Restaurant of the Month
This month the Explorer team were invited back to one of our favourite restaurants on the island, tucked away in a secluded cove right on the beach just south of Lamai. If you are looking for not only the ultimate in fine dining, but the most stunning of locations with thoroughly unspoilt ocean views then Rocky Resort certainly fits the bill and will exceed all of your expectations.
Not only is the location as good as it gets the décor is nothing short of exquisite. This resort of thirty rooms boasts what has to be one of the best restaurants on the island and probably in the world. International and Thai cuisine perfectly prepared and presented is enjoyed in the stunning restaurant which is perched atop a large granite rock overlooking the ocean. There is nothing quite like sipping a cocktail while perusing a fine menu with the sound and sight of the waves rolling onto the beach and nobody should visit Samui without dining here, at least once!
From the very second you enter the resort there is an overwhelming feeling that you are already part of the family. The staff are friendly, attentive and immaculately presented. The bar is well stocked and spotlessly clean, the menu is creative and well put together and the wine list is extensive and very reasonably priced.
Our dining experience started with an ice cold beer over looking the ocean and continued with the hard task of deciding which of the tempting dishes on the menu to try first! The appetisers include, 'Italian bruschetta with diced sweet tomato, olive oil and basil on a toasted crusty baguette', 'fresh melon and parma ham drizzled with a honey lemon vinaigrette' and 'pan-fried scallops with asparagus tips in a garlic pernod sauce served with potato cakes'. For Thai food enthusiasts I recommend the chicken satay, spring rolls, prawn cakes, and king fish mousse with sweet chili and peanut sauces.
The soup selections include, 'homemade pumpkin soup', 'gazpacho', 'French onion' and 'rocky's seafood soup' - a rich seafood soup with a creamy tomato base, Italian herbs, topped with butter croutons. All soups are served with homemade bread and butter.
Choosing from the main course selections is no easier, with dishes such as 'grilled king fish on a potato cake served with a garlic caper and white wine sauce', 'exotic white snapper filet with sweet mango salsa', 'chicken breast stuffed with ham and mushrooms served with a brandy sauce and a potato cake' and 'crispy duck breast with a green peppercorn or orange sauce, gratin potato' to mention just a few!
There is also a comprehensive salad and pasta section on the menu all perfectly prepared using only the finest and freshest of ingredients.
The Thai menu is extensive and includes dishes such as 'tom yam kung' - hot and sour prawn soup', 'tom kha gai' - coconut milk soup with chicken, 'gaeng kiew waan gai' - green curry with chicken' and 'gaeng paneng' - yellow curry with beef, chicken or prawn. Thai main courses include 'pineapple fried rice with ham and chicken'- served in a pineapple, 'shanghai chicken with cashew nuts, green peppers, onions and rice' and 'phad thai chicken' - fried noodles with peanuts and tamarind sauce.
If you would like to sample more than one Thai dish you may want to indulge in one of the two special Thai set menus for two that will give you the opportunity to sample a variety of Thai dishes from all over the country.
On to desserts then! - 'rum and raisin ice cream on espresso granite with chocolate mousse and whipped cream', 'chocolate and vanilla swirl cheesecake', 'hot mango crumble served with vanilla ice cream' and 'chocolate mocha tart with white chocolate sauce' are just a few of the delicious dishes that appear on the menu and all are tantalising and indulgent. I certainly felt that I had indulged on some of the best fine dining available on the island and left thoroughly satisfied.
I would like to congratulate the team at Rocky's, absolutely nothing here has been left to chance. Beautifully created surroundings, a stunning location, attentive staff, gastronomic delights being producing from a well organised spotless kitchen, splendid décor and especially for achieving all of this and retaining what is probably one of the friendliest atmospheres I have ever encountered.
For bookings and free hotel transfers for groups of four or more please contact 0 7741 8367.
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