Best Restaurant of 2008 contender
Telephone: 076 341500
Open: Each evening, with shows at 8.30pm and 10.30pm, except Sundays.
Address: 120 Rat-U-Thit 200 Pi Road, Patong.
Style: Theatre and Restaurant, or Restaurant and Theatre? Definitely not Theatre-Restaurant.
Price range: Tourist rates. 1200 baht dinner and show, 500 baht show only. Three set-menu choices with the dinner and show option, the most popular being beef tenderloin. A la carte also available. Tapas and appetisers, (155 baht-225 baht) salads and soups (135 baht-190 baht) pastas and rice (195 baht-290 baht) red snapper fillets (370 baht) grilled prawns with lemongrass (295 baht) playhouse burger (250 baht) pizzas (275 baht to 290 baht) singha beer (110 baht) fruit juices (80 baht) cocktails (from 250 baht up) glass of red wine (230 baht).
Specialty: An energetic mix of music, dance, humor and food.
What Phuketwan says: The Playhouse is a pleasant surprise: not even a hint of Tacky Town here. For Patong, it's a rare treat. If you enjoy your food with entertainment or entertainment with your food, go no further. From the outside, a large lit Playhouse sign plays over an outdoor dining and drinking area. Defying the shabby shophouse model, the restaurant offers tasty fare in an up-market environment. The service is particularly attentive, perhaps because the shows begin upstairs at set times and the staff are keen to help diners enjoy both the food and the show. So because the curtain is about to rise, we are offered the opportunity to eat dessert upstairs. The theatre is a delight. Tiered lounge settings range back from an intimate stage, small enough to feel as though you are in danger of being swamped by the spotlight overhead but large enough to accommodate a singer (or we should say, mime) and a chorus of eight energetic dancers. A lot of hard work has gone into lifting the performance standards, and it shows. Fresh productions are constantly in rehearsal. This pleasant theatre and restaurant, soon to be home of the 2008 Fringe Festival, represents a serious commitment to public performance, in all its forms. After working hard to establish a reputation for sass and sophistication, the Playhouse has now earned its place with Simon Cabaret and FantaSea as must-see Phuket destinations after dark. Perhaps one day, live acts rather than mime artists, engaging as they are, will also be featured regularly.
How to find it: Rat-U-Thit 200 Pi Road is the road that runs parallel to the beach road, at the far end of Soi Bangla. Facing the Jungceylon shopping mall, the Playhouse is a walk or ride about 400 metres away on the left.
Phuketwan restaurant reviewers pay for their meals. If someone else does, we tell you so
Telephone: 076 341500
Open: Each evening, with shows at 8.30pm and 10.30pm, except Sundays.
Address: 120 Rat-U-Thit 200 Pi Road, Patong.
Style: Theatre and Restaurant, or Restaurant and Theatre? Definitely not Theatre-Restaurant.
Price range: Tourist rates. 1200 baht dinner and show, 500 baht show only. Three set-menu choices with the dinner and show option, the most popular being beef tenderloin. A la carte also available. Tapas and appetisers, (155 baht-225 baht) salads and soups (135 baht-190 baht) pastas and rice (195 baht-290 baht) red snapper fillets (370 baht) grilled prawns with lemongrass (295 baht) playhouse burger (250 baht) pizzas (275 baht to 290 baht) singha beer (110 baht) fruit juices (80 baht) cocktails (from 250 baht up) glass of red wine (230 baht).
Specialty: An energetic mix of music, dance, humor and food.
What Phuketwan says: The Playhouse is a pleasant surprise: not even a hint of Tacky Town here. For Patong, it's a rare treat. If you enjoy your food with entertainment or entertainment with your food, go no further. From the outside, a large lit Playhouse sign plays over an outdoor dining and drinking area. Defying the shabby shophouse model, the restaurant offers tasty fare in an up-market environment. The service is particularly attentive, perhaps because the shows begin upstairs at set times and the staff are keen to help diners enjoy both the food and the show. So because the curtain is about to rise, we are offered the opportunity to eat dessert upstairs. The theatre is a delight. Tiered lounge settings range back from an intimate stage, small enough to feel as though you are in danger of being swamped by the spotlight overhead but large enough to accommodate a singer (or we should say, mime) and a chorus of eight energetic dancers. A lot of hard work has gone into lifting the performance standards, and it shows. Fresh productions are constantly in rehearsal. This pleasant theatre and restaurant, soon to be home of the 2008 Fringe Festival, represents a serious commitment to public performance, in all its forms. After working hard to establish a reputation for sass and sophistication, the Playhouse has now earned its place with Simon Cabaret and FantaSea as must-see Phuket destinations after dark. Perhaps one day, live acts rather than mime artists, engaging as they are, will also be featured regularly.
How to find it: Rat-U-Thit 200 Pi Road is the road that runs parallel to the beach road, at the far end of Soi Bangla. Facing the Jungceylon shopping mall, the Playhouse is a walk or ride about 400 metres away on the left.
Phuketwan restaurant reviewers pay for their meals. If someone else does, we tell you so
