Hopf Brew House, Pattaya

I recently went down to Pattaya and while walking around Central next to the beach, I came across Hopf Brew House. From the outside, one might not consider it the best place to stop for a bite. Luckily, it had been recommended to me a while back and I just happened to spot it around dinner-time, so off I went into the dimly-lit restaurant. This will be a review for Hopf Brew House in Pattaya.

Stepping into the store for the first time felt like getting onto a plane and flying off somewhere far, far away from the hustling and bustling street that the Hopf Brewery nestled on. The interior was decorated mainly in wood, large vats of beer were just meters away from the dining tables and you could see pizzas being shoved into their wood-fired ovens like giant edible hockey pucks. People were coming in and out all the time, some drinking from the oversized beer glasses, others enjoying the food while listening to the 70s music that played on the television. One thing was for sure though, one look at the place during dinner time and you could tell the food and the people here were great. Well, on to the actual eating!

German Pork Leg and Mashed Potatoes

Chicken Chop with Mushroom Sauce

As hard as we tried to resist eating the crispy-fried pieces of fat that remained on the German Pork Leg, we couldn't. The Chicken Chop with Mushroom Sauce was tender and juicy, although if you don't like mushrooms try not to order it (Obviously, but the sauce had a tangy taste to it which some people may not like). We also ordered the Four Seasons Pizza which consists of four different toppings (Olives, Pepperoni, Mushroom and ham if I remember correctly). The Pizzas here are made with thin crispy crusts and fresh toppings, better than most of what you can get back in Bangkok.

"Four Seasons" Pizza

You can also pay 100 baht for a bowl of salad which you can stack as high as you want at their salad bar. Drop into Hopf Brew House for a drink and and a bite if you want to enjoy a relaxing meal just steps away from the beach, you could also stay till late and enjoy all the different types of home-made beer and music.

As a little treat, here are the Fireworks that I saw from Central Pattaya after my meal.

Happy Eating!

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Hopf Brew House, Pattaya (4/5) BBB

(http://www.facebook.com/pages/Cholburi-Thailand/Hopf-Brew-House-Pattaya/)

038-710-653-5

219 Beach Road, South Pattaya

Cholburi, Thailand, 20150

Pagarang Seafood Restaurant, Bang Saen / Bang Sean

If you ever wanted to escape bustling Bangkok for a few hours, a trip to Bangsaen / Bang Sean (Spelling depends totally on who you ask!) may be just perfect. Roughly an hours to two hours drive from downtown Bangkok, it is usually visited by locals who want to relax by the beach and enjoy good Seafood. This post will be a review for lunch at Pagarang Restaurant. Serving up a menu of the traditional tried and tested Thai / Seafood combination, it is located right next to the ocean and offers a fantastic view of the sea and is connected to the Bangsaen Villa Hotel.

Pagarang Menu and a link to their (Surprisingly) Comprehensive Website

View from our table

Today we ordered Fish fried with "Fish Sauce" , Raw Shrimp with Spicy Sauce (Goong Chae Nahm Plah) and Stir Fried Squid with Salted Eggs.

The Fish, which tasted a bit bland.

For those of you in Thailand, this is a must try dish. Just don't think about it too much and just chew!

The Squid which we thought wasn't properly cleaned

Overall I thought the meal was poorly made, nothing to shout about and although there were a number of people eating there and cars parked outside, it's not a place I would recommend to anyone. If you are around the area, and have no where else to go, you can stop by here for a few starters and enjoy the view, at most. Meal for two came to about 500 baht.

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Pagarang Seafood Restaurant (2/5) BB
(http://www.pagarangrestaurant.com)


038-191802-3
178 Bangsaen Sai 1 Road
Saensook Muang Chonburi, Thailand 20130

Anya's Place, Salaya Phuttamonton

It's amazing how fast Thailand has fallen trap to western trends. You know it can't be good when there are more Starbucks Cafes than there are 7-Elevens. In a few years time I bet 50% of Thai children will be overweight because of all the Mc Donalds, KFC and Burger Kings popping up everywhere. There are also just as many Italian restaurants in Bangkok as there are Thai. Now theres nothing wrong with western restaurants here in the land of smiles, its just sometimes frustrating to order  plate of simple Spaghetti  Bolognese, only to be served overcooked, soggy spaghetti with tomato paste. Oh and don't forget the Pak Chee on top.


