Evil Penevil

The Avani charges a joiner fee for any unregistered guest who stays overnight. It doesn't matter if you have booked the room for two people. The only thing that counts is whether she is registered as a guest. It's been mentioned before, but booking and paying for double occupancy doesn't give you the "right" to have an unregistered guest stay in the room. That's the crucial point. Santa Penevil

Again, no pic, but Palmers on Soi 13/4 off Beach Road is coming in the cheapest so far at 540 baht for a two-course dinner. The text of Palmers' notice: Xmas day Turkey dinner 435 baht, Pork+chicken 375 baht ( inc. all veg + sausage/bacon) Xmas pud/mince pies Cream/custard/icecream 105 bht Turkey sandwich 105 bht ( free cheese board with meal ) And an expensive one (Dusit Thani) with a last-minute discount: Santa Penevil

I don't have a pic, but the Golden Ferret in New Plaza (near 2nd Road and Soi 8) is offering a three-course dinner with mints and coffee for 695 baht. It can also be ordered by the course. Here's the menu: CHRISTMAS DAY DINNER Served 1 p.m - 8 p.m Homemade Minestroni Soup or Prawn Cocktail 100 baht Roast Turkey, Cranberry Sauce, Sage & Onion Stuffing, Chipolata, Brussel Sprouts, Buttered Carrots, Roast & Creamed Potatoes 495 baht Christmas Pudding with Brandy Sauce or Fresh Fruit Salad & Cream 150 baht Coffee & Mints 4 50 baht Full Menu 695 baht The Golden Ferret gets some positive reviews, but I've been disappointed the few times I've eaten there. Santa Penevil

A few more options at the budget end of the Christmas dinner scale: The Yiam 3 at Sutus Court on Soi Bukhao: Under point 3, it should read, "Roast turkey served with roast potatoes and vegetables." Next door to Sutus Court on Soi Bukhao at the Queen's Arms (formerly The Coins), a three-course Christmas dinner with turkey and Christmas pudding costs 750 baht. At the Devonshire on Soi Lengkee, a three-course ditto-above is 769 baht, but you can order it by the course (150 for starter, 499 for main, 120 for dessert). Sorry, I don't have pics of the menus. This is anecdotal and take it with as many grains of salt as you like, but I've heard most Pattaya restaurants still have seats available for Christmas dinner. Bookings are said to be off from previous years; only a few restaurants are booked out. Whether this is due to fewer tourists this year or prices for Christmas dinner passing the threshold of pain is impossible to say. The cheapest I've seen so far for a decent Christmas meal is Coop's all-you-can-eat buffet at the Chik-n-Coop Bar (details in a previous post). However, be aware it's U.S. style and there's no Christmas pudding if that matters to you. But for turkey with all the U.S. trimmings, it can't be beat. Santa Penevil

One more option at the Centara Azure Hotel on Soi 15 between The Avenue and Soi Bukhao: I don't have any info on Christmas dinner yet, but the Butcher's Arms on Soi Bukhao is now open again after renovation and has offered a traditional Christmas dinner in the past. As said, Jolly's Restaurant and the Piss Stop Bar are closed and won't be reopening for Christmas. Santa Penevil

'Tis the season to be jolly- but not at Jolly's. I read a post on another board from a reliable source that it has been closed for good after a police raid Saturday night. It was the second raid in a short time. Sorry to see such a venerable restaurant finish, but the food there had been sliding for awhile. The last meal I had there was disappointing to say the least. EDIT IN: This isn't exactly Christmas cheer, but you can read what happened in this article: Police raid ‘illegal’ businesses of drug suspects in Pattaya City Santa Penevil

For several reasons, I'm glad I'm not having Christmas dinner with her. Gotta love the Daily Mirror, though. More pics (ugh!) and details in the linked story. It will give you a whole new perspective on Christmas pudding. Grieving Debra Parsons will have her mum Doreen for Christmas dinner this year – by scattering her ashes on the turkey then tucking in. And for dessert she’ll enjoy Christmas Pud...with a dusting of her mum’s last remains too. Debra, 41, has felt the urge to EAT Doreen’s ashes since she died in May and has had a small spoonful most days to feel “as close as possible” to her. But as she faces Christmas without her, the craving has become even stronger. “It is the only thing that will get me through my first Christmas without mum,” said Debra. Santa Penevil

This one isn't a Christmas dinner per se, but it's holiday related and carries a great price:

This one isn't a Christmas dinner per se, but it's holiday related and carries a great price: Another on the Darkside that could be a good option for those who don't want a traditional U.K. or U.S. Christmas dinner two days in a row: On the Darkside yet again for Christmas dinner. but in the traditional style: Santa Penevil

The Robin Hood Tavern on 2nd Road (The Avenue shopping Plaza): Santa Penevil

Sunny's Restaurant on the Darkside. I've never been to Sunny's, but a friend who knows his food has recommended it. If anyone needs the address or map, Sunny's has a Facebook page. Santa Penevil

