Vset Restaurant - Phuket

Where Is It?

Vset is not hard to find. Located right next to the 800-metre long Chalong Pier on Phuket’s east coast it overlooks the pier car park and beyond out into Chalong Bay.

From Chalong Circle (roundabout) simply head east to the end of the road past the rather ‘colourful’ collection of bars, dive shops and massage parlours. Diners are welcome to use neighbouring sister restaurant Kan Eang’s extensive parking facilities.

Décor

Vset’s décor consists of soft lighting combined with full-length mirrors on the far walls on both sides of the open kitchen. Lots of light-stained wood contrasts with dark marble table tops and non-slip stone tiled floors; immaculately polished wine display cabinets flank the glass doors that lead out to a wooden-decked terrace – ideal for an al fresco meal or a sundowner or two.

While large windows let in lots of natural light during daytime, the restaurant features discreet lighting past dusk. Tasteful almost to the point of understatement, Vset is certainly classy.

Atmosphere

‘Quietly professional’ would be the best way to describe the atmosphere at Vset. Chef Ronnie and his team industriously produce top-of-the-line dishes in the open kitchen while diners, mere metres away, get on with enjoying their evening.

Sipping on a cocktail as the sun goes down while Chet Atkins strums in the background and delicious fresh food is being prepared for you is an acutely agreeable way to pass the time.

Wine

The 21-label wine list at Vset essentially reflects the restaurant’s personality; it’s simple, but with steady flashes of heady class (Chateau Sisson Bordeaux – winner of Gold Medal Concours Paris) and basic, but undeniably adaptable labels (Cotes de Provence AOC Rosé).

Top-of-the-range labels here are Chateau Vieux Coutelin and Seresin, a Marlborough sauvignon blanc but for a house wine that is reasonably priced (for Thailand) hats are lifted to the Trivento Roble, an oak barrel-aged red from Mendoza in Argentina.

Food

Chef Ronnie is a multiple culinary award winner and it’s not for nothing that he has built a rock-solid reputation in Phuket – a tough market if ever there was one. Wood-smoked salmon with Australian haas avocado, roasted nuts, organic greens, with soya and sesame vinaigrette is sublime while foie gras with duck liver parfait, walnut, bagel toast and cider jelly is robust, packed with taste and character.

Cognac-flamed lobster bisque with micro greens is also a winner but the red snapper steak with balsamic roasted tomatoes, a modest quail-egg potato salad and a wicked Stilton sauce is a jaw dropper. Another mains; a 250-gram Wagyu eye of rump, goes perfectly with the Trivento red.

Some of Chef Ronnie’s best dishes are desserts so make sure you leave room for those.

Service

The wait staff reservoir is huge as next door neighbour Kan Eang is Vset’s sister restaurant and can supply on demand. Still, the ‘normal’ service at Vset is cheerful and informed. Menus are clearly written and your chef’s team an arm’s-length away.

Opening Hours: 11:30 – 23:30
Location: By Chalong Pier
Tel: 076 381 159