UPDATED: Nicky's Bar and Restaurant on Soi Bukhao

[Evil Penevil 7,628]

I had lamb shank with mashed potatoes and vegetables last night at Nicky's on Soi Bukhao.

It was a generous portion of tasty braised lamb and sides. The lamb was cooked very well, flaking off the bone but still retaining a lot of flavor. According to the menu, it had a "hint of garlic aand rosemary," but to my taste buds, it was more of a hint of a hint. I could't taste much of either garlic or rosemary. That didn't matter much to me as the lamb was good enough that it didn't need any fortification, but a diner who was looking for garlic or rosemary might have been disappointed.

The mashed potatoes were excellent and two (cabbage and brocoli) of the three vegetables were cooked al dente and still had flavor left. Only the carrots were over-boiled by my standards. The gravy that was served in boat had clearly been made in the kitchen, but lacked taste and seasoning. That wasn't a problem for me as I'm not a big fan of gravy, but again, others might have been disappointed.

I really liked the fact that an assortment of condiments accompanied the meal. In addition to the usual (for British pubs) ketchup, HP Sauce and malt vinegar,

Nicky's had English mustard, horseradish, mint sauce and applesauce in Thai-style condiment jars.

The restaurant isn't fancy, but it has an authentic British feel to it. It's not a plastic fake interior like you might find in a British pub in a suburb of Akron, Ohio.

The friendly service staff also make a determined effort to welcome guests and help them feel at home.

A few less favorable observations. I placed my order at 9.20 pm, but the lamb shank wasn't in front of me until about 9.50 pm. That's a long wait, considering I was the sole customer in the restaurant the whole time I was there. I want my food to be piping hot when it's placed in front of me and it was barely warm. Finally, the price was 510 baht, which isn't out of line for imported lamb in Pattaya, but is approaching the same price (equivalent of 575 baht) I paid for a similar dish at an Irish pub in mid-town Manhattan a few months ago:

Nicky's is a well-established and well-known restaurant for British food, notably it's Sunday roast and breakfast plates in various-seized portions. Based on the quality of the lamb shank, I'll be back to try a few other items on it's menu.

Nicky's is located maybe 50 meters from the intersection of Soi Bukhao and Soi 15.

Evil

Edited November 24, 2014 by Evil Penevil

[cbrib 354]

Always enjoy your reviews Evil, thanks for sharing

[Evil Penevil 7,628]

We had an excellent Sunday lunch at Nicky's Bar on Soi Bukhao. The four male diners had roast dinners (one chicken, one lamb, two trios of meats), while the two ladies had Thai dishes. Everyone was pleased with his or her meal. The three of us who had eaten at Punch & Judy the week before thought Nicky's version of the Sunday roast was better.

The meat at Nicky's wasn't overcooked and the veggies hadn't been boiled too long. The Yorkshire was fine - crisp outside and soft inside. It had risen properly and was tender, not at all rubbery. The potatoes had been roasted long enough for the outside to caramelize a bit, but the inside remained fluffy.

Bottom line: one of the best, if not the best, Sunday roast I've had in Pattaya.




One friend's chicken (half the chicken)hadn't been overcooked. In the recent past, both he and I had gotten very dry chicken at another restaurant. Cost: 265 baht.





Two other friends had the trio of meats (lamb, pork and beef). At Nicky's, you can choose between small and large portions and they chose the large. Basically, the large portions comes with more meat and potatoes. The well of their Yorkshires had been filled with bread dressing, which didn't come with the meals lanzalad and I ordered. Cost: 360 baht for small, large 390 baht.





I ordered the small portion of lamb, but it was certainly large enough for me. Cost: 340 baht for small, large 370 baht.











Thai pork and vegetable soup with noodles. The lady added the hot sauce herself. Cost: 100 baht.





Fried squid with chili and basil. Cost: 160 baht



Evil

[yorta2 693]

Those shots are fantastic. My mouth started to salivate at the sight of the meals (all of them).

[pattayaman 8]

The trio of meats looks well good.Will check it out on my next visit

[MeGoDanceNow 4,281]

That Sunday roast sure looks like the deal. Will check it out Sunday afternoon, hopefully.

[cbrib 354]

Looks really good, now on the list! Thanks for sharing Evil

[Evil Penevil 7,628]

I very seldom eat fried food in the morning, so I'm a poor source of information on traditional Western breakfasts in Pattaya. But a few times a year I will feel like bacon and eggs for breakfast and this was one of those mornings. The posts about bubble and squeak had also picqued my appetitite, since it has been years since I last had that old favorite.

 

I ate at Nicky's on Soi Bukhao and had the two eggs, two rashers variation that was served on three pieces of toast. I also asked for a small order of bubble and squeak.*

 

 

I got two extra large, very fresh eggs that were perfectly cooked. The back bacon slices were generous and tasty, clearly good-quality stuff.

 

 

The three slices of toast had begun the morning as thick slices of fresh white bread, better than most of what you get in Pattaya. The backbone of the meal, the eggs, bacon and toast, was excellent. It was made from quality ingredients that were cooked as they should be.

 

 

My order came quickly, within 10 minutes, and reached the table warm.

