Best Restaurant of 2008 contender
Telephone: 076 360869
Open: Lunch 11.30am-2.30pm. Dinner 6pm-10.30pm. Closed Sundays in low season.
Address: 63/202 Moo 2, Royal Phuket Marina, Thepkasattri Road, Koa Kaew 83200 Phuket
Style: Italian
Price range: Not cheap. The 30-plus pizzas cost 150 baht to 450 baht, depending on toppings. Salads, insalata cesare (260 baht) Caprese (260 baht) Mediterranea (240 baht) Minestrone (230 baht) Laggara zappa di fagioli (mushrooms and bortoli beans cream soup 240 baht) antipasti, calamari fritti (250 baht) pasta, spaghetti al pomodoro e bacilico (210 baht) fusilli al salmone e zuccini (420 baht) veal loin scoloppine (490 baht) grilled salmon steak with lemon white sauce (500 baht) coteletta alla milanese (deep fried pork chop with brea crumbs, rocket and cherry tomato (390 baht) tiramisu (260 baht) torta di meringa al limone (220 baht).
Specialty: Sea bass, perhaps after parma ham, or fried calamari. Set price lunch for two courses, with quite a wide choice, for 330 baht, and like all prices with seven percent VAT and 10 percent service charge on top.
What the manager says: ''Our pasta is extremely good. We make three or four styles ourselves, and bake our own bread, too.''
What Phuketwan says: Limoncello is one of several restaurants fronting the water at Royal Phuket Marina. Given Phuketwan's declared desire for good value, we were enticed by lunch at a special price of 330 baht for two courses, plus VAT, plus service charge. We chose tomato soup and beef tenderloin. The soup came with a plentiful supply of fresh-baked bread that was extremely tasty and filling. The beef tenderloin was a Thai size meal, though, rather than a substantial too-much-to-eat-for-one Italian platefull. We ordered a lime juice with that. Now, Limoncello sees the virtue in a special price of 330 baht for a two-course lunch, yet charges 95 baht for a lime juice. Sorry, that's 95 baht, plus 17 percent VAT and service charge, making a total of a fraction more than 110 baht for a lime juice. Bear in mind that this is one of the simplest, least costly drinks on the planet. The bill for one came to 500 baht. Perhaps Limoncello should think about a lunchtime special that also reduces the price of a soft drink to acceptable levels? That said, the interior is pleasant and the outlook over the harbor quite delightful. The staff are clearly trying hard to satisfy, although there are probably another 600 Italian restaurants on the island that would take issue with the line on the menu that it's ''Phuket's finest Italian restaurant.'' At those prices, only a few people will get the chance to find out.
How to find it: Take the long driveway down to Royal Phuket Marina, off the main airport to Phuket City road.
Parking: Plenty here, either in the open or underground.
Phuketwan restaurant reviewers pay for their meals. If someone else does, we tell you so
Telephone: 076 360869
Open: Lunch 11.30am-2.30pm. Dinner 6pm-10.30pm. Closed Sundays in low season.
Address: 63/202 Moo 2, Royal Phuket Marina, Thepkasattri Road, Koa Kaew 83200 Phuket
Style: Italian
Price range: Not cheap. The 30-plus pizzas cost 150 baht to 450 baht, depending on toppings. Salads, insalata cesare (260 baht) Caprese (260 baht) Mediterranea (240 baht) Minestrone (230 baht) Laggara zappa di fagioli (mushrooms and bortoli beans cream soup 240 baht) antipasti, calamari fritti (250 baht) pasta, spaghetti al pomodoro e bacilico (210 baht) fusilli al salmone e zuccini (420 baht) veal loin scoloppine (490 baht) grilled salmon steak with lemon white sauce (500 baht) coteletta alla milanese (deep fried pork chop with brea crumbs, rocket and cherry tomato (390 baht) tiramisu (260 baht) torta di meringa al limone (220 baht).
Specialty: Sea bass, perhaps after parma ham, or fried calamari. Set price lunch for two courses, with quite a wide choice, for 330 baht, and like all prices with seven percent VAT and 10 percent service charge on top.
What the manager says: ''Our pasta is extremely good. We make three or four styles ourselves, and bake our own bread, too.''
What Phuketwan says: Limoncello is one of several restaurants fronting the water at Royal Phuket Marina. Given Phuketwan's declared desire for good value, we were enticed by lunch at a special price of 330 baht for two courses, plus VAT, plus service charge. We chose tomato soup and beef tenderloin. The soup came with a plentiful supply of fresh-baked bread that was extremely tasty and filling. The beef tenderloin was a Thai size meal, though, rather than a substantial too-much-to-eat-for-one Italian platefull. We ordered a lime juice with that. Now, Limoncello sees the virtue in a special price of 330 baht for a two-course lunch, yet charges 95 baht for a lime juice. Sorry, that's 95 baht, plus 17 percent VAT and service charge, making a total of a fraction more than 110 baht for a lime juice. Bear in mind that this is one of the simplest, least costly drinks on the planet. The bill for one came to 500 baht. Perhaps Limoncello should think about a lunchtime special that also reduces the price of a soft drink to acceptable levels? That said, the interior is pleasant and the outlook over the harbor quite delightful. The staff are clearly trying hard to satisfy, although there are probably another 600 Italian restaurants on the island that would take issue with the line on the menu that it's ''Phuket's finest Italian restaurant.'' At those prices, only a few people will get the chance to find out.
How to find it: Take the long driveway down to Royal Phuket Marina, off the main airport to Phuket City road.
Parking: Plenty here, either in the open or underground.
Phuketwan restaurant reviewers pay for their meals. If someone else does, we tell you so
Biggest disappointment in Phuket..we needed another good Italian..silly price for nothing special 3/10..eat at Phuys Italian in B.Lagoon for better value and taste !
Barney
Posted by Anonymous on October 13, 2008 04:20