Deli-zza restaurant in Pattaya

[Rogie]

Having read reviews of this establishment on Gaybuttonthai.com, I popped in during a short 2 day visit to Pattaya recently. Here is the link:

 

http://www.gaybutton....php?f=6&t=3932

 

NB. The link given to SGT in the first post of that topic no longer seems to work.

 

Getting there is easy if you are based in Jomtien, otherwise you will need to get a baht bus from Pattaya. It is about a 10 minute walk once you get to the start of Jomtien Beach Road, then go past Soi 8 and between there and Soi 9 you will see another 7-11 clone and a sign to Casa Jomtien condos, and if you peer into the gloom (assuming you are going at night) you'll see the Deli-zza sign outside.

 

First impressions were not good, there was a large party going on in the front section and they were making a lot of noise (how dare they!), so my friend and I chose to sit inside where it was marginally quieter. I was soon mollified however when a guy came up and started chatting, he turned out to be the owner whose name I think is John. Very loquacious and smartly dressed (smart for Pattaya that is) and obviously enjoying the evening. He explained the party were a group of old friends of which he was also acquainted and as the party were winding down and soon to leave I decided the place had a nice buzz, rather than my initial impression of a rather annoying ambiance.

 

As I was with a Thai friend unfamiliar with a lot of western food I decided to order a pizza. The waitress was very helpful and chatted to us so that put my friend at ease and helped us decide which pizza to go for. As a Brit I am largely unfamiliar with the New York deli kind of fare, but had I been on my own I would probably have chosen either a Reuben or a pastrami, because they sound so delicious going by comments made on the other board. In a discussion afterwards with the owner about difficulty of obtaining ingredients, he mentioned they baked their own rye bread and so that would have clinched it for me had I been dithering as the bread is a crucial part of many of the meals, going by others' comments.

 

We had the 'meat lovers' pizza, a medium size which feed 2 - 3 people and it was just about right size for us, but if you go with a hungry companion or are extra-hungry yourself I suggest you opt for the larger size. Verdict: Ok. I liked the thin crust which is my preferred pizza style anyway, and the ingredients were fine, but nothing special. I would award it a 3 on a rating of 1 - 5, so in other words, an average score. The pizza cost 350 baht.

 

I don't go to restaurants/cafes often enough in Thailand to be up to speed with regard to smoking. Two men were smoking in the section we were seated so that surprised me somewhat, but being a pragmatic soul I held my peace. Maybe they had a good ventilation system (over and above the 'open door') because the smoke was not intrusive. The kitchen looked spacious, clean and efficient.

 

I would definitely go there again given the opportunity.

[KhorTose]

I would definitely go there again given the opportunity.

 

Rogie, thanks for the review. This place was first reported on SGT not GBT.

http://www.sawatdee-gay-thailand.com/forum/thanksgiving-day-dinner-deli-zza-t22411.html?hilit=Deli

From the reviews it sounds like a must-go place. Next time you go back, please ask the owner to start a franchise in Chiang Mai.

[Rogie]

Next time you go back, please ask the owner to start a franchise in Chiang Mai.

I've no plans to be in Pattaya in the near future so if any of our readers who are intending to eat there see this maybe you could do as KhorTose asks.

 

In fact, according to the owner, he knows some people in Chiang Mai who are planning a special trip to Pattaya - a kind of pilgrimage, almost!

[Rogie]

Deli-zza was closed on my recent brief visit to Pattaya. The Thai landlady of the guest house next door seemed to think there'd been a disagreement amongst the restaurant's partners. I wasn't able to confirm that.

 

Instead I ate somewhere close by: Rich Man Poor Man on Soi 9 which serves up very good American-style cooking in a nice friendly atmosphere, although if you don't play golf or have a British accent you're definitely in the minority! Main courses are around 250 - 350 baht.