Gaybutton Posted November 15, 2008 Posted November 15, 2008 In the Jomtien Complex there is a new restaurant called Café Ritz. It's only been open about 6 weeks. This evening a friend and I tried it, and this restaurant is now on my list of "don't miss" restaurants. To find it, if you are standing in front of the Bondi, facing the street, just walk forward to the next soi, turn right, and you'll spot it. The restaurant opens at 6:30pm. The owner and chef is John Rumbelow, from the UK. He's definitely a character and he'll personally see to your satisfaction. The restaurant is quite tastefully decorated. It's a small restaurant, but we both thought it was excellent, with excellent service from his staff. There are only about a half dozen tables in the restaurant and one table outside. Basically, there are two dinner specials. One is 295 baht. The other is 350 baht. The dinner for 350 baht includes soup and your choice of starter. The dinner for 295 baht includes your choice of soup or your choice of starter (try the lasagna starter). There are several delicious starters from which to choose and at least two soups. There are several main course selections, everything from fillet steak to liver and onions, all of which include your choice of potato and a tremendous, and I mean tremendous, bowl of steamed vegetables, served separately. There is also a nice wine list. Wine by the glass is also available. There is a wide selection of dessert choices as well, which is included in the dinner, ranging from a champagne trifle to blueberry cheesecake. Considering the quality, I don't know how he does it at this price, but those are the prices. He also does turkey dinners three times a week, usually Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday. Of course, he also does a Sunday Roast. There is no Thai menu. Everything is "farang food." I asked about that. The answer was there is no problem if you bring a Thai boy with you and he wants Thai food. There is a Thai restaurant right next door. They'll give you the menu for that restaurant and that's where the Thai food will be prepared and brought over to your table at Café Ritz. If you have any questions or want to check on the availability of the turkey dinner, the contact telephone numbers are: 087-912-9108 and 084-865-0415 We truly enjoyed this restaurant. I certainly will be back a great many times. I highly recommend giving Café Ritz a try. Quote
Guest topjohn5 Posted November 16, 2008 Posted November 16, 2008 GB, What are your other "do not miss" restaurant choices in the area. I here that Cabbages and Condoms is nice for the ambiance and good food. I do not have a preference of food types.....like most things. It could be the suggestion is for the great food or location or both..... Thanks for your list! Quote
Gaybutton Posted November 16, 2008 Author Posted November 16, 2008 GB, What are your other "do not miss" restaurant choices in the area. I've written numerous reviews about restaurants about town that I enjoy. Within Jomtien Complex I recommend the Poseidon, L'Olivier, Hot Stone Grill, and now the Café Ritz. There are too many more for me to write out a list of the other restaurants about town that I recommend. If you use the 'search' function on this board and write in 'restaurant,' they'll come up, but you'll have to wade through the thread titles. Quote
Guest topjohn5 Posted November 16, 2008 Posted November 16, 2008 No Problem and Thanks so much. I will do the search and sort and review the postings! However one quick question for you. Is there a particular buffet brunch or two that you'd recommend? Quote
Gaybutton Posted November 16, 2008 Author Posted November 16, 2008 Is there a particular buffet brunch or two that you'd recommend? Other than the British style Sunday lunches, and several other Sunday brunches around town. I can't think of any restaurants that do lunch buffets. Some of the buffet breakfasts go on every day until about 11:00am or so. The buffet breakfast at the Lek Hotel, on Second Road almost directly across the street from the Villa Market does one. A little further up the street there is the Diana Inn, which also does one. Those are inexpensive, about 110 baht or so per person. Also, the Marriott Hotel does one, but it's much more expensive. I don't know how much it costs. The only time I was at that one was at someone else's invitation, so I didn't pay attention to the price, but it's probably the best one and highest quality to be found in the proximity of the popular gay hotels. I believe the Sizzler, in the Royal Garden shopping mall, has a daily buffet at lunch-brunch time. That's all I can think of. I'm sure there are several others, but in all honesty I rarely eat out for breakfast or lunch, so perhaps others can answer your question better than I. For a Sunday brunch, in my opinion the best one of all is at Casa Pascal. It isn't cheap, but it's one hell of a brunch. See: http://www.restaurant-pattaya.com/Sundays-Brunch.htm Quote
Guest topjohn5 Posted November 16, 2008 Posted November 16, 2008 Thanks again GB!!! Just what I needed! Quote
Gaybutton Posted November 16, 2008 Author Posted November 16, 2008 Out of curiosity I just called the Marriott (located next to the Royal Garden shopping mall) and asked the price for the breakfast buffet. 707 baht per person. Quote
