Ratri Jazztaurant - Phuket

Décor

Outstanding. A clean, two-story Oriental design, cleverly using subtle lighting with broad expanses of different hued wood, attractive lampshades, hard and soft seating, a back-and-underlit bar with a music stage to its left, Ratri has spared no expense in creating a sophisticated atmosphere in a jaw-dropping location.

If a westerly storm blows in the staff will lower giant protective rain shades within seconds. Modernistic and practical, Ratri encapsulates the cool chic of Bangkok with the natural beauty of Phuket and that can't be a bad thing.

Atmosphere

Sophisticated and upmarket; smart and cool; laidback yet sharp. Ratri's atmosphere is really a reflection of good taste and many a well-heeled and discerning local resident can be spotted dining here alongside tourists in the know. The broad spaces between the tables cancel out an overly intimate feel; nevertheless this creates a greater feeling of privacy at each table.

There is live jazz featuring top names in Thailand as well as the cream of Phuket's jazz scene. Ratri features a long wooden bench at the westerly edge of the restaurant where diners can catch the sea breezes wafting up from Kata or watch the jazz a floor above them next to the bar. With the location being so exposed to westerly breezes there is little or no need for cooling ventilation. Mother Nature does the job admirably. 

Wine

French, Australian, Italian, South African, Californian and Thai labels grace Ratri's air-conditioned adjacent wine cellar: All in all, some 600 bottles featuring 75 labels - from 950 to 14,000 baht.

Food

Some would describe the fare at Ratri as 'Thai food with a twist'. Certainly, many are aware that Thailand was perhaps the first country to feature fusion food in the correct sense of the word and this is reflected in the restaurant's menu. Ratri features New Zealand beef in its spicy sirloin salad to good effect - the beef is accented more than the salad, lending a wholesome touch to the dish.

Penang duck is creamy and piquant while the phad thai goong is light, with generous portions of prawns and light years away from the oily mess that some restaurants pass off onto diners. The salmon sashimi is also a lesson in lightness and it soon becomes very clear that Ratri is effortlessly slotting itself into the roster of top restaurants on the island. The geng massaman is also a good representation of the culinary level this restaurant has attained. To sum up: Ratri is not a cheap evening out but its food is cleanly presented, tasty and memorable. 

Service

Prompt and smart, also with a sense of humour (as is to be expected in Thailand) the staff is competent. If you wish to take a leisurely meal it may be better to stagger your orders as the dishes appear from the kitchen with lightning quickness.