There’s no reason to overlook Centara’s prized restaurant

By R. GREER

WHILE the Palm Grove restaurant at the Centara Grand Beach Resort Samui in Chaweng might not be on everyone’s list of one’s weekly dine-out itinerary, there is no reason to overlook it when finding a place to eat on a special occasion.

Because of the restaurant’s location in Centara, many locals automatically label it as too expensive and only for “tourists who have money to burn.” While it is true that a meal at this place will cost quite a bit more than at the local Thai diner on the corner, the quality, atmosphere and service more than make up for the extra costs. The prices at Palm Grove are on par with other similar restaurants, both in hotels and out.

Palm Grove’s crispy chicken parmesana, for example, is priced at only Bt480, while their baked Chilean sea bass with clams at Bt710. The poached salmon with sautéed spinach, blue cheese potato croquet and mango salsa with olive oil and cucumber foam is a very reasonable Bt550.

Tortellini filled with smoked chicken and served with a light cream gorgonzola basil sauce is Bt300. And it is extremely delicious!

Palm Grove also has a tandoori oven. Chicken shaslick (Bt320), salmon tikka (Bt350) and lamb tikka (B420) are all available for both lunch and dinner. The restaurant’s pizzas are very reasonably priced. Ranging from Bt290 to Bt320, a person would be hard-pressed to find such a high-quality pizza for the same price.

Italian Marco Amarone, Centara’s head chef, ensures that only the finest and freshest                   ingredients are used and that     every customer is satisfied with their food.

The atmosphere in Palm Grove is just as excellent and beautiful as the rest of Centara’s grounds. Soft lighting, sparse decorations and gorgeous table settings all add to the mix to create a warm and inviting ambience in which to enjoy fine cuisine with family and close friends. A second or two should be taken when entering the restaurant to enjoy the lovely French doors they have there.

If it is impossible to get away for a dinner at Palm Grove, and even if it is not, one must go there for their Sunday brunch. The brunch served here is one of the finest on the island.

With a buffet table a mile long, cooking stations to cook your favorite food exactly to your liking and a dessert table leaving people feeling light-headed, the Palm Grove Sunday brunch is a must-try.

To make this deal even better, the brunch is served with a glass of sparkling wine and the cost is only Bt595++. The quality of food, the location and atmosphere combined with an affordable price make Palm Grove restaurant a place that all residents should be familiar with.

The Palm Grove restaurant is open every day from 6 a.m. until 12 midnight. The Sunday brunch is from 11:45 a.m. to 2:45 p.m. It is recommended to reserve a table. Call 077-23500.