The Mata Hari Restaurant on Thappraya Road is a Pattaya institution. It has a well-deserved reputation of being the best in its class, and I can say nothing to spoil that image. As it has recently been closed for Songkran, and now is back open, I thought I’d share it with you.

First, the surroundings are superb. You are met with an elegant décor that wreaks quality, and you should expect nothing else during the evening. The owner and host, Louis, will welcome you and his staff are extremely attentive. Everything is done right. It doesn’t matter if you’re dining on your own, or in a party of a dozen or more, Mata Hari will rise to the occasion.

When it comes to the food, the menu has been the same for several years, with only the special of the day changing. This means the food is prepared and cooked with skill and it is served perfect. Nothing less would be acceptable.

My favourites? The raw herring as a starter, served as only the Dutch can (did I say Louis was Dutch/East Indian?) Then I would go for the slow-cooked lamb shank for the main course, and I finish off with the Tiramisu. It’s not cheap, at around 1500B by the time you’ve added some excellent hand-selected wine. But then quality is worth it and for a special, once in a while, it’s a great place.
One mark of a quality place is when 12 of you go in, and you all order something different. When the food arrives, it’s all together, and the right dish is put down in front of the right person, without asking. We event tried swapping chairs one time after ordering and we still all got the right dishes! Now that’s a great restaurant that pays that much attention to detail.

Are there any downsides? Well maybe I’ve been going too much, but I might have wanted a change in the menu – three years running the same choices and one has tried everything. But this is a minor criticism (and it may well be wrong – just an impression). If you’ve not been before and are looking to treat yourself, try it.

For more information, check out their website at www.mataharirestaurant.com

Review dated 09/05/11