Restaurant Le Bordeaux in Pattaya
Earlier this week I discovered a new French restaurant, Le Bordeaux, in Pattaya in Soi Day-Night 2, behind Tukcom on South Pattaya Road.
Discovered is a well-chosen word in this story, because I didn't know it and came across it more or less unexpectedly. It's slightly off the always busy South Pattaya Road, so you'll have to look for it.
That discovery went like this: I had to do an errand in the IT department store Tukcom, went there late (around 9 o'clock) with the idea of going for something to eat nearby afterwards. However, the shop in Tukcom was already closed and I went looking for another French restaurant that I had seen before. I drove around in the somewhat dingy neighborhood behind Tukcom with quite a few “boys clubs” and suddenly I was face to face with Le Bordeaux.
You may say a gem for the neighborhood, a beautiful facade and entrance and from the outside I could already see the stylish interior. Beautifully set tables with comfortable chairs in an attractive decor of French paintings, flowers and lighting, which already promised a beautiful evening. I could add “romantic” if necessary, but I was alone.
The newness of this restaurant is relative, because it seems to have existed since 2005. It was sold once, but recently the original owners bought it back and completely restored it into a modern, but quintessentially French restaurant. Reviews I read later stated that Le Bordeaux can be called one of the best French restaurants in Pattaya. It has a large regular clientele of, among others, French expats, who enjoy refined cuisine and a relaxed atmosphere. I was there on a Monday, not really busy, but while I was eating, a bright red Maserati with a number plate number 1 from Bangkok pulled up. A gentleman, probably French, well, could be a playboy of sorts, stepped out with his Thai love and was warmly greeted and escorted by the two owners.
Well, the food then, because that's what I came for. Le Bordeaux, like many restaurants in France, has a fixed daily menu of 2 or 4 courses in the lower price range, less than 500 Baht. A la carte it offers cold and hot starters, a long list of main courses with fish or meat and a selection of desserts that will make your mouth water while reading. Add to that a nice list of Italian, Chilean and French wines and a choice for a complete dinner is certainly not easy.
I chose as a starter a beautifully presented beef carpaccio, sprinkled with parmesan cheese and basil. As a main course I took a filet mignon, medium well. That means baking for 4 minutes on both sides, so that there is still a nice, but not too large, strip of tasty red meat inside. It was cooked perfectly to taste, the knife went through it with playful ease, and the tender flesh was a blessing on my tongue. Of course that included a glass of wine, two even, where I chose a Chilean red wine.
I usually leave desserts for what they are, but it is very tempting to read what is available. How about a sorbet in puff pastry, surrounded by a chocolate and Grand Marnier sauce? A cherry/chocolate pastry? Or a Norwegian omelette flambéed with Calvados? I didn't take anything, even a cheese board with of course French cheese could not relent.
Le Bordeaux is, relatively speaking, not really cheap. It's not a “cheap Charlie's” restaurant, but hey, it's okay to spend a little more money than usual every now and then for a special evening. For the carpaccio, filet mignon, two glasses of wine and a soda water I paid a total of 960 Baht. Not a price to pay for the food every day, but dinner at Le Bordeaux was well worth the money.
For more information (map, menu, opening hours), take a look at their well-executed website: www.bordeaux-restaurant-pattaya.com and to get in the mood, watch the video below from Pattaya People:
[youtube]http://youtu.be/0gEHBTuApp4[/youtube]
Know it for quite some time, one of my reason to go there explicitly is for the steak tartare (américain préparé). Even with the raw egg yolk things went wrong there. Fresh fries and what more could you want? Pleasant company perhaps, but of course you have to bring that yourself.
All in all, the price is not too bad, taking into account that you are indeed in a restaurant.
Finish with French cheese and another glass of red and last but not least an Irish Coffee. Made according to the rules of the art. For the budget eaters, it is often the drink that drives up the bill, but what do you want if you let go for a while…
That's exactly what I miss in Phitsanulok and luckily the only thing. So thanks for the tip because I use my 3 days Pattaya a year to meet acquaintances and to have a delicious dinner and I didn't know this one yet. But if it's half as tasty as you write, I'll be happy. Thanks
Nice to read. Usually I go to Patrick, a Belgian restaurant which, in my opinion, is very good and affordable, but I will also try this one.
Dear Gringo, I can hope with such a nice piece of meat that you don't order medium well? You're talking about another nice bit of red inside. I assume you meant medium rare?
No, Mathias, I did mean medium well. I have indicated the baking time of 4 minutes.
Have a look at this link: http://www.askthemeatman.com/beef_photo_doneness_guide.htm
You see that Colin de Jong, aka Elvis, everywhere.
Good tip thanks will definitely eat there x
Restaurant Le Bordeaux has been around for years, certainly more than 10 years, and there are many more good restaurants in that area.
It is also not a dingy neighborhood behind Tukcom, there are beautiful apartments for rent at Mozaik. For years, the Flamingo Hotel was a meeting point for Dutch people until Jaap, the manager, heard from the boss that it was no longer profitable. For years, Dutch companies came to stay there.
Also take a look at the totally and beautifully renovated hotel Day and Night.
Enjoy your meal
Kidney
Also a nice French restaurant.
http://www.auboncoinpattaya.com/chef.htm
Pratamnak end of soi 6 then turn right; soi 9
Enjoy your food
I have been coming to restaurant “Le Bordeaux” for years. Just outside the hustle and bustle in a great atmosphere. But certainly not as written above in a dingy neighborhood. Go and see friends this is not right.
The food is excellent. The only disadvantage is (was) that if you want to eat with a Thai person and he/she wants to order Thai food, it will be bought somewhere else and therefore not prepared yourself (until the beginning of 2013). I thought it was very remarkable for such a good restaurant. But the quality of the “received” food is also very good. The French cuisine in Restaurant Le Bordeaux is fantastic. Franky
Albert, we're going to have a nice bite there. Can I make a comparison with my favorite 'Restaurant Louis'. Unfortunately I have to wait until April.
People of french cuisines.Try le saint regis in pattaya top class and not expensive .
You imagine yourself in a Michelin * in Europe.
Joseph and Patrick,
Thanks for the tip, but can you also write for the reader where these restaurants are located.
In Pattaya seems a bit too general to find something.
The Best
No problem, you come from Treppasit at the end there is a T, turn right towards Pattaty.
before going under the bridge turn back to Thepprassit between soi 7 and 9 turn left for Mata Hari restaurant
Bananaas still has a frirtkot in this street, opposite there is a beautiful villa and the Lou de Prijck restaurant everyone Thai woman knows his song here pattaya pattay ... tasty