Craft Cottage on Soi Diana- LKMetro

[Evil Penevil 7,628]

 

Craft Cottage sits at the corner of Diana and LK Metro. It has craft beer as it specialty and "Good Food and Cold Beer" as its slogan. It has a fairly extensive menu of Western and Thai dishes, although the food doesn't come from its own kitchen but is prepared in the adjacent Lee's Diner.

 

 

It's an attractive and comfortable place to have either a beer or a meal. If you don't mind sitting outdoors, it's a good place for watching the comings and goings along LK Metro.

 

 

They have a lot of domestic and imported craft beer in bottles and cans, plus five on tap.

 

 

It's not cheap, but it's nice they offer IPA (India pale ale) and BrewDog is one of my favorites.

 

 

The Western food on the menu is the usual mix of hamburgers, salads, pizza and pasta. The first time I dropped in, I wasn't very hungry, so I ordered the squid fried rice. It was good, but a bit pricey at 140 baht for what you get.

 

 

I don't know if there is supposed to be anything special about the water, but it came in a bottle with the Craft Cottage name. Thirty baht, if I remember right.

 

 

The next visit I tried the garlic squid at 150 baht.

 

 

It was a reasonable portion of squid that was properly cooked and not overwhelmed by the garlic.

 

 

I would have been happy to have gone back a third time to try a Western dish and have a pint of BrewDog, but they made a mistake on the bill that they refused to correct. I was charged on the bill 180 baht for "Crispy Calamari" when I'd had the garlic squid at 150 baht. The waitress took the bill to the kitchen and the answer that came back was the two items cost the same. I showed the waitress the difference on the menu and she again went to the kitchen. After a bit of a wait. she came back and said they had deducted 10 baht from the bill, which made no sense at all. However, I wasn't going to waste more time and energy over 20 baht. I told the waitress they were wrong, but I wouldn't argue the point further. I reinforced my disapproval by not leaving a tip. It will be a long time before I go back, if ever.

 

In fairness, I should mention that they have a 3-for-2 (Edit in to correct error) offer on cocktails during the rather odd Happy Hour between 10 p.m. and midnight.

 

Bottom line: The food was good and the beer was cold. If it hadn't been for the silliness over the bill, I would have paid Craft Cottage several more visits.

 

Evil

Edited July 22, 2018 by Evil Penevil

[BigusDicus 9,881]

Hum, 2 for 1? I thought if you buy one you get the second free? Menu says buy 2, get 1 free.

[Evil Penevil 7,628]

Hum, 2 for 1? I thought if you buy one you get the second free? Menu says buy 2, get 1 free.

 

That's right, I made a mistake. It's 3 for 2.

 

I have to say, though, that Craft Cottage should be avoided. According to a post on another board from a member I've met IRL, he was hassled over a bad glass of wine his companion ordered. The restaurant refused to replace it, so he wanted it taken off the bill. He was confronted by two men and even though he had been polite, the situation got threatening. He paid up, but will never return.

 

Neither will I.

 

Evil

Edited July 22, 2018 by Evil Penevil

[teelack 9,645]

I too have run into the problem where bars refuse to change an off beer or even a chipped bottle. I wonder if this is also about losing face? I have now accepted the fact that if a draft ale is off then I just walk away but try to not leave a tip. One other problem that this mail has thrown up is that it also casts doubt on eating at Lee's which I assume has some skin in the game.

 

Sent from my Nokia 6.1 using Tapatalk

[Evil Penevil 7,628]

I too have run into the problem where bars refuse to change an off beer or even a chipped bottle. I wonder if this is also about losing face? I have now accepted the fact that if a draft ale is off then I just walk away but try to not leave a tip. One other problem that this mail has thrown up is that it also casts doubt on eating at Lee's which I assume has some skin in the game.

 

Sent from my Nokia 6.1 using Tapatalk

 

In some bars and restaurants, if food or a drink has been given to a customer, a manager/owner must approve the replacement or the cost is deducted from the waiter or waitress' salary. I have run into that situation several times. That's also the reason I didn't argue harder with the waitress over the 30-baht mistake on my bill. The chances of winning are small and even if you do win, it doesn't seem like much of a victory.

 

However, if enforcers are involved, that says to me they acting on behalf of the management and it's impossible to win. The term clip joint comes to mind.

 

I have no idea if there is any ownership connection between Craft Cottage and Lee's. It could just be a business arrangement under which the food is prepared at Lee's. I read on another board that the owner of Craft Cottage is the son of the landlord.

 

Evil

[MeGoDanceNow 4,281]

Too bad as I'm a fan of craft beer. They have some nice craft beers at Tim's on Second Road. Guess I won't be trying the ones at Craft House -- or at Lee's Diner.

[jacko 8,822]

Too bad as I'm a fan of craft beer. They have some nice craft beers at Tim's on Second Road. Guess I won't be trying the ones at Craft House -- or at Lee's Diner.

Yes agreed, not a fan of places that have confrontational attitude to complaints, (you catch more flies with honey than vinegar).