White Night Ends Buffet Dinners - Goes to Regular Menu

[Gaybutton]

I heard a rumor about that yesterday. Today I called Michael, the owner, to ask about it. He said yes, there will be no more buffets. As of Saturday, May 2 the famous restaurant made the switch.

 

Michael said this is not a sudden change. He had this in mind when he took over the restaurant 8 months ago and has been planning for it ever since. I asked him what prompted the change. He said there is a variety of reasons including the fact that because there are fewer people in Pattaya these days he ends up throwing away a lot of food. Also it is difficult to maintain the quality of the food on a buffet unless most of it is kept warm in sauces. He wants to provide better food, better quality, and better service at reasonable prices, with most choices remaining in the 250 baht price range.

 

He told me he has brought a chef over from the UK to help him through the menu planning, staff training, recipes, etc. He said he wasn't going to publicize this for another week or so while he's working out the kinks, but he gave me the "green light" to post this because the rumor mill has already started up and he wants the real story to be known.

 

So, he says to please come on in and give it a try, and there will be more menu selections available in about a week and any little kinks will be worked out by then. He will also publish the menu once everything is finalized.

 

If anyone is disappointed that the restaurant will no longer be a buffet, don't be. The restaurant should be better than ever and there are still plenty of buffets around town.

 

As soon as Michael is ready to provide more information, rest assured I'll see that it's published here. In the meantime, if you have any questions you can send him an Email at:

 

mjgordon2206@hotmail.com

 

You can also let me know your question and I'll be happy to contact him and find out the answers.

[Guest Astrrro]

Sounds like it'll be the same price for less food.

 

A English chef to improve things? A country known for its cuisine. B)

 

I do like the 75 baht lunches as a splurge though.

 

 

[Gaybutton]

Sounds like it'll be the same price for less food.

Don't you think you ought to try it before passing judgment?

[Guest Geezer]

Sounds like it'll be the same price for less food.

 

I ate there this evening and asked for an extra large serving of smashed potatoes and gravy. They were happy to oblige.

 

 

 

 

 

(I know -- it’s really “mashed”.)

[Guest RichLB]

I ate there tonight, too. I've learned not to give reviews of restaurants - everyone seems to think their taste is the only reliable one - but I was impressed. I had the 250 baht 4 course set menu and had more than enough food. There was a choice of starters (I had the onion soup), a generous garden salad, the chicken breasts in Mango sauce (really tasy and a large portion), and apple pie for desert. The main course came with a choice of potatoes and vegetables. Only the hungriest gourmands will complain about the size of the portions and only the most picky of gourmets will complain about the quality. Give it a try - especially if you had grown tired of White Night's old buffet format.

[Guest Astrrro]

Don't you think you ought to try it before passing judgment?

 

I don't have to try waterboarding or scat play to know I don't like it.

 

Seriously though, White Night had a formula that was quite popular and provided considerable value. When bars and restaurants raise prices, I generally just go elsewhere unless there's a compelling reason not to. And I would say that the format change is tantamount to a price rise.

 

250 baht for dinner is expensive for me since my daily discretionary budget after rent and health insurance is around 1000 baht. I do like the lunch though.

 

But yes, it makes sense to try it once.

[Gaybutton]

250 baht for dinner is expensive for me

You're not making sense to me. The White Night buffet cost more than that.

 

250 bht for dinner is expensive for you? What and where do you normally have dinner for less than that?

[Guest lester1]

Best wishes to the new owner and whatever new ideas he has. I would like to say though that after many many meals at Whitenight over about a decade of time, it is a shame to see a Sunee institution change its ways. The buffet meant that whatever your tastes, there was always something that hit the spot. The desserts were terrific, and the outside tables allowed the world to pass by for your entertainment. Lets hope that the new menu takes off and the place remains popular. Cuisine Au Beurre remains popular with a set menu each night so I am sure Whitenight will make a go of it.

What is the news of Tony and Ken, the brains behind the original idea??

[Guest Astrrro]

250 bht for dinner is expensive for you? What and where do you normally have dinner for less than that?

 

Thai Mom and Pops and street food.

 

For "me" a 250 baht dinner is a splurge. It's all about choices and living within one's means.

 

 

 

 

[Guest taylorsquare]

I do second that Lester.

I will miss the buffet ,and especially the desserts.

I suppose i have to accept things do change,but i do like buffets.

 

 

[Gaybutton]

I suppose i have to accept things do change,but i do like buffets.

Well, let's not get the idea that the change at White Night means the end of buffets in Pattaya. There are still plenty of them. One of my favorites is the LK Kitchen buffet, even less expensive than White Night's buffet was. See: http://www.gaythailand.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=2714 .

 

Then there are the Wednesday evening buffets at Cherry's and Olé. Take your pick.

 

While the buffet at White Night was good, and also convenient to Sunee Plaza, if you want buffets you'll still find them in Pattaya.

[Guest DanT]

"my daily discretionary budget after rent and health insurance is around 1000 baht. . . . For "me" a 250 baht dinner is a splurge. It's all about choices and living within one's means."

 

I got no quarrel with that philosophy, but stop pretending that what are eating at those prices is anything but one grade above swill, especially if it's farang food, and nothing close to "dining" in any sense of the word.

