Edge is on the 15th floor of the Hilton and is easily accessible from the lifts, though you do have to go down an escalator to get there after getting off on the 15th. The restaurant is in two sections, an outside area directly looking over the Bay of Pattaya, and another set inside and behind glass, but with the same fabulous views. Along two walls of this inner area are kitchens and food displays, and another free standing desserts display.
The warm ambience of The Edge is partly brought about by the extensive use of light colored wood everywhere, and the very welcoming staff.
Last week we had occasion to take some New Zealand visitors to lunch, so we decided we would try the lunch buffet offerings at the Hilton’s Edge restaurant. These are on a rotational basis, with seven days and seven themes:
Mon – Wrap & Roll (THB 300 / Dinner THB 700)
Tue – Pizza Pasta (THB 300 / Dinner THB 700)
Wed – Sandwich & Burger (THB 300 / Dinner THB 700)
Thu – Asian Noodles (THB 300 / Dinner THB 700)
Fri – Seafood (THB 400 / Dinner THB 900)
Sat – Signature dishes & Huge dessert buffet (THB 300 / Dinner THB 700)
Sun – Brunch (THB 1200 / Dinner THB 700)
The day we went was a Tuesday, so it was Pizza Pasta, and our guests were a little reticent at first, as they had been hoping for some spicy Thai food. There was so much more than just pizza and pasta, I wonder if the Hilton should not expand a little on the description. With salads, including a DIY Caesar salad, cold cuts and prawns, many hot dishes and even a minestrone soup and a lasagna, some Thai hot dishes such as hot and spicy seafood spaghetti, a roasted red duck curry, stir-fried hot and spicy sea bass as well as pasta dishes including a calamari fettucini and several different pizzas, there was plenty of choice for everyone, including spicy Thai. We settled on the sparkler, an Australian Woolshed Brut, which was a very pleasant dry ‘methode champenoise’ (we are not allowed to call it ‘champagne’ as only the French can do that), and at B. 1,900 net not overpriced.
I began with the minestrone soup, a particular favorite of mine, and this was a good one, loaded with vegetables and kept hot in its own pot. My guests went straight for the hot Thai food and did not find it too chili hot. For my second trip to the food counter I saw that amongst the different pizzas there was a four cheese, and that was my immediate choice, this being another favorite, and it was excellent.
The New Zealanders by now were enjoying lasagna and salad and prawns, and it was by that stage obvious that we had made a good choice of venue for the visitors (as well as ourselves).
It was after a little breather that the guests discovered the desserts, and more than one trip up and back was made. Miss Terry? Too full of four cheese Pizza, I’m afraid. We all had a great lunch.
At B. 300 for an all-you-can-eat lunch, it is difficult to beat. We enjoyed it, the New Zealand visitors enjoyed it, and we have made a note to return and try lunch on some other days of the week (other than Sunday brunch which we reviewed a few months ago and it was just sensational).
If you do not know where the Hilton Pattaya is by now, you must be a visitor. It is above the Central Festival shopping Center which runs between Pattaya Second Road and Pattaya Beach Road. Vehicular access is from both roads, and the car park is secure.
The Edge restaurant, 15th floor Hilton Pattaya, 333/101 M9, above Central Festival, with Second Road and Beach Road entrances with secure parking, telephone 038 253 000. Lunch runs 12 noon till 2.30 p.m.