Enough of my ranting, lets move on to something more positive. This article will be a review for a lunch I had at Anya's Place. Anya's Place is a fantastic two-story restaurant located across from Mahidol University, Salaya Phuttamonton area. About an hour's drive from Bangkok, it serves up  mostly Thai/Western cuisines and is open from morning until night, with outdoor seating available on the upper level. 

View of Anya's Place from the Parking Lot

Sign

It is a bit hard to find, so feel free to navigate to their website using the link at the end of this review to download a map and browse their menu. 


Today I ordered Roti with Curry, Baked Potato Skins, Duck with Orange Honey Glaze and Spaghetti with Garlic and Bacon. Seating here is very comfortable on the sofa with over sized cushions and although it was at least 35 degrees outside, it felt pleasant sitting inside with the AC. 

Table and Seats

Sample Page from the Menu

The Baked Potato Skins tasted wonderful with just the right amount of cheese and cream

The Roti had an overwhelming taste of butter, a bit unimpressive

The Spaghetti with Bacon and Garlic was full of just the right amount of tasteful flavors, a simple dish yet tasted great

Our last dish was the Duck with Orange Honey Glaze which we finished eating before remembering to take a Photo. Fortunately that meant the dish was well prepared. I am surprised you can find such a restaurant outside of Bangkok. The staff need a little more training though and could have been more helping at certain times during the meal, and it wouldn't hurt if they knew the menu better. Priced here range from 50 or so Baht for Thai dishes to 200/300 Baht for Sirloin and Snow Fish Steaks. 


You definitely have to try their fried stick rice, one of their delicious specialties which I had eaten on an earlier visit. Drop by and have a bite at Anya's Place if you're looking for a change from all the Italian restaurant popping up in downtown Bangkok, its worth the trip. Total cost of meal for two was around 500 baht. 


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Anya's Place (3.5/5) BB
(http://www.anyaplace.com/)


02-800-3533
Pinklao-Nakornchaisiri Road
Salaya Phuttamonton
Bangkok, Thailand 73170

Music Square, Mahidol University Salaya Review

About an hours drive from downtown Bangkok, at Mahidol University Salaya Campus is a restaurant that would definitely make it to my list of top eateries in Thailand. Nestled away in the Music section of the campus, surrounded by beautiful architecture is Music Square. This review of Music Square was done during lunch on two occasions. The service here is comparable to any Five Star Hotel in Bangkok, if not better. Waiters are always on hand and the food taste heavenly. A touch above Vanilla Industry at Paragon. The best part of all my visits is that the prices here are very reasonable. 

The Menu

Interior and Table Layout

Spaghetti Aglio Olio with Bacon

Onion Rings

My total bill came to about 400 Baht for the Spaghetti, Onion Rings, Banoffee and Coffee. The only negative comment I have about this place would be the limited amount of desserts. There are also Thai Dishes on offer, and they can usually whip up anything that you would orde at a "Ahaan Tam Sang" Vendor (Made to Order Stall). 

Banoffee

Outside Seating

The restaurant has both indoor and outdoor seating as well as live music at certain times and days. It is usually not crowded and the ventilation/air conditioning inside is very good, so you can sit and relax after exploring the country side on a hot day or if you are on your way back to Bangkok. Thumbs up for an unexpected and outstanding Restaurant. Visit their website through the link below for more information.

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Music Square - Mahidol University Salaya Campus (4.5/5) BBB
(http://www.music.mahidol.ac.th/musicsquare/index.php)

02-800-2525
College of Music, Mahidol University Salaya Campus
25/25 Phutthamonthon Sai 4 Road Salaya, Phutthamonthon
Nakhonpathom, 73170 Thailand