Though the drive from Bangkok to the seaside resort town of Pattaya is just a few hours, anyone who has driven it — or been a passenger — can attest that it feels longer when you are eagerly awaiting that moment when your eyes see the sea, your ears hear the waves, and your feet touch the sand.
But, you can make that wait a little shorter by making a pitstop for a meal, snack, or drink at this heavenly spot: Surf & Turf Beach Club and Restaurant, located down a side street on the way to Pattaya.
It felt like the beachside oasis awaited us when we got tumbled of the car. They’ve got tables, sofas, and loungers set up right on the sand, plus lots of food selections (there’s both a Western and Thai food menu), an unusual iced coffee that earns rave reviews, and an extensive cocktail, beer, and wine list.
While the food was decent, we agreed with most online reviewers: Come here for the setting and atmosphere. The food plays second fiddle.
Speaking of atmosphere, in the evening, local musicians play Thai and Western cover songs on a stage with a backdrop made of surfboards. They compete to be heard over the sound of crashing waves, which are just feet away. During the day, it makes the perfect setting for vacation photos before we even hit the actual vacation destination.
The surfboard theme is continued around the restaurant. There are full sized ones to pose in front of and around, plus these tiny surfboard centerpieces on each table.
So, how about that food? We started with the black pepper crusted seared tuna salad (THB270), which was filling on its own, featuring the unusual addition of hard-boiled eggs and sprinkled with Japanese-style ponzu dressing. The tuna was cooked just right and the appetizer was a tasty rendition of the standard dish.
For mains, we ordered the pan-fried fillet of salmon (THB390), which was fresh and well-cooked, with crisp asparagus and mashed potatoes mixed with spinach. We could have done without the herb cream sauce, which tasted like lukewarm Campbell’s cream soup, but fortunately, it’s easy enough to avoid it if you’re not into it.
Next up was the surf and turf burger (THB380), which pairs a traditional burger with garlic butter grilled prawns. The burger was a bit lackluster in flavor and the patty a bit overcooked for our liking, but the tender prawns dripping garlicky butter on to the entire thing made up for that.
We found our time at Surf & Turf so enjoyable that we decided to stick around for dessert and coffee, too. One of the restaurant’s staffers told us that their iced coffee (THB160) was quite special, and at her (pleasant) urging, we decided to give it a try.
It arrived, and the presentation was extra cool: A tall glass of frozen coffee cubes with an old-fashioned looking glass milk jug. The mixture itself was full of pure coffee flavor, and refreshing on a hot afternoon.
For afters, we chose a classic dessert: chocolate lava cake (THB220). It was deftly prepared, rich and dense with a satisfying gooey center and a side of vanilla ice cream.
The fresh fruit pancakes (THB260) were large enough to feed a hungry American at breakfast. The three fluffy cakes were served with dragon fruit, strawberries, cantaloupe, apples, and syrup. We did not have the room to finish this oversize pudding, despite its deliciousness.
If you aren’t up for a full meal, they offer imported wine flights (THB250) and cheese or charcuterie platters (THB360) as well. These make not-bad accompaniments to the backdrop of the sea and sand.
Overall, this is a great way to start or end a weekend in Pattaya and it’s got a romantic vibe that makes it just right for a date. Since it’s not right in the city, it’s much more chill than most of the beach bars that are closer to town.
FIND IT:
Surf & Turf Beach Club and Restaurant
Pattaya Na Klua Soi 16
Pattaya
Open daily, 9am-11pm
