The Italian Bistro - Jomtien

[Gabor 296]

Well... bruschetta, carpaccio, porcini etc... sounded me just some snobbish hocus pocus in an english language Pattaya group... For me, for the simple hungarian guy the italian kitchen is the Pizza and the spaghetti bolognese with a huge portion of meat sauce, carbonara full with bacon and chamipgnons ... with half kilo grounded ementaler cheese on it ( we ... the wannabee sophisticated cooks at least use the parmiganno cheese as a spice for the meat sauce ) Remembers me the story when an italian guy cooked for us back home „Spaghetti aglio olio e pepperoncino „ and everybody cried for some toppings, like cheese or at least some sour cream.... OK... we may be boorish pricks in the eye of the italian gourmets, but we like it on this way.... For us the pasta is simple garnish not a food... the food is the topping...and a main course, not an appetizer...

 

So, my gourmet buddy invited me to try those meals I criticized, but never tried.... He named me two italian restaurant he thinks is great, Rinapp and the new Italian Bistro on Jomtien...No mood to travel to the city, so his choice was the

 

Italian Bistro...

 

 

The free welcome food... some tomato sauce with garlic and vegetable pieces... and fine olive oil with a few drop of balsamic vinegar...to dip the very fine fresh bread and some dry tasteless sticks... The sauce was made obviously from fresh ingredients and it was really tasty, I simple liked it and only being polite to my buddy I dot’t ate all of it ... the olive oil, balsamic vinegar dip was an interesting concept for me, but I liked it too....

 

 

The appetizers arrived: carpacchio and bruschetta...

 

Bruschetta... In my book a few piece of toast with butter and garlic, but it was really tasty and the quality of the bread was good, an enjoyable thing... maybe for 40 baht...

 

Carpacchio: Yep... I felt the touch of the quality ingredients... I followed my gourmet friend’s instructions and splashed it with lemon ( no lime ) juice, olive oil and balsamic vinnegar... The meat was simple delicious... for the very first sight I thought it was some smoked stuff, but not... the ruccola salad’s look remined me on the dandelion leafs, but all of the ingredients made a perfect taste harmony... 5 star appetizer...

 

For the main course I wanted a pizza, but my gourmet buddy offered me better to try a pasta.... to try it as it is on the proper way....

 

Penne Quattro formaggio... For this price I expected at least huge melted cheese nuggets... but not... When it was served my very first thought was: it is just a garnish.... OK... a thick sauce, very good taste, fresh parmiggano on the top... but anyway... the sauce was so thick and full with cheese I can’t finish the meal and hard to breath when the plate was taken away.... Still not my style... no any veggies, no any meat ... I would add fried smoked ham, onion .... or something more... In my book a cheap belly filler sold for premium price... And I know, by the rules it was a high quality and fine food...made in high level... an italian gourmet probably would rate it 5 star... but not me... sorry...

 

Lasagna: I tried a few bites from my friend’s lasagna... there were much more material in it...meat, veggies, the sauce was simple delicious... also very thick... I would die if to eat it all and he was a living zombie following the food... going home to sleep... But still... to compare the value and the ingredients... at least for my boorish taste... It was more expensive, than the not cheap Sportsman’s ribs... Guess, which one I would choose ?

 

Following the meals a kind surprise: the ice cold wet towels... ( in the past even the beer bars served... ) Only one mistake... I finished my meal, my plate was took off and the towels arrived whilst my friend still in the battle with his lasagna...

The final bill was 1490 baht... with a bottle of water and a soda water... in my book a horrible bill , in my gourmet buddy’s book it was OK... I can only justify the high price of the carpacchio, because of the quality ingredients....and the unique experience....

 

My buddy also mentioned his opinion: Still cheaper and better food, than the La Bocca, no any VAT and service fee tricks, you pay what you see on the menu...

[forcebwithu 4,854]

Good, honest, and fair review. TFP.

[cbrib 354]

Thanks for the report Gabor. There is another Italian place two sois over in Jomtien Complex i go to once in a while, will have to give this place a look.