Da Joe

SETTING

On the quieter end of Pattaya’s famous Walking Street. Entrance through a wine-cellar corridor into a pleasant, air-conditioned room with Italian paintings on the walls. There is a further covered, relaxed dining area outside over the Pattaya Bay waters.

FOOD

Dining at Da Joe is more than nourishment, it is an Italian education. For owner/chef Joe Parlati, Italian food is his life. Express interest in the paintings and Joe will take you for a guided tour. Every item on Joe’s menu is home-made, all from the original Italian old-style recipes. There is a salad bar for those who need nourishment while waiting, as Joe will not be hurried. In the pasta line-up, vegetarian tortelloni alla ricotta e spinaci has a superb flavour. For lovers of gorgonzola, pan-fried beef steak that comes pocketed with the cheese with a fresh gorgonzola and red wine sauce is an aromatic delight. Another excellent meat dish is pork medallions, with a mushroom and Madeira sauce – wonderfully tender meat and a smooth sauce. There is a range of pizzas, though Joe does not feel that the pizza represents the soul of Italian cuisine. For those who must eat Thai, there is also a small Thai menu with the usual stir-fries.

WINES

The largest selection of Italian wines in Pattaya, according to Joe. House wines on tap (San Giovese red and Trebbiano Bianco) at 120 baht per glass. Sicilian shiraz at 800 baht is good value, through to Brunello Montalcino at 14,000 baht and Solaia at 25,000 baht.

SERVICE

Friendly and accommodating young ladies, without being intrusive. Joe is always on hand to guide and suggest.

PRICE

An Italian meal to remember is about 1,200 baht for two, without wine.

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