East Pattaya's Own Fine Dining Strip

**sabang** · 13-09-2007, 09:52 AM

It's interesting how sometimes you get a cluster of similar businesses, and East Pattaya (the Darkside) boasts three- soon to be four- nice Swiss owned restaurants along about 1.5 km of this strip. They are amongst my favourite darkside restaurants. Here's the map- you're about 8km from Central Pattaya, 6 km from Sukhumvit:-

Two- Swiss Paradise and Little Hill- are Swiss restaurants, fondues and stuff.
One, Tocino, is an Italian bistro. The new one is being built by Peter, the owner of Tocino. I don't know what it will be, but it certainly looks nice.

Lets look at Tocino first.

**Butterfly** · 13-09-2007, 10:03 AM

there used to be a great one in Soi Diamond, but the Chef run away and now it's shit. I haven't tried the other one in that Soi.

There is also a new strip of "expensive" restaurant on that new building on the road to Jomtiem. That NY steakhouse is very pouch, great service, excellent food, nice crowd of customers (mostly gay or old rich couples from Bangkok) and excellent price, cheap. Must try.

**sabang** · 13-09-2007, 10:09 AM

The first restaurant you come to, Tocino doesn't open for lunch. These shots were taken during the day, on our way to Little Hill actually. They are closed on Tuesdays:-

It's arranged as little cabana's around a nice garden. Looks better at night actually, but you get the general picture:-

It's a nice atmosphere, competently run (even the Thai staff know what they're doing) and above all good food. Pretty typical Italian bistro menu, pasta's, pizza's & some other Italian staples. I've always had a good meal here- wine's a bit expensive though, I stick to their House wine now, which is fine. Here's some of my favourites there-

Pizza's- if you like thin crust pizzas, you'll be happy with these
Lasagnes- Both their standard lasagne and Pesto lasagne are excellent.
Osso Bucco- To die for, decent size too.
Swiss cheese platter- if you're in the mood for good cheese, Yum.
Afffetati- Mixed Italian cold meats.

It's all good- very reliable food. You can find cheaper Italian, but the quality of the Nosh well justifies the bit more you pay here imo. They do pretty well too- always people here, which says something.

**sabang** · 13-09-2007, 10:13 AM

Hundred and fifty yards further, and you come to Peters new venture. This is going to be a Continental/ Italian restaurant, a bit more formal than his Tocino Bistro. Looks quite nice, don't you think-

It should be open in about 6-8 weeks.

**sabang** · 13-09-2007, 10:20 AM

Keep going for 1km, and look for the sign on your right. This is an eclectic little place- a small, upmarket estate with a small resort and restaurant in the middle. Some of the houses I've put in the beautiful Thai homes thread, but lets look at the resort and restaurant.

It's a nice setting.
They have a web page:- Little Hill Hotel-Resort, Pattaya, Thailand

**sabang** · 13-09-2007, 10:34 AM

The menu is standard Swiss Continental, but they specialise in Fondues, they have five different kinds. All the food we have tried there is of a high standard.

Today, I started with the smoked duck breast with a fruit salad & creamy dressing, which went well. Mrs had Caesar salad- best she's had in Thailand. I don't know why so many people ruin a Caesar by drowning it in dressing, but not here. Proper anchovies too.

Main course, Mrs toasts TD members:-

Mrs had a second starter- steak tartare. Wonderful. I had the Pork Zurich style, with a roesti/ hash brown. Very nice.

Little Hill is open all day, including breakfast.
All washed down with a nice cheeky little Rose', not bad value at 470 Bht. Then a 700 Bht French sparkling wine. Lifes good.

**sabang** · 13-09-2007, 10:40 AM

A couple more of Little Hill:-

Not sure if DD would be impressed with the Loo though

-

**sabang** · 13-09-2007, 10:50 AM

And finally, Swiss Paradise- about half a km from Little Hill, on the left.
It's been open a number of years now, similar menu to LH really, prolly a little less pricey. It's known as one of the good, reliable restaurants on the Darkside. Closed Mondays, open for lunch & dinner. Looks out onto a swimming pool and garden.
Best spaghetti bolognaise I've ever had was there, made with diced rather than minced beef. Cheese fondue good too. Since I've been to Little Hill, I've not really been coming here recently but it's good.

So there you have it, fine dining on the Darkside brought to you by the Swiss.

**sabang** · 13-09-2007, 10:55 AM

Originally Posted by Butterfly

there used to be a great one in Soi Diamond, but the Chef run away and now it's shit. I haven't tried the other one in that Soi.

There is also a new strip of "expensive" restaurant on that new building on the road to Jomtiem. That NY steakhouse is very pouch, great service, excellent food, nice crowd of customers (mostly gay or old rich couples from Bangkok) and excellent price, cheap. Must try.

Yeh, thats Pattaya's fine dining strip BF. I think you're referring to the Manhattan steakhouse, which is considered overpriced locally- but we're all cheap Charlie's in Pattaya.

