Sailor Restaurant, Soi 8

[Evil Penevil]

The Sailor Bar and Restaurant is well-known for its cheap drinks and food. Since cheap booze in and of itself isn't a big attraction for me, I've never had a drink there and can't comment on the bar side of the business. But I have eaten twice in the restaurant and I strongly doubt there will be a third time.

 

 

 

 

On the upside, it's clean, well-lighted and above all, very cheap. Some of the Thai dishes you can get for 20 or 30 baht and most farang food runs between 80 and 150 baht. The breakfast has to be one of the least expensive in Pattaya.

 

 

 

 

The downside is the food is horrible. The first dish I tried was beef goulash. Here's what I got. I believe the price was 150 baht, but can't really remember.

 

 

And it didn't taste any better than it looks. The meat was tough beef cut stir-fry style. The only taste to the sauce was American-style ketchup. But tasting that sauce did give me one magical moment: I was transported back for a second to lower Manhattan. Some years ago I had volunteered two nights a month at a Bowery shelter for the homeless and the Sailor's goulash tasted exactly the same as the goulash served on Friday nights at the shelter!

 

The shelter's clients loved that goulash and the dining area was packed every Friday night. A formerly homeless guy who'd had some background in food preparation came in most Fridays to prepare it. One Friday, he couldn't make it and a NYC semi-celebrity chef supplied the goulash, made from top ingredients in his restaurant and delivered to the shelter for re-heating. I wasn't there that night, but I was told the clients didn't like the celebrity goulash at all. They much preferred the ketchup goulash. I thought I also recognized one of the guys from the shelter in the Sailor Restaurant, but my imagination must have been playing tricks on me, perhaps because my sensory nerves were over-stimulated by the ketchup taste.

 

My companion that evening, a lovely Thai lady, had declined the offer of food, Thai or otherwise, at the Sailor. She'd just wrinkled her nose and said, "No good." But so she'd have something in front of her, she had a butterscotch sundae.

 

 

I thought it was bizarre a sundae would come with Ritz crackers, but they turned out to be some sort of almond cookie. The sundae itself consisted of a few drizzles of caramel sauce on three tiny scoops of ice cream - one that was supposed to be chocolate, another vanilla and the third she couldn't tell because it had no flavor. The sundae was mostly commercial whipped topping.

 

After a couple of bites, we chek binned and abandoned the Sailor. She got som tam from a street stall and I had barbecued skewers of meat. A much better choice.

 

But I had seen a customer eating a schnitzel that looked pretty good. The menu said potato salad was an option as a side and I decided to come back alone another day to try it. Since the Sailor's menu is very German inspired, I been hoping it would be a warm potato salad with a vinegar-based dressing. This is what I got:

 

 

 

No magical moment for me that time because I had never before tasted American-style picnic potato salad that bad. Pieces of under cooked potato swimming in mayonnaise that had a rancid taste. The schnitzel had been pounded so thin and fried so long it was rock hard. Except for an oily taste to the breading, it had no flavor at all. The shredded carrot and cabbage was the only part of meal that was edible. It cost 120 baht, so it wasn't much of a loss, more a waste of time.

 

If you want to economize on food, are very hungry and have a strong stomach, you might do OK at the Sailor. Otherwise, give it a miss and head to the nearest street vendor where you'll get far better food. It's also service with a scowl at the Sailor. I've never seen unfriendlier waitresses anywhere else in Pattaya.

 

Evil

Edited July 23, 2013 by Evil Penevil

[RhinoTusk]

I was a regular for the cheap breakfast when I lived in VT6, and would sometimes have a 30 baht noodle dish, but never tried the farang food there. My fondest memory of the Sailor Bar was overhearing a waitress saying "Fuck you, asshole." to a customer.

[bratpack]

Only had one drink in 10 years and never tried the shit food. I had a cheap cocktail,which was quite nice and a bit different,strong too.

[StefanH]

Tried the food twice as well as the breakfast.

Even the Schnitzel is not worth it's price, the potato salad is not very tasty, but might well be the best farang dish you can order.

Breakfast is quite ok in relation to 60 baht.

 

But the business plan seems good place is packed at night, always

[Evil Penevil]

place is packed at night, always

 

Maybe for the same reason the homeless shelter in NYC was packed every night.

 

Evil

Edited July 23, 2013 by Evil Penevil

[jacko]

 

 

If you want to economize on food, are very hungry and have a strong stomach, you might do OK at the Sailor. Otherwise, give it a miss and head to the nearest street vendor where you'll get far better food. It's also service with a scowl at the Sailor. I've never seen unfriendlier waitresses anywhere else in Pattaya.

 

Evil

I enjoyed your tongue-extended review. .

For economy on farang food perhaps the Seaside around the corner or on Chayapoon... I would be interested for you to review that place. And was the waitress at the Sailor ex-Crazy Dave's?

Edited July 23, 2013 by jacko

[RhinoTusk]

Best ketchup goulash outside the Bowery.

