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Pakarang Thai and Seafood Restaurant
A visit to Sala Talay’s Restaurant on Noppharat Thara beach
Marvellous! Fabulous food! Super service! Great value for money! These are just a few of the comments I’ve heard made about Pakarang. But, then, are they true?
 The Sala Talay Resort and Spa is one of the new kids on the block in the area of Ao Nang Beach. It’s a solid and elegant resort, but it’s got one big bonus that most others haven’t. Because of the way the land lies around here, there are not so many resorts that can boast of being right on the beach. And what’s the point of being on a tropical coast if you can’t enjoy the beach! The best time to visit is around 6:00 pm. That’s the time when the faint tang of sun-oil from the poolside loungers has begun to fade, the sky’s turning to tints of purple and rose, and the subtle and diffuse lighting begins to wink on.
Pakarang is not a restaurant – not like we’re used to in the West, anyway – it’s not just a room. It is a subtle series of open spaces under the stars, linked by rich wooden decking on different levels. And all around are the cosy, intimate and oh-so-comfortable bays and nooks of the diners’ tables. There’s actually seating for 80 people here, but you’d never suspect it, so cunningly is it all laid out. Anywhere you sit – all settings with the same theme of blue table fittings and deep blue cushions – you have a real sense of intimacy. But there’s always a problem, isn’t there. And I soon found out what this evening’s problem was going to be when the menu arrived: what to select!
There’s a choice of International cuisine, seafood, and Thai dishes, too, on the always-available à la carte menu. The super selection of international dishes has been put together by Swiss Head Chef, Mathias Lange. And his experience in other top international resorts shines through with his choice of fare: ‘Bacon-wrapped Pork Tenderloin with Parsley, Carrots and Grape Gravy, served with Duchesse Potatoes’; ‘Cordon Bleu Basle-style, served with Breaded Beef filled with Apples, Onion and Ham, and served with Fried Vegetables and Rösti’ – to mention but two of the mouth-watering items on offer.
The seafood menu is a cooperation between Mathias and his Thai partner, Sous Chef Khun Vichian. And you’ll find all shapes and sizes of fresh seafood, from Phuket Lobster to giant tiger prawns – crabs, clams, mussels and oysters – you name it! And it all comes either Euro-style, with potatoes or fries and vegetables, or, subtly spiced and flavoured with all the arts of Thailand – curried, sweet n’ sour or Tom Yum style. And then there’s the Thai menu, with all the usual and expected favourites. If you’re a fan of Pad Thai or Chicken and Cashew Nuts in Oyster Sauce – and, yes, the obligatory Tom Yam Kung (spicy prawn soup with lots of vegetables) – then there’s no disappointments here, either. The amiable Khun Vichian is more than willing to adjust the level of spiciness according to your tastes.
It may come as no surprise to discover that the level of service here is in keeping with the high and subtle quality of everything else. The smiling staff all speaks excellent English and is attentive and discrete. You’re never aware of anyone annoyingly ‘hovering’, but you’ve only got to glance up and around, and a waiter appears, as if by magic. And the same goes for when you’ve finished a plate – it’s quickly and quietly whisked away. Before, during and after? I mean – what to drink to go with the sunset, the meal itself, and the satisfied stretching-out afterwards? Well, there’s a splendid range of cocktails, a respectable selection of both Classic and New World Wines, and a solid array of spirits, too. Plus the expected choice of sodas and soft drinks – ideal if you’ve got children with you.
And to answer my own questions – marvellous? Yes. Fabulous food? Certainly! Super service? Definitely. And it might just be that the best comes last. Because when you reach for your wallet at the end of the evening, then you’ll find that the answer to ‘value for money?’ is a resounding ‘yes!’ All in all, the Pakarang restaurant at Sala Talay has to be one of the finest around – and most definitely comes highly recommended!
Pakarang is open for dinner from 5:30 pm until 11:00 pm. For inquiries or a reservation, call +66 (0)75 810888. Check out on Sala Talay Resort & Spa on www.salatalay.com
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Restaurants Krabi