Review of the new Mushroom (former Googie)

[PattayaMale]

I went to check out the opening of the Mushroom Restaurant this morning. When I arrived it had several tables full with farangs having breakfast.

 

The menu is almost exactly the same as when Googie owned the place. In fact the tables, decorations, and former staff is the same. Unfortunately so are the prices which I had been told would be less, but not so.

 

The Thai food prices average about 150 baht a plate. WOW!!!!

 

The breakfasts can be found at most other places for about 20% less depending what is ordered. An example would be the Swiss Breakfast. At Continental off Soi Bukow the exact same breakfast is 130 baht. At Mushroom it is 175 baht. One thing to remember is that refills of coffee are free at Mushroom, but the refill is Nescafe instant, not fresh ground beans.

 

The American breakfast (2 eggs, 2 bacon, toast, small orange juice, and coffee is 130. Around the corner at ??? the swiss place the same breakfast is 80 baht (again no coffee refill) a coffee refill adds 50 baht each time.

 

Currently Mushroom has a 20% discount promotion going, so it is worth checking out. The traffic that walks by is nice to see in the morning.

[Guest Soi10Tom]

I have found the cost of food and drink at most of the businesses in Pattaya serving Farang are equal to or higher than in the US. In many cases prices are ridiculously higher, especially when one considers the quantity and quality of food on a plate and the amount and quality of liquor in the mixed drinks. Charging for the second, third, fourth or tenth cup of coffee in the US would put you out of business in a week; in fact bars give coffee away to sober up the drunks.

 

A well run restaurant or bar in Pattaya, and there are a few, easily makes much more than a bar in America serving the same number of customers. Mixed drinks at the bars in Pattaya average about 110 baht ($3.20US). I can drink all night, ten drinks or more, and just feel a light buzz and still feel safe riding my scooter home. At my local bar in the US mixed drinks are $4.00US; if I drink two I'm buzzed and the third makes driving a very bad idea. And bars in the US cannot charge an off fee for the host/waiters. Utilities, insurance, rent, licenses, wages, and everything else are many times as expensive in the US as they are in Thailand.

 

Seems that capitalism is alive and well in Thailand....I just wish that the bars and restaurants would pay the boys more. A little sharing of the wealth on the part of some bar and restaurant owners in Thailand would be amazing, but I know...that is magical thinking.

[Guest buckeroo2]

I walked by Mushroom tonight and their advertised special was 250 baht - 2 different entree choices -I think, as with most places running a special, that price includes soup or a salad, the main course, and a dessert, usually.