Romanasia - GB's Latest Restaurant "Find"

[Gaybutton]

Last night a couple friends and I tried Romanasia, a fairly new restaurant that has been open only for six months. I had read about it on a few restaurant reviews and we decided to give it a try.

 

This is a restaurant you'll have to experience to believe. When you walk in, you cross a small footbridge over a pool and walk into an ambiance such as I have never seen. You're going to either think it's magnificent or you're going to think it's kitschy. We thought it was magnificent.

 

There is seating for only 32 customers, so make sure you have reservations. When we arrived, there was a 'reserved' sign on every table. We were cordially greeted by the staff and led to our table.

 

There is a full bar and very selection of wines.

 

The menu is not extensive, but has something for everyone, including Thai dishes. The food is absolutely superb and beautifully presented, as you would find in restaurants such as Casa Pascal and Cherry's.

 

One of my friends prefers Thai food and he was delighted with his.

 

My other friend and I started with their spinach and cashew cream soup. It was wonderful. I had a pork steak topped with a cheese crust that was out of this world and one of the most delicious sauces I've had in years. My other friend had a chicken dish that he thought was incredible. For dessert, we had their strawberry brulee, which was just gorgeous and to die for!

 

The prices are also quite reasonable. The most expensive menu item is 195 baht. The soup was 90 baht. My entree was 180 baht. The dessert was 85 baht. Bottled water is 20 baht.

 

Sue, the owner, runs the kitchen, so we never got to meet her. However, her husband and restaurant manager, Derek, from Portsmouth, England, comes around to each table, chats amiably for a few moments, makes sure you are enjoying the meal and are satisfied. Also, everyone is served at the same time, something rare in Thai-owned restaurants.

 

As far as we were concerned, there were only a couple negatives. The first is the portions. Two of us thought the portions were too small and we left the restaurant still hungry. I would say this is not the restaurant to go to if you are really hungry. In my opinion, it's the place to go if you are more interested in relaxed conversation with friends, in beautiful surroundings, with some fantastically delicious food.

 

We also thought the service was slow. We felt that too much time went by between courses and it took close to fifteen minutes to get our bill.

 

One crass customer lit up a cigar, despite the fact that outside the door there are tables and chairs set up for smokers. Instead of being asked to step outside or put out his cigar, he was given an ashtray and the staff said nothing to him.

 

Other than that, we thought this restaurant is a wonderful find and we certainly will return. I highly recommend giving it a try.

 

The restaurant also serves breakfast. They are closed on Sundays. We had a good laugh when we pointed out to Derek that their web site mentions a Sunday roast lamb special, and right underneath that it says 'closed on Sunday.' Derek laughed and thanked us for pointing that out. He said he meant to change that on the web site and had forgotten all about it.

 

The restaurant is located in the Pratamnak Hill area (see their web site for directions) and quite easy to find. If you have ever been to Au Bon Coin, it's very close on the same soi.

 

The telephone number for reservations is: 087-135-8357

 

Romanasia's web site is http://www.romanasia.com

[Guest JoeM]

Thanks GB for bring this restaurant to our attention.

 

Interesting website. Is the location such that transportation to and from the main fun in South Pattaya might be hit and miss? Especially if one were staying at their chalets and it was late at night?

[Gaybutton]

Is the location such that transportation to and from the main fun in South Pattaya might be hit and miss? Especially if one were staying at their chalets and it was late at night?

 

Unless you have your own transportation, getting to and from there is going to have to be by motorcycle taxi. There are always motorcycle taxis available. From the city, you could hire a baht bus, probably for 100 baht or so, to take you there, but you're quite a distance from any baht bus routes if you're starting from Romanasia.

 

I think if you call their number and ask to speak with Derek, he can tell you much better than I can about transportation to and from.

[Guest]

Thanks. Great review. Looking forward to trying this place. Have you been to Cabbages and Condoms? Is that the same area?

[Gaybutton]

Have you been to Cabbages and Condoms? Is that the same area?

 

Yes, it's the same general area. Once you are on Pratamnak Road, you go down Soi 4 to get to both Cabbages and Condoms and the Elephant Pub (which I reviewed in an earlier thread). They're both right next door to each other.

 

You go down Soi 6 to get to Romanasia (two sois before you get as far as Soi 4, if you're coming from Tapphraya Road from town), then turn right on Soi 9. There is a sign at Soi 9 and in smaller print on the same sign it says Romanasia. If you get as far as Soi 6, then you shouldn't have any problem finding Romanasia.

[Guest wowpow]

http://www.auboncoinpattaya.com/location.htm has a location map. Romanasia is next door. Funny I had always thought it might be a Russian/Romanian brothel? I have never seen anyone go in or leave?

 

Au Bon Coin is probably the nicest restaurant in the city - Don't tell anyone!!!!!!