What I immediately liked when I entered the Hua Hin Marriott’s beachfront Big Fish Restaurant is that it was air-conditioned. That may sound funny, but it is the only absolute beachfront restaurant in Hua Hin that is fully air-conditioned. They have floor to ceiling windows that look right out onto the beach and ocean beyond, it’s a gorgeous view! At the other end of the restaurant is their open kitchen where you can see all of the fresh dishes being prepared.
Big Fish is a casual restaurant that is open for lunch and dinner. Their lunch menu features pizza, burgers and lighter fare. One of their signature dishes is their “Asia Chicken Burger” which consists of Minced chicken with lime leaf, ginger, garlic and lemongrass served with a spicy dip and is the personal favorite of Goetz Bauer, the Marriott’s General Manager.
We visited during the dinner hour as daylight transitioned to darkness, the view from the beach restaurant was stunning.
First things first, cocktails were in order. We ordered the top two off of their signature cocktail menu which were there “Blue Lotus” and their “Lumduan Swizzle.”. Their Blue Lotus had subtle flavors of Beefeater gin, lychee and freshly squeezed lime which is shaken with fiery homemade ginger syrup and blue curacao then topped with manoa soda. Their Lumduan Swizzle was made with Absolut Mandarin Vodka, freshly squeezed lime and sweet Thai basil, swizzled with crushed ice and then topped with a dash of tonic water, served long and capped with crushed ice and a Campari float. Both were light and extremely refreshing. Pure genius, their mixologist is to be commended.
We started our dining experience with their Big Fish Iced Seafood Tower which was beautifully presented and included Rock Lobster, scallops, mussels, salmon tartar, oysters and prawns served with lemon wedges, tabasco, spicy seafood sauce, cocktail sauce, aioli & fresh roasted bread. The seafood Tower serves two but could easily be a spectacular meal in itself.
Next came their “Spicy Green Pea Soup with Foie Gras Croutons,” which was served inside a young coconut. Delightfully smooth with a little bit of a spicy kick to it and stylishly presented in the coconut, it was a nice touch.
The Big Fish restaurant prides itself on its fresh seafood and our next dish, the “Whole Local Seabass” couldn’t have been any fresher. It came wrapped in a banana leaf and spiced with lime, chili, shallots and coriander. I’m not normally a fish fan but this fish was moist and full of flavor.
The next dish was a big hit, their “Ultimate Australian Wagyu Short Rib,” which is braised for 15 hours and is accompanied with purple potato cake, baby carrots and a tonka bean sauce. The wagyu beef just melted in your mouth, full of flavor and so tender. It’s also a big portion which was fully consumed.
Hard to believe after a feast like this that I still had to have desert, but I’m a sweets person, what can I say? As full as I was, I had to try their “Mango crème brulee,” which was accompanied with sweet fresh mango and homemade sticky rice ice cream. What a flavorful combination! I’ve had cravings for that desert ever since.
Other menu items that jumped out at us, that we will certainly try next time at the Big Fish include their Australian Tenderloin Chateaubriand (for 2) and their Half Roasted Free-Range Suckling Pig.
The Big Fish menu was created by the Marriott’s Executive Chef, Mario Hofmann. Mario previously worked as the Head Chef Banquet/Catering at Hotel Adlon Kempinski in Berlin. Located near the Brandenburg Gate, Mario prepared meals for World Leaders on an almost weekly basis. His favorite Big Fish dishes are the Seabass in Banana Leaf and the Braised Wagyu Short Rib. Mario says they will soon start working on a new menu to bring the Big Fish to the “Next Level”.
The Bar Menu at Big Fish is one of the most extensive I’ve seen, covering Beers, Spirits, Cocktails and Wines. Their wine menu offers 22 different wines by the glass and a large selection of bottled wines from France, Italy, Australia, New Zealand, USA, Portugal, Spain, South Africa & Germany.
In my humble opinion, the Big Fish Restaurant has it all; fantastic high quality food, a deep and imaginative bar menu, a to-die-for view and all amplified by their courteous and professional wait staff.
The Big Fish deserves to be at the top of your “where to dine next” list.
Big Fish & Bar
Marriott Hua Hin Resort
107/1 Phetkasem Road
032 904 666