WHERE IS IT?

Take the road up towards the Amari Coral Beach Hotel at the very south of Patong’s Beach Rd. then swing a left halfway up the hill. Baan Yin Dee is well-signed and isn’t hard to find. Alternatively, you can call the resort for a complimentary Benz to pick you up and deliver you back to your hotel in grand style. The service stops at 11:30pm. View Baan Yin Dee location map.

DÉCOR

Wooden warmness

Quasi-Thai, romantic, exotic, top-notch: all of these adjectives fit BYD perfectly. It really is that impressive. The restaurant’s poolside and balcony tables each command a breathtaking view over Patong from which diners can watch the town’s arteries come alive as the evening progresses. However, in this writer’s experience, the good food and wine was a huge distraction from what was happening a kilometer or so below us. All the same, if you want to have a Patong vista along with your meal, you’ll have to book early as people in-the-know tend to monopolise view tables from early evening and stay on until quite late and you can’t blame them. Still, you can easily stroll to a vantage point to take in the glittering views and then eat inside or at an adjacent table. The inside décor is Thai, with a subtly lit and sumptuously fitted-out bar fronting the proceedings. Think big; think luxurious; think of the restaurant of your dreams and you’re somewhat approximating the décor in BYD, no kidding.

ATMOSPHERE

Stunning view on Patong Beach

The atmosphere and décor of BYD are inextricably linked – with one exception: Charlie, the Filipino pianist/singer, has been an island regular for over 10 years now and has truly found his niche here. He effortlessly oozes out jazz numbers on the restaurant’s piano as if he were born for it. It was almost a disappointment when he took off his dark glasses. . . It’s hard to imagine the place without him. Ultimately, the atmosphere is not unlike that of a tropical Gstaad or a St. Moritz eatery with diners gazing down on the world below, all the time sampling great food and wine. This boutique hotel has none of the crassness of downtown Patong and is – in every sense of the word – a cut above the rest.

WINE

A very generous wine list encompasses New World and Old World labels. House wines come in at 260 baht a glass but it’s ultimately better to buy by the bottle, given the restaurant’s wide list of admirable labels. All in all, there are some 60 to choose from. BYD doesn’t skimp on quality but perhaps could benefit from an experienced wine sommelier to guide diners through the maze of vintages on offer. We chose a Trivinto Shiraz-Malbec for our first courses and opted for a lighter French Rose for the main meal.

FOOD

Escargots "à la Française"

Although the décor is Thai the menu is definitely international and Chef Stephan, from the South of France, has recently arrived to ensure top quality and innovation. We each had a huge mixed salad then ordered lamb rack, skewered tiger prawns and a filet of fish. Each was well presented and executed.

It’s also worth mentioning the superb and generous chocolate mousse with fruit compote – a real eye opener and a tummy filler.

SERVICE

BYD’s service is a credit to the boutique hotel and reflects the commitment to the high standards the establishment aims at. The standard of spoken service English, at our table was exemplary. Mostly male waiters – at least on the evening we ate there.

Baan Yin Dee: 7/5 Muean Ngern Rd. Patong Tel: 076-294104.
Email: info@baanyindee.com www.phuket.com/baanyindee/