Deli Diner Near Tukcom

[Evil Penevil 7,628]

The Deli Diner is a new restaurant near Tukcom. If you're standing on Pattaya Tai facing Tukcom, it's on the right-hand side of the subsoi to the right, about halfway down the block at the point where Tukcom ends. For those who know the area, it's next door to La Petite Planete.

 

Posted Today, 09:41 AM

 

 

 

There's not much point in commenting on a restaurant unless you've eaten there, so I put my money and my mouth in the same place and had the four-course special Monday night at the Deli Diner. It was a very good deal at 299 baht for salad, soup, main course and dessert. You had a choice of several different options in all the "categories" except the salad. A bottle of Singha cost 60 baht. With my customary tip, the total cost was 400 baht.

 

 

 

I liked the special a lot. The ingredients were fresh and the dishes were well-prepared and tasty. The individual portions weren't particularly large, but taken as a whole, they yielded a satisfying meal. What more can you ask for 400 baht?

 

 

The name "Deli Diner" is a curious choice, as there's nothing deli- or diner-ish about it, at least in the U.S. sense of those words. I'd call it a small bistro that serves "international" and Thai dishes at modest prices. It has an indoor section and a couple of outside tables. There are apparently two more tables on a balcony reached by a spiral staircase.

 

 

 

I like the fact that you can look into the kitchen, but the view isn't unencumbered. The two chefs I saw were both Thai.

 

The menu isn't large, but it does include a number of Western and Thai dishes. There's plenty of choice for both farang males and their Thai companions. Prices are modest.

 

 

The first course was salad.

 

 

To call it Caesar Salad was a bit optimistic, but it was in the right direction with crisp, fresh lettuce; homemade croutons; shaved Parmesan and a nice dressing. I ate it to the last morsel, which I seldom do with starter salads.

 

 

 

A small cup of corn soup was up next. Boiled corn kernels had been pureed with stock, which resulted in a velvety texture and distinct corn taste. It wasn't cream of corn soup nor corn chowder, but quite simply, corn soup served with toast and butter.

 

 

The parsley added a great flavor accent to the mild soup and I wish there had been more of it.

 

 

The baked salmon with butter almond sauce came as soon as I finished the soup.

 

 

 

 

Salmon is a delicately flavored fish that doesn't require much in the way of enhancement, so butter almond sauce is good choice. Unfortunately, the sauce was the biggest miss of the meal. It tasted like a bland bechamel to me. Either they had run out of butter almond sauce and substituted another sauce without telling me or the chef and I have very different ideas about how butter almond sauce should taste.

 

 

Anyway, the salmon itself was baked properly but perhaps slightly dry. The vegetables and potatoes were excellent, not the tasteless and waterlogged variations one gets so often in Pattaya.

 

 

 

 

 

Freshness seems to be a major factor at Deli Diner. The food tastes good because it's both fresh and cooked properly.

 

 

 

 

I finished the meal with panna cotta with strawberry sauce. I had actually wanted the creme caramel, but the waitress told me the last one had "broken apart." I don't know if that meant she'd dropped it on the floor or something else had gone wrong with it, but the (Edit in) panna cotta was fine as a substitute.

 

 

 

The texture and flavor were very good and the strawberry sauce wasn't too sweet. Few Italian restaurants in Pattaya do panna cotta that well.

 

 

Bottom line: I was happy with my meal at Deli Diner, especially considering the price. There was a miss with the sauce for the salmon, but that won't deter me from returning. Right now Deli Diner is open between 10.30 am and 10.00 pm, but a note on the menu says it will open from 7.30 am beginning in April.

 

Evil

Edited March 25, 2016 by Evil Penevil

[MM 6,562]

If I can break my habit of eating at Le Petite Planete, I will give it a try.

 

I am just astounded by the growth in the number of western food eateries lately, especially ones that are serving quality, fresh, foods.

 

This relatively small town is truly cosmopolitan in the choices we get.

[Evil Penevil 7,628]

 

I am just astounded by the growth in the number of western food eateries lately, especially ones that are serving quality, fresh, foods.

 

This relatively small town is truly cosmopolitan in the choices we get.

 

Some restaurateurs are trying to differentiate themselves by offering something new in a very crowded field. I hope they succeed!

 

Evil

[python 27]

Evil, Thanks for your revue of Deli Diner as it looks great. I always enjoy reading these food revues.

 

I have noticed that salmon, though not a favorite of mine, is very popular on many Pattaya menus. Not that it makes it bad, but would I be correct in thinking it is all frozen and imported?

 

Also, I was curious, have you tried "The Kitchen" on Beach Road? Past Royal Garden towards Walking Street. Used it several times a few months and thought it was well above average. They also did a good deal with draft Chang. All staff are Thai with an Eastern European manager. All were very pleasant. Would be interested to read your opinion? They also have a bigger restaurant on 2nd Rd about

Soi 10 though I never tried there and it always looked much quieter when passing.

 

Regards,

[Evil Penevil 7,628]

Also, I was curious, have you tried "The Kitchen" on Beach Road?

No. but it's been on my bucket list for a while now. So many restaurants, so little time.

 

Evil

[JONPAT 222]

Recently I had the chicken cordon blue and thought it good.

 

A couple days later i went back for the ninety nine baht breakfast and thought it too was good.\

 

I'd go back again and try other dishes.

[ttk 236]

 

I have noticed that salmon, though not a favorite of mine, is very popular on many Pattaya menus. Not that it makes it bad, but would I be correct in thinking it is all frozen and imported?

,

I would bet not only frozen and imported but also Atlantic Salmon. After having freshly caught Pacific Salmon, I have given up ordering Salmon in restaurants. Atlantic Salmon is naturally white meat and is fed special food to artificially make it the pink color people expect.

[midlifecrisis 4,048]

I saw a frozen filet of salmon that size at the local market - over $20 dollars.

 

239 THB? wow!

 

It's getting to the point I may drive 600 miles and go fishing.