Sit down and try my antipasti," says Chef Soontorn. "At Vivaldi, we only serve the freshest food from the local market and the Andaman Sea, as well as authentic Italian foods imported from Italy."

Soon I'm joined by Khun Mai, our hostess. "We have so many happy Italians that come back each night," she tells me. "Chef makes food like they enjoy at home. They always smile because the food is delicious for a fraction of the price in Italy." Watching me study the menu, she offers suggestions: "Why don't you start with a caprese fresca and then, for your first course, try our fresh local clams in a spaghetti alle vongole?"

Before I can make a choice, Khun Anusit approaches my table. I remember him as the head waiter at one of Phuket's better 5-star resorts. He's now the manager of Vivaldi. "I prefer to work in Patong Beach," he says, "where all my customers are here to have a good time. The menu is the same as in the exclusive resorts, and the food is as tasty for a better price."

Soon I have the chef, the hostess and the restaurant manager sitting at my table discussing highlights of the extensive menu. After sampling their initial suggestions, I choose the chef's specialty: a baked dish of cannelloni with ricotta cheese, spinach, and tomato sauce. It includes a hearty combination of garlic and oregano, a treat for anyone who loves Italian food. But before I can order a main course from the meat and chicken section of the menu, Khun Mai suggests we visit Vivaldi's wine room, especially constructed to house the variety of red and white wines chosen to complement Chef's vast menu.

Inside the wine room, Khun Mai offers a tarot card reading. She has studied the cards for 10 years, and can sense that I need her advice on love and money. She quickly spreads a red velvet cloth, and I choose 10 cards from her deck. Before I can select a wine for dinner, I learn that I'll always be unlucky in love. And here I am in Patong Beach right in the heart of romance.

I return to my table, where Chef sits smiling over my double lamp chops with a savoury pesto crust. The restaurant is full, and Khun Mai is enticing other customers into the wine room. With this much good food and company, I can easily understand why Vivaldi has become an island favourite for both Italian food and local entertainment.

Vivaldi at the Thara Patong Beach Resort has quickly become the popular choice for Italian cuisine for those having a night out in the entertainment heart of the island.

Located on Thaweewong, the Beach Road, this open-air trattoria offers a full menu of traditional Italian dishes prepared by a Thai chef who has trained with European masters in the art of Italian food.