There are restaurants that just seem to take the upmost care for the impeccable confectioning of a dish. This month the HOT Magazine team had the fantastic opportunity of being granted a plentiful meal at The Garden Restaurant & Lounge Bar. Located just off a tucked little corner in Soi 80, none of us left the same people.
Obviously a restaurant called “The Garden” must be able to back up that claim, and this one does exactly that. When entering you walk into a gorgeous garden setting accompanied by waterfalls and carved Buddha stone tiles.
As we were sat down, the unbeatably passionate Chef Frankie began to present us his delights, not before giving us two of his essential culinary mottos: “I don’t want guests to go away hungry” and “I either present perfect dishes or I don’t present anything.” – And boy, was he right.
We first started with some drinks, a finely prepared sangria. This was a delightfully fruity wine mix, with the smooth and superbly whole flavour being the main protagonist of every swig. Fresh and aromatic, it was a great complement for the rest of the evening.
Next would come arguably the best dishes of its kind in Hua Hin. A Caesar Salad of integrally home-made ingredients which permeated the senses. Very creamy, the sauce zesty and special, and the croutons giving a smoky touch, it was a wonderful combination. The bacon provided a meaty and prolonged taste, which bought a lot of character to the dish. Fresh and aromatic, it was superbly finished by the cheese, which gave a delightful definition and a subtle taste of anchovy. Plentiful in quantity, it is very good value.
Then came a cream of mushroom soup like they don’t make in Thailand. Made from three different types of imported mushroom, it was incredibly thick and creamy. The aroma took over the palate, the mushrooms inundate the senses, it was heavy, it was whole, it was great value and almost a meal on its own.
An absolutely epic dish was brought to us next, which set off the main courses with a bang: fresh giant black tiger prawn tempura accompanied with a variety of homemade sauces and delicious onion rings. We were brought a fantastic tartar sauce, described best by our American team member: “It’s like being in Seattle!” he exclaimed. Enough said. The tempura was incredibly crunchy, Chef Frankie kept repeating how the prawns were fresh, but we would have known regardless from the meatiness and the firm texture. It was incredibly crunchy and aromatic definitely a topper. This wasn’t all though, as the red pepper sauce made the flavour beautifully creamy, with its touch of cheesiness and delightful spicy kick, it completed an unbelievable dish.
Then came a fantastic Lebanese delight, a marvellously prepared chicken Shish Taouk with a recipe Chef Frankie got straight from Lebanon. Carefully prepared with the imported marinade, it was tender, it melted on the palate, and it combined superbly with the sauce, giving it a beautiful, balanced, soft, very creamy and slight tangy tinge. A game changer. The vegetables in the side, cooked in ratatouille styled sauté, were wonderful complements, with the fresh taste of pan fried peppers being very distinct. This was brought also with a Soulvaki sauce which apart from being homemade, was just fantastic in its fresh flavours.
Last but very certainly not least, came the pepperoni pizza. Made the Italian way with a thick and beautifully moulded crust, it wasn’t only made from scratch, it scratched the doors of culinary heaven. Made using imported pepperoni and with fantastic fresh green peppers, it was given great balance by the tomato sauce and the endless strings of molten mozzarella cheese. Crunchy and filling, it topped off a memorable night.
The Garden Restaurant & Lounge Bar is definitely a must go if you appreciate food. It additionally has a large parking space, live music, a great sound system, stylish heavy silverware, a charming environment and is said to be the only establishment in Thailand with boosters for children and changing platform for babies. Thus it is perfect for family gatherings, private parties and intimate moments. We really struggled to fit into our trousers the next day, but the dining experience at The Garden Restaurant & Lounge Bar was more than worth it.
The Garden Restaurant and Lounge Bar
174/16 Soi 80 Hua Hin
Tel: 032-908-680
thegarden.resto.lounge@gmail.com
www.thegarden restolounge.com