Food with a view

WITH A panoramic view of the ocean, hills and islands and luxurious villas that ensure total privacy, a break at the boutique hotel Sri Panwa Phuket is an unforgettable experience. In addition to sun, sea and spa treatments that pamper, it is also a great place to dine and few places are better than the newly opened Baba Iki restaurant and its sensational seafood prepared with a Japanese twist.

Guests can choose to sit either on the terrace and enjoy the cool sea breezes or in the air-conditioned interior where they can look on as the chefs busy themselves in the open kitchen. Clean and airy yet surprisingly cosy and very relaxed, the restaurant comfortably seats 60 while also keeping things private along with sushi counters that are ideal for those dining alone and for couples.

The menu, which has been created by chefs who specialise in sushi, teppanyaki and yakitori, is designed to delight. We start our meal with the Shirauo Salad, in which the crispy silver fish known as Japanese anchovies are mixed with fresh green vegetables. The miso dressing is just slightly salted and the hints of crushed sesame enhance the appetite.

The Sashimi Delights are certainly that – a colourful selection of different types of raw fish plated on ice. The morsels are cut into bite-sized pieces and the taste is as sweet as only the freshest seafood can be. A generous serving of salmon roe adds to the pleasure.

While guests enjoy the cold plates, the chefs are busy at their work stations preparing the grilled dishes, among them gyoza dumplings in a sweet-and-sour sauce and mixed yakitori.

Thailand’s traditional tom yam gets the fusion treatment with Canadian lobster and while not as spicy as the original, it whets the appetite and cleans the palate ahead of a teppanyaki feast.

Cooked on the iron griddle, the teppanyaki menu features a variety of choices including lobster, hida beef and snow fish, all served with fried mixed vegetables, clear soup, and fried garlic rice. 

Other specialities include Wagyu Striploin, Don, a Japanese rice bowl dish consisting of fish, meat and vegetables, and sushi. All can be enjoyed with the restaurant’s wide range of sake cocktails, which range from Sakura with sake, watermelon, lychee and lime juice to a Yuzu Mojito with Yuzashu Sake, a lime wedge, mint, brown sugar, soda and lime juice.

And do save room for the caramel ice cream with black jelly. It’s the perfect dish to end the meal.

In addition to Baba Iki, the hotel also boasts a dramatic rooftop bar called Baba Nest, where guests can indulge in a poolside cocktail while chilling out on a beanbag. Baba Poolclub offers interesting breakfast and dinner options while Baba Soul Food serves authentic, home-cooked Thai specialities prepared with locally sourced ingredients.

 

FRESH FROM THE SEA

>>Baba Iki is open daily for lunch and dinner.

>>Book a table online at www.SriPanwa.com or call (076) 371 000.