A few points regarding Christmas dinner in Pattaya. 1) If you have booked at Jolly's for Christmas or are considering it, you might want to check with the restaurant to see if anything has changed recently regarding the Christmas carvery. This ONLY concerns Jolly's. 2) Several restaurant owners have said advanced bookings for Christmas Eve and Christmas Day are way down compared to previous years. Whether this is due to fewer farang tourists in town or prices for Christmas dinner have reached the tipping point is hard to say. But I've been told by someone with insight into such matters that restaurants which in past years wete fully booked by early December still have plenty of spaces with 10 days to go. 3) Another more expensive option: 4) Some details about the dinner at Chik-n-Coop (home-made fudge!!! ) Another great thing about Coop's meals is that he always has som tam and other Thai dishes so that Thai female companions have food they like. They can nibble on a bit of turkey or ham and try a spoonful of dressing to say they have eaten farang Christmas dinner, but then fill up on familiar food. Santa Penevil

Sorry about that. It's The Haven on Soi Lengkee. I've never had Christmas dinner there, but a friend recommends it. Santa Penevil

Two more at the least expensive end of the scale for Christmas buffets. Both are close to LK Metro. Santa Penevil

Best wishes for the holidays. Sorry you won't be around for Christmas and New Year's in Pattaya. Santa Penevil

Breaking news- Chik-n-Coop Bar in the arcade next to Soi Diana is offering a Christmas buffet at 500 baht, turkey and all the trimmings.. For anyone who's had Coop's holiday meals. it's great value for money. Coop told me tonight he has 55 places left. So if you want a great Christmas dinner on Dec. 25 American Style, call in at Coop's. It's a better deal than any of the fixed-plate options. It starts at 6.00 p.m. on the 25th, get there by 5.30 p.m. if you want to be assured of a seat. Santa Penevil

In terms of that sweet spot between quality and price, the Hard Rock Cafe is looking like the best deal this year. Take a look at the info in the OP. It's where I'll be eating on Christmas Eve. To clear up some confusion about the price of this year's Santa Rock Christmas Carvery Buffet at the Hard Rock Cafe: it is 899 baht, inclusive tax and service. This year the HR is requiring pre-payment. I have erased any identifying info from the invoice. That's the SAME price it was last year without the free flow of booze option. In 2016, I paid 1,389 baht, but that included the free flow of booze. Without it, the cost last year would have been 899 baht. This year, there doesn't appear to be a free-flow option. I tried asking about the difference between the Santa Rock buffet and the BBQ buffet but unfortunately, I haven't got an answer back. I believe the only difference is that the BBQ buffet includes beef skewers and seafood. Santa Penevil

Maybe it's time for an updated version of the 1984 "Where's the beef?" commercial. Santa Penevil

This contact form worked for me. https://www.carlsjr.com/contact/contact_form I asked them who I should contact about a problem with their franchise in Pattaya, Thailand. Of course, who knows if they will answer? You could also call if you have a cheap option for U.S. calls. GUEST RESPONSE LINE (877) 799-STAR (7827) Mon. - Fri. 7:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m. Central Carl's doesn't have an email for customer complaints. But you could send an email to the PR people at the holding company which owns Carl's. Just tell them there was a very serious problem at the Pattaya franchise and you need the email of the appropriate person to contact about it. pr@ckr.com CKE Restaurants Holdings, Inc. 6700 Tower Circle, Suite 1000 Franklin, TN 37067 Hope this helps. Santa Penevil

Another expensive option, this time at the Holiday Inn: Santa Penevil

That's ridiculous. There's no shortage of beef in Pattaya, they could get it in the supermarket at Central Festival in an emergency. Not many people go to Carl's for pork or chicken burgers. If they can't get beef back in stock soon, their business will Santa Penevil

Two in Jomtien: Santa Penevil

Santa Penevil

At the upper end of the Christmas meal scale you have Bruno's ... and at the top, there's the Hilton. The Marque Bar has a Christmas party, but I haven't seen anything about a Christmas meal. Last year's thread on Christmas dinners is still relevant and contains more suggestions. Of course you'll need to check with the restaurant about details and prices and preferably to make a reservation. Santa Penevil

There's no lack of Christmas dinner options in Pattaya. At least 100 restaurants offer some sort of festive holiday meal. The difficulty is finding one that's both good and offers decent value for money. My choice has already been made. I had the Christmas carvery buffet at the Hard Rock Cafe last year and it was excellent. It had everything you could want in a Christmas buffet and then some. I wrote about in Christmas Eve Buffet at Hard Rock. But it is a bit confusing this year. Apparently Hard Rock has two Christmas options, the Santa Rock buffet ... and a BBQ buffet that's more expensive. Both buffets are held at the same time on Dec. 24th and Dec. 25th in the Starz Diner, so I imagine the BBQ buffet includes more dishes to appeal to non-Western diners. I can do without BBQ skewers, sushi and tiger prawns on Christmas Eve; I just want turkey, stuffing and other fixings, plus Christmas desserts. The Santa Rock buffet is fine for me. I sent HR an email asking for a clarification. Otherwise, the restaurants popular among farang are offering Christmas meals. I read frozen turkeys now cost 600 baht per kilo in Thailand, so it's understandable the meals are quite expensive. If past history is any guide, you need to book a table ASAP. More to come. Santa Penevil