Anyway-
Mata Hari (my favourite, fine dining)
Manhattan Steak
Gians (italian, said to be a bit high on price)
Indian by Nature (upmarket indian)
Bruno's (fine dining)
Pan Pan (Italian)

**Butterfly** · 13-09-2007, 11:10 AM

Originally Posted by sabang

I think you're referring to the Manhattan steakhouse, which is considered overpriced locally

well I think it was very reasonable considering the quality of the food, the inside is a stylish NY decor, and their service was excellent. I talked to the owner, a NYer who decided to retire in Pattaya, odd that he would think such a place could be successful here.

**sabang** · 13-09-2007, 03:06 PM

Originally Posted by Butterfly

Originally Posted by sabang

I think you're referring to the Manhattan steakhouse, which is considered overpriced locally

well I think it was very reasonable considering the quality of the food, the inside is a stylish NY decor, and their service was excellent. I talked to the owner, a NYer who decided to retire in Pattaya, odd that he would think such a place could be successful here.

I'll definitely try it. I was a bit put off when I heard rumours of 2000 bht steaks, but I also heard they dropped their prices down a bit since opening- hopefully without compromising the quality.

**buriramboy** · 13-09-2007, 03:22 PM

Shit, i only live down the road from these places and didn't even know they existed, will definately give them a go. Green on its way.

**Butterfly** · 13-09-2007, 03:47 PM

Originally Posted by sabang

I'll definitely try it. I was a bit put off when I heard rumours of 2000 bht steaks, but I also heard they dropped their prices down a bit since opening- hopefully without compromising the quality.

it was between 1000 to 1800 depending on your selection, but even a decent place downtown Pattaya will charge 850 for Angus so better go with a place with class and pay an extra 200 THB

Expect 2200 THB per person with desert and maybe a glass of wine

**Bexar County Stud** · 13-09-2007, 08:40 PM

Thanks, looks like some interesting places.

**BangkapiBoy** · 13-09-2007, 09:19 PM

It's good to see Pattaya's expat restaurants expanding out over Sukhumvit.

**dirtydog** · 13-09-2007, 09:36 PM

Little Hill restaurant has been there about 10 years, and marble doesn't make for good toilet floors, gets covered in piss stains from all the drunks

**BangkapiBoy** · 13-09-2007, 09:53 PM

Originally Posted by dirtydog

Little Hill restaurant has been there about 10 years, and marble doesn't make for good toilet floors, gets covered in piss stains from all the drunks

better than a carpet!

**jumbo** · 14-09-2007, 06:06 AM

Originally Posted by sabang

It's arranged as little cabana's around a nice garden. Looks better at night actually, but you get the general picture

I live just up the road from Ticino, supprised how busy it is during the week, called in one evening with the wife, very nice, only had a couple of beers though, they feture imported beers tried some black beer called Lao it was ok. Still prefer the Thai beers.

**sabang** · 17-04-2008, 07:46 PM

Well the new Ticino's has been up and running for a couple of months now-

I've been there a couple of times already. Unfortunately, the 'old' Ticino is no more, this one has the same menu but is obviously a bigger place. The setting is still cabana's in a nice outdoor garden, but now they have a bar as well. I'll get some photoes when I pop by again.

**peterpan** · 17-04-2008, 08:17 PM

Thanks Sabang, nice to dream when the best you can get in the country town is a cheese sandwich.
The Farang food is gawd awful here, a bunch of amateurs playing at it.
Although there is one restaurant that is passable, run by Flippers.

**NickA** · 17-04-2008, 08:23 PM

Originally Posted by sabang

Main course, Mrs toasts TD members

Sounds nice, which one did she toast and did they taste like chicken?

**dirtydog** · 17-04-2008, 09:50 PM

^I was under the impression sabang was an Aussie, maybe spent some time in America though I suppose....

**sabang** · 17-04-2008, 09:58 PM

Originally Posted by NickA

Sounds nice, which one did she toast and did they taste like chicken?

Isaan folk ain't fussy, as long as it's served as near raw as possible.

**Fabian** · 20-04-2008, 12:46 AM

Why do you call it east Pattaya when it is way outside of Pattaya?

**sabang** · 20-04-2008, 06:58 AM

East Pattaya is the part of Pattaya east of Sukhumvit Rd Fabian. I don't know where Pattaya City technically ends- certainly Pattaya does not appear on my address. It sprawls- Pattaya is not a small place anymore.

I suppose technically, the more urbanised area immediately east of Suk, which tends to cluster along some soi's such as Nernplubwan, WatBoonSampan and Siam Country Club is east Pattaya- still part of the city.

As you go out a few km's, say 3 or 4, it becomes mixed- semi rural, villages dotted around the place, lots of gated or walled estates. This is east of Pattaya, not part of Pattaya as such. It still has it's share of village charm and open space but, given the rate of development and population growth out here, it will soon enough be basically a suburban belt. Most of us are living here for Pattayas supermarkets, restaurants and general western conveniences rather than it's bar scene.

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