This week it was a journey along the sunset strip of North Pattaya Beach Road to visit one of Pattaya’s fashionable boutique resorts, the Sandalay, and their extremely popular Red Steps Restaurant.   Located at the front of the resort, this casual and comfortable restaurant with its open kitchen certainly pulls in the crowds.  One reason maybe is that its open 24 hours a day, and also every evening from 7pm (except Monday) there is an extremely talented live band playing all kinds of music from cool jazz to modern, classic and romantic songs.  The cuisine is mainly authentic Thai, priced from around 120 baht to 400 baht for River Prawn and Sea Bass dishes with various herbs and spicy sauces.   But, if Thai food is not your cup of tea, Red Steps also have a good offering of popular Western style dishes such as Spaghetti Bolognese or Carbonara (180 baht), Snacks such as Burgers from 160 baht, or more substantial meals such as New Zealand Lamb Chop (400 baht), Wienerschnizel (200 baht), Grilled Salmon (380 baht) and good old fashioned Fish and Chips also at 380 baht.  They also have a choice range of Beef Steak dishes from 350 baht for Pepper Steak, 390 baht for Fillet Mignon, and 420 baht for Sirloin Steak; all served with fresh Vegetables and different styles of Potatoes.

For appetizers, we tried a few Thai favourites, Deep Fried Shrimp Cakes (170 baht).  This was an extremely tasty dish with a generous Minced Shrimp filling encased by a light crispy batter coating.  Followed by two popular dishes; Shrimp Cocktail (120 baht) served with Salad and Asparagus and the Chef’s Salad (180 baht) a meal in itself with Green Leaves and a mound of Egg, Cheese, strips of Ham, Chicken Breast and Salami.

Then it was to a firm favourite, Deep Fried Crispy Duck unusually served with Potato Crisps.  From the Western style appetizers we sampled Spinach Au Gratin (120 baht), delicately flavoured chopped Spinach covered with melted Cheddar Cheese.  Finally, Gyoza Japanese (Pork) Dumplings (100 baht) that tasted as good as from any Japanese restaurant in town!   It was then on to the main course dishes, and we started with Fish!   If anything it had to be the Fish and Chips, and what a surprise when the Fish (normally Cod or John Dory) their inventive chef used is Salmon – which tasted absolutely fabulous in a Beer Batter coating and served with excellent chunky Chips and Tartar Sauce.   Another fine and colourful dish is the Seafood Royal (250 baht) with a whole hollowed out Pineapple filled with an assortment of Seafood, such as Prawns, Squid and Mussels coated in a creamy white sauce. Delicious!  Before moving on to the Meat Course, we settled on a super tasting Grilled Salmon Steak with Pesto Sauce and Spinach (380 baht).   The meat dishes are equally impressive, starting with a first class Beef Stroganoff (350 baht) served with Fettuccine and the similarly excellent New Zealand Lamb Chops, tender and full of flavour served with Baked Potato.  The choice of Desserts is limited, but do try the Lemon Sherbet and Coconut Ice Cream, (80 baht) a light and zingy tasting treat to refresh the palate and end a joyful meal experience. 

Fine house wines are 200 baht a glass!

Oh and by the way, the name Red Steps comes from the fact that all the stepped entrances to the restaurant are painted red.   Open 24 hours a day.  Prices quoted do not include taxes.  Located 389 Beach Road, North Pattaya.  Telephone: 038 422 660-3.