I used to go to Phuet at least once a year, but have not been for more than a dozen. A friend is going there in October and has asked for a nice quiet Thai restaurant recommendation. My favourite for years was Baan Rim Pa on the cliff just north of Patong Beach opposite the Novotel. Long before that, it was the restaurant at the Boathouse on Kata Beach.

But whereas Baan Rim Pa suffered no damage as a result of the tsunami, the Boathouse was destroyed. I realise it has been up and running again for quite a few years. I wonder if anyone has had dinner there. Enjoying dinner with the waves lapping on the small sandy beach outside used to be a really great experience. I gave that one up when it introduced quite loud live music.

One that comes to mind is 'On The Rock Restaurant' in the Karon area. I visited this restaurant with some friends about 7 years ago and remember having the most delicious lobster dish. The reviews are mixed but I really liked it.

Blue Beach Cafe & Restaurant in Patong is always a favourite

3 hours ago, captainmick said:

Blue Beach Cafe & Restaurant in Patong is always a favourite

Many thanks. Unfortunately he enjoys peace and quiet and I see this restaurant has a singer and a live band. I know that Baan Rim Pa used to have a pianist named Tommy Doyle who was one of the finest cabaret-type pianists I had heard. The playing was always gentle, sometimes hardly noticed. The Boathouse years ago sometimes had a flutist or a gentle acoustic guitarist. Neither interrupted the ambience nor the sound of the waves gently splashing on the shore.

I haven't been back to Phuket for ages so there's no recommendation to contribute. But I have an indelible memory of overcharging by tuktuks, with one of the worst cases involving a trip between Patong and Karon. Unless the situation has vastly improved, how does one even get to a restaurant at a different beach without being scalped?

19 minutes ago, macaroni21 said:

I haven't been back to Phuket for ages so there's no recommendation to contribute. But I have an indelible memory of overcharging by tuktuks, with one of the worst cases involving a trip between Patong and Karon. Unless the situation has vastly improved, how does one even get to a restaurant at a different beach without being scalped?

I particularly recall the overcharging by taxis from the airport. First, even though you had given the driver the name of your hotel, they would take you to a small cabin-like house near the airport to find out where you were staying. If you had not pre-paid your accommodation, they would then spend a long time trying everything they could to persuade you to stay in a different hotel (where presumably they earned substantial commissions).

I later hired a car or van. I can't recall taking more than one tuk tuk when i was caught in a bad rainstorm. No doubt I was overcharged but I needed to get out of that rain! If you had a vehicle, getting around was relatively easy.

10 hours ago, macaroni21 said:

I haven't been back to Phuket for ages so there's no recommendation to contribute. But I have an indelible memory of overcharging by tuktuks, with one of the worst cases involving a trip between Patong and Karon. Unless the situation has vastly improved, how does one even get to a restaurant at a different beach without being scalped?

now there's airport bus which covers both, costs 100 baht so possibly it mitigated prices a bit.

11 hours ago, macaroni21 said:

Unless the situation has vastly improved, how does one even get to a restaurant at a different beach without being scalped?

By keeping away from the native Indians with machetes.

Sea Hag, the charmingly named restaurant in Patong, was highly recommended when I was last there. Traditional Thai menu.

4 hours ago, Londoner said:

Sea Hag, the charmingly named restaurant in Patong, was highly recommended when I was last there. Traditional Thai menu.

It's closed and has got very mixed reviews.