Our roving trencherman reports on where he has been stuffing himself In these, our reviews of eating establishments, we have placed each in one of three categories, budget, medium range, and gourmet. These are meant to be fairly broad ranges based on facilities and the average meal price and are purely for assessing value for money. They do not reflect standards of cooking or service both of which are judged separately. In a budget eating establishment we would expect mostly fairly basic facilities and cuisine, it may or may not be air-conditioned, table decor will probably be fairly simple and the food offered mostly simple to prepare. We would expect to pay not more than 300 Baht (around 5 pounds) for an average 3 to 4 course meal including one beverage. In a medium range establishment, we would expect to eat in air conditioned surroundings, tables to be equipped with cloths and napkins, food served on good china and eaten with good cutlery, and the menu to offer a range of succulent offerings. We would expect to pay not more than 1000 Baht (around 15 pounds) for a 3 to 4 course meal complete with a carafe of house wine. In a gourmet restaurant, we would expect top class decor including table arrangements, a menu offering a choice of mouth watering offerings, and complimented by an extensive wine selection. Although not necessarily ‘money no object’ we would judge such an establishment more on it’s quality of cooking and service than on price. Often we visit restaurants as part of a group and when this is the case, we make allowances for this in judging speed of service. Name - L’ Olivier; Location - Jomtien Complex; Category - Budget. A French owned restaurant offering both air-conditioned and open terrace eating. Food Mostly European and Thai. Specialities - Set 4 course daily menu which includes a ‘Help Yourself Cold Buffet of Salads, Quiches and Terrines’. We went in a group of 12. We ate from the set menu, spinach soup, cold buffet including terrines and quiches, duck with honey, and pear in red wine. Price complete with 2 glasses of house white wine and coffee, 440 Baht (around 6 pounds) Opinion - we have placed this restaurant in the budget category purely because of the prices it charges. In all other respects it is excellence personified. The food is perfectly cooked and the service excellent. It is quite possibly the best value restaurant in the whole area. Note: Since we performed this review, this restaurant has undergone some management changes and we have yet to assess if these have had any significant impact - we hope to report again shortly. Name - El Toro Steak House; Location - Second Road, South Pattaya (nearly opposite the Marriott Hotel); Category - Medium Range. A medium sized restaurant operating on two air-conditioned floors. Food - Mostly American and Thai, principally featuring steaks. We went in a group of 15. We selected from the menu, onion soup, followed by ‘steak cafe de Paris’ (steak topped with melted herb butter). We did not have any dessert. Price complete with 2 soft drinks and coffee, 650 Baht (around 9 pounds). Opinion - onion soup was good but as always in Pattaya a little thin, steak was cooked correctly and was very tasty. Service was a little slow but the size of our party needs to be taken into account. Overall we felt it fair value for money. Name - Mata Hari; Location - Pattaya 2nd Road just South of the junction with Central Road; Category - Gourmet. A Dutch owned restaurant whose size belies the style of cuisine offered. Booking is essential. Food - A comprehensive Western Menu of mouth watering offerings, also Thai food. We went in a party of 4. We chose Lobster Bisque soup, Breast of Duck with Foie Gras in Wine Sauce, and to finish a Creme Brulee Amaretto Price for the food was 1,000 Baht (around 15 pounds) and we accompanied it with an excellent Penfolds wine for around the same price. So total price including coffee came to around 2,000 Baht (30 pounds) Opinion, The food was as good as the menu suggested and the service impeccable. If you want the best and price is no object, then you would be hard put to better Mata Hari. We had a superb meal not least enhanced by our ever ebullient host, and by world standards, which this restaurant fully deserves to be judged, it is really not expensive. Note: Mata Hari is moving to new more spacious premises later this year, we look forward to trying them again in their new surroundings. Name - Paradise; Location - Second Road, South Pattaya (nearly opposite the Marriott Hotel); Category - Medium Range. A Swiss owned restaurant in a medium sized single air-conditioned room. Food - European Food with unusual ‘Exotic’ offerings such as Ostrich, Kangaroo and Crocodile. We went in a party of around 12. We chose the Lobster Bisque soup, followed by Ostrich in a Remy Martin Sauce, and finished it off with a Kirsch pudding. Ostrich meat is not unlike chicken or pork in texture and has quite a mild taste. Price complete with 2 glasses of house white wine and one soft drink came to 800 Baht (around 12 pounds) Opinion, Hans, the owner of Paradise, says he has deliberately pitched this restaurant in the Medium Range category. We would say that he is close to the top of that range leastwise in terms of quality and service. We have eaten there several times and have never been disappointed. If you want something a little out of the ordinary (by the way they also do conventional food items) and don’t want to pay too much for it, Paradise can be highly recommended.