[parry]

Thanks for that warning Evel. I love your restaurant reviews

[teelack]

Interesting observations here. I had never been in this place till last year and tried a light meal and it was just what I needed, cheap and filling. It has to be amongst the cheapest places in central Pattaya. Last month I did a return visit and had two meals there. The first was dreadful and the second they got the wrong item. This place is OK for many and fills a hole in the Pattaya scene but I think there has to be better out there.

[RhinoTusk]

The breakfast is good value: 2 eggs, 2 bacon, 2 slices ham, tiny hot dog, 2 slices of toast with butter and jam, orange juice, and coffee. I see from the pictures they've raised the price to 60 baht. If you want a cheap breakfast at 7:30 AM it's an option, just don't come before then because the staff will be having their breakfasts and will tell you to get lost.

 

PS i like the old pictures on the wall.

Edited July 25, 2013 by RhinoTusk

[Evil Penevil]

I enjoyed your tongue-extended review. .

For economy on farang food perhaps the Seaside around the corner or on Chayapoon... I would be interested for you to review that place. And was the waitress at the Sailor ex-Crazy Dave's?

 

I believe I remember reading somewhere that Seaside had closed and was for sale. Also read Crazy Dave's was up sale, but don't know if that's correct.

 

PS i like the old pictures on the wall.

 

 

Best thing about the Sailor!

 

Evil

Edited July 25, 2013 by Evil Penevil

[hillbilly]

_{basic food, get what you pay for. had a t bone steak and fries 180 bhat really was a joke}

[Nightrider]

The only good thing the sailor bar has going for it is the cheap booze they sell.........!

[jacko]

But the business plan seems good place is packed at night, always

Have to,remember that........

Serve shite food.

Have abusive unfriendly staff who abuse the customers.

But serve it all cheap cheap cheap!

 

Says more about the clientèle.

[Patna]

The only restaurant I used to eat at in that area is Olala on soi7, mainly because I like to watch the traffic go buy. Gave up on European food there but the Thai dishes are still quite good.

[Fatboyfat]

Knock it all you like, but this bar has been an exemplary success since they first came on the scene (some 20 odd years ago). The food bit is just cashing in on a missing variation from Soi 8, and the clientele are most unlikely to be seeking cordon bleu; just what "they" would consider a proper meal, rather than street food. Booze has always been reasonably priced, and I really liked their "diminishing bar fine commensurate to ladydrinks bought" idea. Don't know whether that is still running. They have a good "business plan" I would say Wouldn't get my custom though Music drives me nuts !

[RhinoTusk]

I didn't know you could bar fine from there. Considering the quality of the food and attitude of the staff, I think I'd pass on that.

[teelack]

I may be missing something here but the staff have never been an issue to me. I go into many restaurants and they take my order and deliver my food. This is exactly what this place does and I have never encountered any rudeness.

[monochromeman]

good review (:

 

I've a question for BMs - asked before but no one knew. There used to be 2 bars in there - Sailor Bar and another next door to it. SB then took over the whole floor space. Anyone remember the other bar's name? They'd have girls dancing on the bar top - revolutionary, maybe, in 1995-ish and blasted the music far too loud too compete with SB.

[jacko]

 

I believe I remember reading somewhere that Seaside had closed and was for sale.

I walked past the other evening and it seemed to be business as normal......

[Fatboyfat]

good review (:

 

I've a question for BMs - asked before but no one knew. There used to be 2 bars in there - Sailor Bar and another next door to it. SB then took over the whole floor space. Anyone remember the other bar's name? They'd have girls dancing on the bar top - revolutionary, maybe, in 1995-ish and blasted the music far too loud too compete with SB.

Hollywood bar at that time.

Edited August 4, 2013 by Fatboyfat

[mlay]

Had the cordon blue and roasted potatoes and it was just delicious !

Never had a bad meal there.

[Guest King_Midas]

I may be missing something here but the staff have never been an issue to me. I go into many restaurants and they take my order and deliver my food. This is exactly what this place does and I have never encountered any rudeness.

 

Afraid the dissenters have an axe to grind as usual.....

Probably the most popular Bar and eatery in Pattaya for a reason......Value for money....simple as

[Guest King_Midas]

good review (:

 

I've a question for BMs - asked before but no one knew. There used to be 2 bars in there - Sailor Bar and another next door to it. SB then took over the whole floor space. Anyone remember the other bar's name? They'd have girls dancing on the bar top - revolutionary, maybe, in 1995-ish and blasted the music far too loud too compete with SB.

 

No wasn't two Bars. The other section was a restaurant not owned by the Sailor Bar but coveted by Eve the owner for some time. Eventually she brought it and opened the restaurant herself.....

Sailor Club was opened for a couple years in the late 90's about 30 Metres up Soi 8 from Sailor Bar on the left from Beach Rd end roughly where Golden Time Bar is now

Edited January 30, 2014 by King_Midas

[Butch]

Their Tom Yam goong is great. I'll post a pic of it. also, the chicken friend rice is very good indeed.

 

The Thai menu is fairly good tbh, which is the reason I avoid the Western one.