 

 

However, the bubble and squeak was a disappointment. The mashed-potato base was fine, but had only a miniscule amount of cabbage and a few bits of diced carrot mixed with it. No onions or other flavorings. Basically, was mashed potatoes that had been reheated in a frying pan. That isn't real bubble and squeak in my book.

 

 

My "customized breakfast" cost 260 baht (175 for the bacon and eggs, 85 for the bubble and squeak). That's pricey for Pattaya, but the quality of the eggs, bacon and toast justified a premium price for that part of the meal. As said, the bubble and squeak was a letdown, although I had no problem eating it to the last bite.

 

I'm in no way saying Nicky's is one of the best breakfasts in town. I don't eat breakfast enough to make such comparisons. I chose Nicky's because it is only a five-minute walk from where I live and it offers bubble and squeak. Nicky's does have bigger and more economical options for breakfast which include cold cereal, beans, tomatoes, mushrooms and coffee or tea.

 

Bottom line: I was satisfied with my meal, even though the bubble and squeak was misnamed.

 

Evil

 

*For non-Brits reading this, bubble and squeak is a traditional UK fried dish that makes use of leftover vegetables (roast or mash potatoes and cabbage and/or Brussel sprouts) from a Sunday or holiday roast dinner. The leftover veggies are simply fried together with bacon bits and onion. It's not bad at all. The name comes from the sound the ingredients make in the frying pan.

 

The dish is very popular with the older generation in the UK, but has fallen a bit out of favor with younger people. My grandfather loved it and Grandma used to say that bubble and squeak with eggs and sausage on Monday morning was the best part of the Sunday roast dinner for him.

Edited November 9, 2015 by Evil Penevil

[Lantern 193]

Great pics Evil, will be trying that place next trip.

I guess the only reason I've never been is I've read to many bad reviews.

Maybe there has been a change of owners.

[capdagde 1,954]

Our visit with Bushcraft and Happy Knackers in August 2015, even with "new owners" (apparently), did nothing to change the first impression from 5 years earlier with the original owners. People with no food service experience - savoir-faire - or life experience - savoir-vivre - should not open/buy a restaurant on a whim..... Don't overpromise and don't overcharge (£5 for a breakfast? - know your market - even if the B&S was an extra). Soi Buakhao is not an one-horse Essex hamlet where people will be forced to come back to the only restaurant available....

 

Rant over.

 

Andy Cap

 

(Next trip I'm looking forward to only "top quality toast" when we go out Evil - maybe you mean that the BACON was top - that I can believe! It looks plentiful and mouthwatering)

Edited November 10, 2015 by capdagde

[gs joe 1,776]

Just for MM and no beans with the brekkie ?

 

Joe

[nkped 1,208]

Just for MM and no beans with the brekkie ?

Joe

I like baked beans, but having them for breakfast is weird.

[jacko 8,815]

I like baked beans, but having them for breakfast is weird.

No weirder than maple syrup my friend!

[nkped 1,208]

No weirder than maple syrup my friend!

I don't put maple syrup on my baked beans at any meal.

[jacko 8,815]

I don't put maple syrup on my baked beans at any meal.

But you do incorporate a big lump of fat in there!

[Billions 687]

Bubble and squeak without loads of cabbage isn't bubble and squeak.

 

Although it's origins are recycling leftovers,any restaurant having it on the menu isn't doing that (hopefully) but rather making from scratch, so just serving up essentially mashed potatoes is inexcusable..cabbage,carrots and onions must be in the mix.

 

The last portion of bubble I had in Patts was at Little Wonder in the arcade where the steakhouses operate from,opposite Mike's Mall ....they served it cold for some inexplicable reason...was that intentional or just careless? Either way I haven't been back there.

[Evil Penevil 7,628]

Just for MM and no beans with the brekkie ?

 

Joe

 

I never eat beans, canned tomatoes or black pudding for breakfast, so those items would be untouched on my plate. Fried mushrooms are OK if made with fresh mushrooms and not from a can. My favorite breakfast would be eggs and a thick slice of smoked, bone-in ham, with biscuits on the side, but that's hard to find in the U.S., let alone Pattaya. I like hashbrowns and fried potatoes, but not for breakfast.

 

As said, I don't eat a fried breakfast often enough to be good source of Pattaya breakfast info.

 

Evil

[Evil Penevil 7,628]

Bubble and squeak without loads of cabbage isn't bubble and squeak.

 

 

 

That's what I would say, too. This to me is bubble and squeak:

 

 

But of course there are many variations inside and outside the U.K.. My dad didn't like boiled cabbage and I can't remember ever having it as a side dish as a child. My mom used to make what she called "cowboy bubble and squeak" that used the vegetables likely to appear on our Sunday table, such as corn, peas and carrots.

 

Evil

[Gawd Elpus 798]

I think that Nicky's is one of the best all round restaurants in town, and have never been disappointed with the food that I have been served there. I found myself having dinner there almost every day, on my last trip. The only, very small complaint was the air temperature, and I am not sure that it is fully airconed inside, but not unbearable by any means. Massive portions of food as well, which even I could not always manage, but better too much than too little. My missus also said the Thai food was good.