As the restaurant’s name suggests, we dined by the lake.
Brimming with lily pads, a fountain of softly lit water and lush greenery,
this little lake makes a serene dinner venue. Aside from our own voices, the
only sounds were of cicadas and gentle background music. The day’s rain had
ceased, giving way to balmy night breezes. A delicate mist hung over the
water. Had it not been so quiet and peaceful, the steamy lake would have
seemed almost eerie.
Madt, the owner of Lakeside Restaurant, recommended
barbequed piglet, the house speciality. This delicacy, which she was
understandably proud of, was delicious. If you’re a fan of crackling, you’ll
love it. Munching on the crisp pork we were sad to finish. The next dish was
a mountain of fresh lettuce leaves, wrappers for more of the succulent meat,
this time finely chopped and fried with a mouth-watering mix of herbs and
spices. Think Peking duck with a twist.
Extremely spacious, Lakeside nevertheless manages to be
intimate and cosy. The white candle flickered gently over our bamboo table,
casting shadows on the rich red tablecloth. It was impossible not to feel
romantic. Make no mistake, though, this isn’t just a restaurant for couples;
Lakeside also offers a fun way of eating for friends and families.
Unlike the piglets — which are cooked by a specialist
chef — but diners are given the opportunity to cook their own meat and
seafood, either over hot coals in the traditional way or Mongolian-style, in
a wok. Of course, you can also sit down, relax and allow the chef to prepare
your meal for you — the choice is yours.
The first courses were filling in themselves, but a walk
around the open brick barbeques and refrigerators full of fresh meat and
seafood was all that was needed to tempt us into another course. Ten minutes
later, we were tucking into plates of juicy barbequed steak. Had this not
been enough of a feast, the menu also boasted a large selection of Thai
dishes. But we never got that far.
As all good restaurants should, Lakeside realizes the
importance of enjoying what you drink as much as what you eat. The Wine and
Taste shop, just across the road, supplies Lakeside with an extensive range
of carefully selected wines — there were so many on offer, in fact, that
this reviewer found herself unable to choose. Our waitress suggested the
house red which, fortunately, was lovely. I say "fortunately" because it
arrived in a big bowl of a wine glass. Madt explained that a standard
measure of wine would "look like a puddle" in these large glasses, and so
they are filled accordingly — which was fine by me!
Dining at this fabulously situated restaurant was a truly
relaxing and enjoyable experience. We spent the evening being treated to a
feast of delicious food, quality wine and excellent service, all in a
beautiful tropical setting.
Lakeside Tropical Restaurant lies just outside Laguna
Phuket. Staff welcome you with a large smile and an even larger glass of
wine. It’s well worth the visit.
Tim, proud owner of both beast and genuine feel-good
footage, couldn't have scripted it better himself.
Situated at the entrance to Laguna
Open lunch, dinner 11am - 12 pm
Tel. 076 271 384 Fax. 076 270 851
