S&G Restaurant Patong: In the Family way
By
Sam Wilkinson
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There’s something intrinsically different about family
run restaurants. Could it be a heightened sense of unity among
staff members or a fluidity of service that a “normal”
business lacks? Whatever it may be, S&G in Patong possesses
this mysterious quality, perhaps without even knowing it.
Unobtrusive, easy to pass by on a busy walking street, but
ultimately delivering the goods, S&G epitomizes the best
of middle-range Patong eateries.
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WHERE IS IT?
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| In the Soi Praisanee
(Post Office) |
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Just off the Beach Road on the unimaginatively named Soi Post Office.
Think of MacDonald’s and you’ll be in the direct area.
This soi is a no-traffic zone so if you are driving, look for a
parking space on the beach side of the main one-way drag (and good
luck to you) and grab it when you can.
The restaurant’s sign is easy to spot, and it is only a few
metres down on the left of the soi. View S&G
Restaurant location map.
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DÉCOR
Pretty basic, with table-height wall mirrors extending down both
sides of this shophouse-sized eatery. The restaurant features light
green tablecloths, somewhat stark overhead lighting and a small
awning outside where diners can people-watch as they eat.
S&G’s décor is certainly not its strong point,
although it has excellent ventilation from overhead and wall fans,
even outside under the awning.
At the far end waitresses and cooks busy themselves – it’s
very transparent and unpretentious but all the better for it.
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ATMOSPHERE
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| Convivial and busy
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The early evening atmosphere at S&G is made up of tourist families
with children of various ages. Diners are mostly Scandinavians and
central Europeans; it’s bustling but not noisy, busy but not
hectic, friendly but not intimate. If you are determined to eat
here try to go early or reserve a table as when we left at 7. 45pm
there was not a free place in the 45-seater house, although the
families by then had been replaced by groups of young adults.
If S&G is this full every night then it says something immensely
positive about the food, service and delivery. Prerecorded piano
music tinkles away in the distant background but is really surplus
to requirements. S&G has regular, repeat customers who have
come to trust this eatery for its dependable, inexpensive yet wholesome
food rather than its atmosphere.
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WINE
No bottles available; just chilled Italian red and white table
wine served by the glass (80 baht). A large Singha Beer is 120 baht
while small bottles of Chang, Heineken, and Singha all go for 60
baht each. There are no cocktails although you can get some spirits
from the tiny corner bar. Just don’t expect to sit at it!
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FOOD
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| "hearty and
unpretentious fare" |
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The main reason that S&G is so busy is because of its hearty
and unpretentious fare. A mixed salad goes for 60 baht and is easily
enough for two. Tuna, beef, and chicken salads are 120 baht while
all soups are 60 baht. An extremely generous portion of fish and
chips (with a mixed salad) is 220 baht and comes absolutely piping
hot while an excellent, spanking fresh and piquant pla nueng manao
(whole steamed fish with lemon) costs 350 baht and a portion of
rice just 15 baht.
While some of these prices may seem steep compared to a “normal”
Thai restaurant, they are laughably cheap for Patong. A pla nueng
manao around the corner in a hotel restaurant will easily cost twice
as much. No wonder the place is packed out. As for Thai food at
S&G, all the usual suspects are there; phad Thai, fried rice,
sweet and sour fish and pork.
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SERVICE
There are eight waitresses at S&G and all are competent and
efficient. But don’t expect extreme intimacy from the wait
staff – they’re far too busy for that, yet certainly not
too busy to share the famous Thai smile with diners. The level of
spoken English is good.
S&G Restaurant, Soi Post Office, off the Beach Road by MacDonald’s,
Patong.
Tel: 076-340151
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