Mom Tri's Boathouse - Phuket

Where Is It?

In south Kata Beach. If you are coming from Patong, pass through Kata centre and carry on past Club Med then take a right at the ultimate T-junction.

Mom Tri's Boathouse is 300 metres on the right. You can’t miss the bright red entrance canopy and the beaming face of the friendliest parking attendant on the island.

Décor

Considering its name, it comes as no surprise that the restaurant has a nautical air to it with a heavily buffed teakwood bar, polished brass, a string of signal flags and yacht photos. Polished terracotta flooring counterpoints the dainty white tablecloths and rattan seats.

A piano sits adjacent to the bar while a cluster of window-side sofas affords a pre-dinner seating space. Capacious sliding windows line the beach side of the restaurant and are opened on fine nights, allowing cooling sea breezes to waft through. 

Atmosphere

Elegant, refined, and certainly distinguished but without the airs and graces one would expect in a western version of a restaurant of this calibre, The Boathouse has its highly-trained and motivated Thai staff to thank for its air of civilized conviviality.

With tinkling piano and the sound of breaking surf as a background soundtrack along with excellent service and haute cuisine along with probably the best wine selection on the island, the winning combinations add up to equal an exceptional dining experience.

Children under eight years old are welcome until 20:00.

Wine

A consistent winner of the prestigious Wine Spectator 'Best of Award of Excellence', the Boathouse is a byword on Phuket and indeed in the whole of Thailand for its more than 750 first-rate labels making up a superbly varied and carefully chosen wine list.

It is so extensive that it's tempting to claim that what the Boathouse doesn't have is not worth drinking.

We choose to sample the degustation menu and the four wines that accompany it – a Pinot Grigio, a Chablis, a red Chateau Villa Bel Air, Graves and a dessert Muscat – are all top-of-the-range choices and marry well with the food.  

Food

Also award winning, the cuisine at The Boathouse leans towards the classic side of things. Executive Chef Tummanoon and Maître Cuisinier de France Jean-Noël Lumineau have together created an impressive menu.

Our seafood wrapped in wonton, basil and morel mushroom shellfish cognac sauce is a tasty opener and the second course, seared sea-scallops and duck foie gras with sautéed spinach on risotto and Shiraz black truffles sauce an adventurous and successful mélange of flavours.

For main course, grilled Australian lamb chops, vegetable Provençale and Grave thyme sauce is a hands-down winner with the lamb done to a turn in a brilliant sauce. 

The menu, like the wine list, is extensive and very clearly a labour of love. Tropical fruits and soft cake with raspberry sherbet wind the evening up – the Muscat providing a heady finale to a memorable dining experience.

Specialities

• Rock Lobster with light velvety green asparagus cream
• Vegetarian Tapas: spicy cake, spring rolls, mushroom and crispy tofu
• Deep-fried whole Garoupa topped with Tom Yam Heng sauce served with jasmine rice
• Australian rack of Lamb with Panaeng sauce and mixed fresh young salad
• Grilled Pork Shop flavoured with Provençale rosemary sauce, crushed potatoes, virgin olive oil
• Fresh Mango in Tulip served with coconut ice cream

Service

If diners can catch the eye of a waiter across a restaurant in haute service then it's got to be a class act and this says volumes about the level of service at Mom Tri's Boathouse Wine & Grill.

Full marks to the professional, knowledgeable and prompt members of staff.