The Krabi restaurant guide - January 2006
Ring in the new
This month, new restaurant openings and fresh ideas from around Krabi
JAPANESE food, while popular in Phi Phi, has yet to make a real impact on the mainland - until now. Casa Restaurant, a new venture in Klong Muang, is holding a weekly all-you-can-eat Japanese buffet, that is exceptionally good value for money. Every Saturday night from 7pm, you can try a variety of nigiri and maki sushi, sashimi, gyoza, breaded chicken, grilled teriyaki salmon and mackerel steaks, and tempura for 360 Baht per person (half price for under 12s).
The chef is talented (eight years’ experience in a Japanese restaurant in Bangkok) and the food is fresh and authentic, with a bewildering array of sauces - one for each dish, plus delicious miso soup and kimchi. Fruit and salad is also included.
On Wednesday nights, Casa has a barbecue buffet, with grilled meats and seafood, for 229 Baht; other nights are a la carte, with reasonably priced Thai food and a selection of mainly grilled meats and fish, as well as steak.
There’s a growing number of alternatives to hotel fare now available on the once deserted streets of Klong Muang, and Casa will be a welcome addition for those staying in the area. The Japanese buffet, meanwhile, if you like this kind of food, is certainly worth the journey from Ao Nang.
Casa Restaurant, open daily for lunch and dinner, on the main road through Klong Muang, opposite Andaman Holiday and Nakamanda Resorts.
Nyhavn (pronounced, approximately, ney-haan) is a first for Krabi, with a menu exclusively based on Danish open sandwiches [smørrebrød].
The menu features more than twenty different varieties, priced from 75-125 Baht each, including salami, meatballs, roast beef, various cheeses, smoked salmon and of course the famous pickled herring - the real cold water fish, imported from Denmark. All are served on tasty rye bread.
The small restaurant in Krabi Town attempts to recreate the atmosphere of the Danish ‘new harbour’ eateries, with jazz music and the traditional accompaniment to the sandwiches of shots of snaps (schnapps) and Gammeldansk, a herbal concoction.
Nyhavn, open daily for lunch and dinner, opposite Cafe Europa at the bottom of Maharat Rd.
Am Aurra is a pretty mother-daughter-run restaurant, that moved from Ko Phi Phi after the tsunami and has now re-opened in Krabi Town, slightly off the beaten track on Hutangkun Road (near the Ruen Mai crossroads). There’s a range of Thai and western food - including a surprisingly good pizza menu - and fantastic baked goods like cookies, that are far superior to the other offerings in town. With a nicely decorated and air-conditioned dining room and excellent service, Am Aurra is worth seeking out if you’re in town.
La Dolce Vita, Ao Nang’s beachfront ice cream parlour, has launched a brand new ‘sugar-free’ product range, made with a wonder ingredient derived from the cassava plant. This entirely natural extract produces a sweet flavour, while containing half the calories of sugar. It also has health benefits such as a low glycemic index and protection against tooth decay. Perhaps more importantly, there is no discernable taste difference, as there is with artificial sweeteners.
The sugar free range comes in a variety of flavours, including chocolate, coffee and the zingy wild berry, but not as yet (more’s the pity) in our favourite, ‘Rocher’, which faithfully renders the Ambassador’s favourite chocolate into ice-cream. Available in cups and cones, 40 Baht a scoop.
La Dolce Vita, open from 10am - 10pm on Ao Nang Beach Rd.
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