Akvavit - the week end all you can eat buffet

[Gabor]

I was curious about a swedish all you can eat buffet, just because in Hungary and in Russia we call the all you can eat buffets : Swedish table...

The Akvavit is a well advertised, not cheap restaurant, so I sniffed the deal for 335 baht including a beer or a drink.

A promising overture: Big bottle of soda, small gesture, but I really appreciate it.

The starters:

Fresh and soft white bread as I like it.

Correct, but nothing special potato salad.

Swedish egg... an interesting concept, a little bit similar with the devil’s egg, but a lazier version... anyway it was fine.

Delicious easter ham, it was just perfect, obviously not the usual glued meat.

The mixed salad was OK, just missed the dressing. ( I found later a few mayo based dressing in the other side of the restaurant, whilst collecting the mains, but sorry, I already finished my salad )

Tomato salad, which was OK and tasty.

The mains:

The mashed potato was OK, I think made from powder, but nothing bad I like the mash from powder.

The rice was tired, many dried, hard pieces.

The chicken curry was really good, tasty sauce tender chicken.

The swedish food was an interesting concept, potato sausages and a slightly smoked aroma... I liked it.

The beetroot was almost perfect ( not the hard version you can buy canned in Pattaya ) I just missed a little horseradish, but this is a hungarian thing, not a swedish.

The buffalo chicken wings were OK, but again, nothing special... but fundamentally cicken wings are not my favourite meal... so, in this case the nothing special means it was good.

The tzatziki must be a swedish version, not the greek original... it was tasteless and heavy probably from the mayo.

Cole slaw was OK, but again a little bit heavy, too many mayo for my taste.

Pork loan in wine sause. The biggest disappointment... it smelled promising, mouthwatering... the sauce was fine and tasty, but the meat was chewy and so dry it was hard to swallow...

Swedish meatballs. Again, a fine sauce with pure meat balls, but still dry meat for my taste.

The pork rib was good by the taste, but again the meat is dry... ( true, there were also soft and juicy pieces ) Added some mustard and with it it was OK.

As you can see, this lunch doesn’t woke up any emotional buzz in me....It wasn’t so bad, but also wasn”t good... Verdict: For 235 baht it would be a choice.

Edited March 13, 2016 by Gabor

[Butch]

Thanks for an honest report Gabor, and taking the time and effort to share it. I've found the problem with buffets is that not as much care is taken to the cooking as it would be a single dish, but by my own admission I know little about how to run a restaurant.

[Grandpollo]

If 335 Baht, $9.50 with a beer is not cheap, how cheap is cheap for a buffet or dinner?

 

Not being critical of the review but I can't recall spending a lot less in an air con place for a dinner and one drink, even the Queen Vic. Which is 370 for the carvery alone.

Edited March 13, 2016 by Grandpollo

[Fatboyfat]

If 335 Baht, $9.50 with a beer is not cheap, how cheap is cheap for a buffet or dinner?

 

Not being critical of the review but I can't recall spending a lot less in an air con place for a dinner and one drink, even the Queen Vic. Which is 370 for the carvery alone.

 

Well in defence of the more expensive carveries around the bazaars, most of them do include a lot more expensive products, including the very pricey "roast lamb", than the fare available here at Akvavit in their buffet.

[jacko]

A good review Gabor.

[JONPAT]

I ate the Sunday special a couple months ago. I'd never had Swedish food before. It was okay, no complaints but not worth it to me to go back up to Jomtien for a 2nd go. Price was fine for what you got and I had the free glass of wine as my free one drink included.