 

I'm waiting for the guys who think they can eat well for 250 Baht to tell us how they get good sex for 250 baht a trick ? On that kind of budget, I assume you must have given up bars and boys as well as dining, or have you just chosen drinking and sex over eating ? At 1000 baht/day, no expat can be getting much of anything. That's obviously his choice but you guys should stop pretending that you're living like some gourmand.

[Gaybutton]

That's obviously his choice but you guys should stop pretending that you're living like some gourmand.

Well, pardon us all to hell. Why is that upsetting you? I see nothing in any of these posts that suggests anyone eating cheaply thinks it is anything like fine dining. Not everyone is interested in fine dining in the first place and even those who can afford it don't necessarily demand it every night.

 

If you're one of the people who can afford it and wishes to eat at high end, expensive restaurants, complete with the fine wine along with it, that's wonderful for you. But why this putting down of those who can't afford it or simply choose to eat inexpensively? Hey, I'm sorry not everyone is as rich as you apparently are, but these are the breaks. I, for one, can afford to eat at any restaurant I want and yes, I do enjoy them. I also enjoy the cheap places. Isn't that terrible?

[Guest Astrrro]

but stop pretending that what are eating at those prices is anything but one grade above swill,

 

Delicious Thai food same same as the Thais eat. Perhaps not as delicious as what the French or Italians eat on a daily basis but much tastier IMO than what Americans or Brits eat at home.

 

 

At 1000 baht/day, no expat can be getting much of anything. That's obviously his choice but you guys should stop pretending that you're living like some gourmand.

 

The trick is to get out of tourist mentality.

 

The reason food is so cheap in Thailand is that the cooks, deliverymen, ricepickers etc. are earning a fraction of what they'd be earning in the West. The restaurant rent is pretty cheap too.

[Guest lvdkeyes]

much tastier IMO than what Americans or Brits eat at home.

I am American and I eat very tasty food at home. It's not a good idea to clump all Americans or Brits together.

[Guest Geezer]

I got no quarrel with that philosophy, but stop pretending that what are eating at those prices is anything but one grade above swill... etc. etc.

 

 

A rather mean spirited post. Hardly characteristic of this board.

 

I am so pleased it is possible for farangs of a broad range of means to live happily in Thailand.

[Guest njjim]

Well, let's not get the idea that the change at White Night means the end of buffets in Pattaya. There are still plenty of them. One of my favorites is the LK Kitchen buffet, even less expensive than White Night's buffet was. See: http://www.gaythailand.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=2714 .

 

Then there are the Wednesday evening buffets at Cherry's and Olé. Take your pick.

 

While the buffet at White Night was good, and also convenient to Sunee Plaza, if you want buffets you'll still find them in Pattaya.

 

 

I am also a fan of the LK buffet, but went there Thursday night. No buffet. Hope it is just for the slow season...

[Smiles]

Ignoring the risk of being accused of meanspiritedness, there is always the observation (hovering overhead, in lonely darkness, usually ignored, often denied) that the last thing in the world which the extravagantly overweight and exercise-free Farangs-of-Pattaya should be mourning is the demise of yet another food trough (i.e. The Buffet).

[Gaybutton]

the last thing in the world which the extravagantly overweight and exercise-free Farangs-of-Pattaya should be mourning is the demise of yet another food trough.

I get it. In other words, we should all eat as you do and better still, look like you. In case you hadn't noticed, plenty of people who ate at the White Night buffet, and also eat at other buffets, are not overweight at all and get plenty of exercise. Also, just because people may be "extravagantly overweight," as you put it, that doesn't mean they go into buffets and eat like there's no tomorrow or like pigs at a trough.

 

However, it's always nice to see you here every once in a blue moon posting really helpful and necessary remarks like that. Aren't you going to post another one of your statistical notes, complete with graphics, about how often I post and how many posts I've written?

[Guest Geezer]

Nice try Smiley, but I’ll bet that, just like me, you don’t get any extra points for not being over-weight. It’s likely not due to nobility of character or self control, but to choosing your ancestors carefully.

 

Just like diarrhea, being over-weight is often inherited.

 

It runs in your jeans.

[Guest laurence]

I will miss the buffet and so will the bf who liked to experiment with various farang food. There is something to be said about those who overindulge at buffets. I do have to restrain myself in order to keep my svelte shape.

[Guest taylorsquare]

Im sure somewhere along the line,maybe not this year,but someone will fill the gap so to speak.

 

I enjoy the buffets too and the one at White Knight had good desserts,anyhow i will check out the links gaybutton wrote in his last post and try those buffets on my next visit.

 

I am a bit disapointed that White Knight changed its business structure,however its what they think is more financially viable ,and im sure they know much better than me,so i wish them luck.

 

[Gaybutton]

If nothing else, let's get the name right. Many people are still confused. The restaurant is not White Knight. It's White Night - without the 'K.'

 

While we're at it, it's Sunee Plaza, not Sunnee or Sunny Plaza.

 

Just in case you wanted to know . . .

[Guest shebavon]

Speaking of diarrhea, I bet the incidence of complaints coming from White Night customers should be reduced significantly. Buffets in Pattaya are notorious for not keeping their food hot enough, allowing bacteria to thrive.

[Guest GaySacGuy]

And not keeping their food cold enough with the same result...Bacteria. Especially the salads and salad dressing with mayonaise products.