Gaybutton Posted November 18, 2008 Author Posted November 18, 2008 The following was posted by Passion Patrol on the Pattaya Passion board: ______ If There's One Thing Gaybutton Knows, It's... FOOD! That's why when he posted a thread about Cafe Ritz, I ran out as soon as I could to try it. Here is where you can find his original posting... http://www.gaythailand.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=3152 I have to tell you, he was absolutely right on the mark! My meal was first class all the way -- and very, very cheap for what they served up. I chose the four course meal for 350 Baht, and here's what I got... Shrimp Cocktail -- beautiful presentation, tasty shrimp with a nice dressing. Served on a bed of lettuce and accented by tomatos cut into the shapes of beautiful flowers. A side white bread & butter plate was also given. Pumpkin Chicken Soup -- a creamy blend of pumpkin with just a hint of chicken broth to give it some depth. No lumps, no meat pieces -- very smooth and exploding with taste. A side French bread with butter was also given. Lasagna -- Garfield, start drooling! This cheesy, wonderfully powerful homemade lasagna in a bowl was mouth watering. It was a big portion and full of excellent quality cheese and high grade beef -- not the Thai stuff. Blueberry Cheesecake -- I can't even explain this one. If you ask me, this is the BEST part about this restaurant. I haven't tasted the other choices but they looked amazing as well. I could have eaten the whole pie! DON'T WALK, RUN TO THIS PLACE AS SOON AS YOU CAN. It is only a matter of time before you will have to have reservations -- as it is very small... ABSOLUTE, TOTAL PASSION APPROVAL! Well done, Gaybutton! And good for you, Cafe Ritz! May you live long and prosper! Quote
Guest topjohn5 Posted November 18, 2008 Posted November 18, 2008 Out of curiosity I just called the Marriott (located next to the Royal Garden shopping mall) and asked the price for the breakfast buffet. 707 baht per person. Wow, Thanks for checking GB! That's costs as much as the States I think! I can't imagine how much their brunch would be if thats breakfast, lol. Great 2nd opinion about Cafe' Ritz.....sounds wonderful! Quote
Guest lvdkeyes Posted November 18, 2008 Posted November 18, 2008 Wow, Thanks for checking GB! That's costs as much as the States I think! I can't imagine how much their brunch would be if thats breakfast, lol. I have had the breakfast buffet at the Marriot and it is more of a brunch than simply breakfast. It is well worth the price. Quote
Gaybutton Posted November 18, 2008 Author Posted November 18, 2008 I have had the breakfast buffet at the Marriot and it is more of a brunch than simply breakfast. It is well worth the price. I agree. It's top quality and available every day. There are other major hotels in Pattaya that most likely do something similar, but the Marriott is the only one within easy walking distance or a short baht bus ride from all of the popular gay hotels in Pattaya. If you're staying in the beach area, as far as buffets go I'm sure there are several, but I've never been to any of them. The Avalon hotel, the one right by the gay beach area, may have a buffet, but I've never checked. Maybe someone else can tell us. Most of the time, if I even eat breakfast at all (usually I either make my own or just have a cup of coffee at home), if I go to the beach area I go to either the Continental Bakery, which in my opinion is the best set breakfast in town, or Linda's, where I love their Scandinavian open-face sandwich breakfast. The Continental Bakery does not have a web site, but you'll find a very good review at: http://www.pattayamail.com/576/dining.shtml The review was written in 2004, before Continental Bakery moved, literally just a few feet away from its original location, and the prices are a bit higher now, but I definitely concur with what the the review says about the food. Want breakfast in bed? Is it a rainy morning and you don't know what to do about breakfast? The Continental Bakery has 10 breakfasts available, beginning at 11:00am, from Door-2-Door. See: http://www.door2doorpattaya.com/continental.php One thing to remember at many Pattaya breakfast restaurants: If you want toast, make sure to ask for it when you place your order. If you don't, many restaurants will give you un-toasted bread and you'll have to send it back to be toasted. Then, by the time you get it you'll probably have finished everything else. But most will be happy to give you toast if you ask. The buffet breakfasts at the Lek Hotel and the Diana Inn are both cheap, but not exactly gourmet quality. The quality is about what you would expect for that sort of price. I have yet to try the breakfast at the White Night. They're open for breakfast every day except Mondays. It's not a buffet. You order from the menu. They open at 8:30am and breakfast is available right up to 2:00pm. They also do an afternoon tea, available until 6:00pm. Except for buffets, most Pattaya restaurants charge extra for a second cup of coffee or tea. At the White Night you can have as much as you want at no additional charge. From what I understand, the White Night serves brewed coffee, good brewed coffee . . . not that Nescafé shit-in-a-cup that so many Pattaya restaurants serve. Has anybody been to the White Night breakfast and/or afternoon tea and can tell us what you thought of it? Quote
Guest lvdkeyes Posted November 18, 2008 Posted November 18, 2008 Linda's on Thrappaya Road opposite Jomtien Complex is has an excellent breakfast menu. Next door is a new place, I think the name is Umbrella. Their sign says "BREAKFAST ALL DAY". The odd thing is they open at 11am. Only in Thailand!!!! Quote
Gaybutton Posted November 18, 2008 Author Posted November 18, 2008 Their sign says "BREAKFAST ALL DAY". The odd thing is they open at 11am. Only in Thailand!!!! That's great!!! Breakfast all day . . . if your day starts at 11:00am!!! It will be very interesting to see just how many customers pack the house. Quote
Gaybutton Posted November 23, 2008 Author Posted November 23, 2008 Here's the business card for Café Ritz: Quote
Guest jomtien Posted November 23, 2008 Posted November 23, 2008 The review was written in 2004, before Continental Bakery moved, literally just a few feet away from its original location, and the prices are a bit higher now, but I definitely concur with what the the review says about the food. It didn't actually move. They opened a second shop a few doors away, but the original is also still open and still serves food. Quote
