Information about O’Gara’s Bar and Grill in the Tara Court was received by the Dining Out Team, and we were so impressed on our initial visit (incognito) that we came back for another visit before returning for an “official” review.
There are a couple of interesting items about this establishment that should be told. The first is that the Irish owner of the boutique hotel Tara Court was so frustrated trying to find a good place for breakfast that he started his own, called O’Gara’s Bar and Grill. The second is the name which is sometimes spelled O’Garas and at other times as O’Gara’s. Since the restaurant is named after the famous Irish Rugby player Ronan O’Gara, I have gone with the spelling O’Gara’s.
The Tara Court, with its O’Gara’s Bar and Grill is on Pratamnak Road almost on the corner of Soi 5. There is limited parking in the front of the restaurant, but more in the basement of Tara Court and plenty roadside on Soi 5.
Inside, the restaurant is built around a dark wood central horseshoe bar, where one can sit and dine, or there are many free-standing tables, with some particularly comfortable chairs. HP sauce and tomato sauce bottles are on the tables. The Irish element is expressed with green predominating, including the waitress’ shirts, and Celtic designs around the windows. However, the most noticeable Irish factor is the lilting Irish brogue that can be heard in the place. That makes it definitely Irish!
Now whilst O’Gara’s is open all day from 8 a.m. till late, we came to review the breakfast, since, like the owner, we have also found it difficult to get a good breakfast early in the mornings.
The breakfast menu has at the top the Full Irish breakfast, which has everything an Irishman might want and comes at B. 160, but if you are not so hungry, then the Standard Irish breakfast has one of most everything at B. 110. Both come with a choice of tea or coffee. A perennial favorite of mine is an omelet in the morning, and the O’Gara’s omelet is large and full of ham and comes with two large slices of toast and marmalade, and this also B. 110. Two eggs on toast are B. 100, sandwiches with bacon and eggs, for example, are B. 95-105, and scrambled eggs with Norwegian salmon is B. 190. In addition there are various ‘extras’ you can add in, and even breakfast cereals with fruit.
Since O’Gara’s Bar and Grill does serve more than breakfasts, we perused the full menu, which has specials that begin at noon. A steak dinner at B. 295, complete with a free scoop of ice cream has to be good value. However, a roast chicken dinner at B. 222 with another free scoop has to be even better value! Regular daily dishes include a chili con carne (B. 150) and cottage pie (B. 150) and even a fish and chips (B. 175).
The menu is actually quite extensive with soups, pasta, salads, grills, steaks and an Irish stew (predictable)! Thai guests are not forgotten either with two pages B. 90-150.
As mentioned at the start of this review, we had eaten there before to see if the high standard was maintained, and it certainly was. The standard breakfast was more than enough and the junior member of the team found that even the cereal was in a serving more than just adequate. For me, the omelet was excellent, again nothing was stinted upon, and I left breakfast fully replete! The coffee was good too, in a large cup.
This restaurant has friendly staff, a comfortable venue, good food and very reasonable prices. The complete recipe for success. The Tara Court GM Campbell Muirhead advised us that they have done up to 140 breakfasts some days. That is an excellent pointer as to the popularity of this restaurant. We thoroughly enjoyed it, and we are sure you will too.
O’Gara’s Bar and Grill, Tara Court, 338/42 Moo 12, Soi 5, Pratamnak Road, Pattaya, tel. 038 252 773, open seven days from 8 a.m. until late, (last orders for the kitchen around midnight), parking out front or basement or Soi 5.
