Telephone: 081 8929757
Open: noon-midnight
Address: Layi beach, a stony beach south of the main Kamala beach. Take the cliffside road at the tee junction near Kamala Wat.
Style and price range: Thai, seafood mostly. Prices generally range from 150 baht to 300 baht.
Specialty: Lobster from 1200 baht, seafood basket 2500 baht. Fried garlic prawns, 300 baht.
What the manager says: Our restaurant has been here for 18 years and we have been popular for a long time. The tsunami meant we had to start all over again. The government did not match what we lost, about two million baht. Tourists haven't come back in the same numbers.
What Phuketwan says: We followed the signs to the White Orchid. It's a pleasant enough place, rustic thatch in the traditional manner, with good views at sunset, and apparently lots of endorsements from returning guests. The serves were large but so were the prices. Simple seafood dishes start at 150 baht, more than twice what we would pay for slightly smaller serves in most places in Phuket City. The owner says the restaurant earns a mention in 'Lonely Planet' and other guides. The prices, however, leave something to be desired. We paid 80 baht for a glass of lime juice. This is a new record outside of a five-star resort. Customers come from Patong for a change, so maybe prices are even higher there. Kamala is in transition. It's still quiet in places but seriously wealthy residents are now moving in.
How to find it: Kamala is losing its village atmosphere as condos go up on the hillsides along the seafront. The White Orchid is the only restaurant for quite a stretch along the road.
Parking: Plenty along the main seafront road.
Open: noon-midnight
Address: Layi beach, a stony beach south of the main Kamala beach. Take the cliffside road at the tee junction near Kamala Wat.
Style and price range: Thai, seafood mostly. Prices generally range from 150 baht to 300 baht.
Specialty: Lobster from 1200 baht, seafood basket 2500 baht. Fried garlic prawns, 300 baht.
What the manager says: Our restaurant has been here for 18 years and we have been popular for a long time. The tsunami meant we had to start all over again. The government did not match what we lost, about two million baht. Tourists haven't come back in the same numbers.
What Phuketwan says: We followed the signs to the White Orchid. It's a pleasant enough place, rustic thatch in the traditional manner, with good views at sunset, and apparently lots of endorsements from returning guests. The serves were large but so were the prices. Simple seafood dishes start at 150 baht, more than twice what we would pay for slightly smaller serves in most places in Phuket City. The owner says the restaurant earns a mention in 'Lonely Planet' and other guides. The prices, however, leave something to be desired. We paid 80 baht for a glass of lime juice. This is a new record outside of a five-star resort. Customers come from Patong for a change, so maybe prices are even higher there. Kamala is in transition. It's still quiet in places but seriously wealthy residents are now moving in.
How to find it: Kamala is losing its village atmosphere as condos go up on the hillsides along the seafront. The White Orchid is the only restaurant for quite a stretch along the road.
Parking: Plenty along the main seafront road.
Time for an update on your review me thinks! Phuket Wan Man!! Go on try it again since all disagree with your review but too polite to say!
Editor: We will never go back to the White Orchid. We did go back once . . . To have a staff member insult a customer and leave them in tears is unforgivable. It's not a place we would recommend, ever. European tourists are encouraged. At the time we went back to the restaurant, one Thai guest, dining with a European, was subjected to insults. Perhaps the ownership and the attitude has changed. We hope so. But we won't be back.
Posted by neil on May 24, 2010 19:58