Paradise for the palate
With excellent and unobtrusive service and superb food, Phuket's Boathouse Wine and Grill is ideal for a special night out
BOATHOUSE Wine & Grill at Boathouse on Kata Beach has been a favourite haunt of Phuket gourmets since it first opened its doors 26 years ago.
The restaurant along with its boutique resort home recently underwent a major facelift and now boasting a jaunty nautical theme, the renowned beachfront eatery entices even more with rich French flavours, stunning views and excellent service.
Under the careful supervision of South African chef Bryan Burger, Boathouse Wine & Grill serves up traditional French cuisine in a modern presentation as well as selected Thai and Phuket specialities. Diners should make sure to get there early enough to enjoy the magnificent sunset and whet their appetites with a cocktail and the Thai Discovery (Bt650) platter of goong sarong (deep fried shrimp wrapped in thin rice noodles), sea bass and coconut cake, Thai-style smoked salmon, foie gras with apple compete and the refreshing tomato gazpacho.
A good choice for the first course is seared Hokkaido scallop served with crispy Serrano ham, cauliflower puree and rosemary smoke (Bt450) that is very flavourful and hearty, with a tantalising aromatic smokiness from the rosemary. Another recommended option is rock lobster ravioli (Bt550), which sees the lobster-filled pasta envelopes served with a rich, slightly creamy and perfectly seasoned shell veloute.
Don’t miss Burger’s tableside dining menu where he will cook your main course right next to the table. He recommends steak Diane (Bt1,800), a contemporary meat dish of pan-fried Australian tenderloin and sauce made simply of mushroom, shallot, Dijon mustard and beef au jus. The dish is served with mashed potato and sauteed vegetables.
Other interesting choices include Dover sole, lobster thermidor, Spanish sea bass, Scottish salmon and pork chops.
For dessert, there’s a sinful chocolate praline (Bt350) that sends you straight to chocolate heaven with chocolate sponge, chocolate mousse, dark chocolate hazelnut ganache and coffee ice cream.
Boathouse has won the Wine Spectator Best Award of Excellence every year since 2006. The 800-label plus cellar has around 6,500 bottles of classic, organic, and New World wines and serves quite a few wines by the glass. Ask the chef or the sommelier for their food pairing recommendation.
And don’t be intimidated by the “fine dining” label. Boathouse Wine & Grill is relaxing and the staff very welcoming and decent. They’re observant but don’t hover, making it a pleasant dining experience. There’s a healthy respect for privacy too, an all-too-rare courtesy in several posh, upscale establishments that tend to make patrons feel uncomfortable with their overly pampering service.
SURF AND TURF
Boathouse Wine & Grill at is Boathouse by Montara, Kata Beach on Phuket.
It is open daily for dinner from 5.30pm. Call (076) 330 015.
