The veritable Top 1 restaurant in Phuket – Sam’s steaks & grill
This is the first food review officially written by Cecilia after coming to Thailand. Of course, I have to find the most famous restaurant to try the dishes. So, the restaurant reviewed this time is Sam’s steaks & grill located in the Holiday Inn. Although it is not Thai food, it is the number one restaurant in Phuket on Trip Advisor.
First, let’s talk about the environment. Although there is no stunning beauty, the interior decoration, lighting and atmosphere of the restaurant are very good, giving people a very comfortable feeling.
Because it is Fine Dining (star restaurant/high-end restaurant), the dress code is Smart Dress (relatively casual formal attire). However, according to my observation, many foreigners just walk in with shorts on. I personally think that dressing according to the dining environment is also an act of respecting the restaurant and the food, so it is recommended to wear knee-length trousers and a sleeved top to enter.
As a high-end restaurant, service is definitely the key to success. As a wine management graduate, I can safely say that this restaurant fully complies with every standard of a high-end restaurant in terms of tableware placement and various service processes, and the waiters are enthusiastic, professional and humorous.
There is a detail that touches me very much, that is, the seat reservation sign does not just write reserved in a rigid manner, but uses the shape of a cow and writes the name of the customer. From this alone, you can see that the store is full. sincerity.
Next, of course, I want to comment on the core thing of a restaurant – the dishes. Regarding the serving process of Western food, different friends can read this article first: How is Western food served? Friends who already understand the process can read directly.
Sam’s family will give everyone an appetizer. I don’t know if it’s the same dish every day or what, anyway, we are given cantaloupe salmon. You should also see that this dish should be eaten with some sauce, but to be honest, I didn’t notice any difference between ordering it and not ordering it. And this dish is relatively ordinary, except that it is free, there is no surprise.
While eating the cantaloupe that could be eaten in one bite, the waiter brought bread. The texture of the bread is hard, not my favorite type. Comes with four different sauces: cream and more. One of the sauces is ground into a paste with red beans and then added to the basil. Since I really hate the spice of basil… so I can imagine what kind of reaction I would have when I put it in my mouth.
Appetizer
Entrée
After reading what I wrote earlier, I guess you already think this restaurant is boring, right? Don’t worry, the main event is always behind. First, let’s talk about the appetizers that the three of us each ordered.
The lobster soup has plenty of lobster in it, and the taste is very strong. My Hong Kong friend who is very picky about food said: “This soup alone is worth the trip!”
I myself ordered crab meat and avocado. The taste of crab is sweet and refreshing, and it is even more appetizing when mixed with lime.
To be honest, this raw beef Tartar is not delicious. I personally like to eat raw beef, but this dish has added too many miscellaneous ingredients, which makes the original taste of the raw beef lose its color. Sure enough, Tartar is still the best in Poland. Although this one is not as amazing as the one in Poland, but for friends who are eating raw beef for the first time, the food here is barely passable.
Between the appetizer and the main course, Sam’s family sent us another dragon fruit ice cream to help clear away the taste of the previous dish that was still in the mouth. This detail is highly praised again.
Main Course
It was the turn of the main course, and the two friends ordered the Australian rib eye steak with different sauces and side dishes. Although it does not seem to have any eye-catching features, but the portion is huge, and the meat is of high quality. When you bite it down, the blood with a little sweetness will overflow immediately, and the sauce attached to the surface is suitable for the saltiness. The combination of the two Aftertaste is endless.
As for my main dish, I listened to the waiter’s recommendation-Sam Andaman Beef & Reef, and it did not disappoint me. Showmanship (cooking performance? I don’t know if this translation is appropriate) is very fun, and the waiter will tell you how to fry this lobster and how to adjust its sauce. Then the whole pot of wine was put on fire and it really scared me a bit, because I was sitting right next to it.
Well, let’s not talk about what’s there and what’s not, let’s get straight to the point.
This steak is moderately fat and thin, the meat is tender and smooth, and its umami taste is even more unforgettable. Although the size of the steak is really small compared to the lobster next to it, but in fact, the whole dish is almost as good as mine. People with such a large appetite will not be able to hold it. Because that lobster sautéed with apples and carrots was not only perfect, it was huge. Compared with simple garlic steaming or curry cooking, this way of eating is not only novel but also maintains the freshness and tenderness of the lobster. It is worth trying for those friends who are tired of eating lobster on the island.
Dessert
It’s a pity that the dessert is not good enough, the heart is too soft and liquid, the texture is too weak, and it is too sweet. The berry pudding is not only too sour and has a bad taste (my friend said it was like biting the tablecloth), the orange crepe also has a very wonderful Showmanship, which is very ornamental, but the taste is bland. But after all, I came here to eat steak. If you like dessert so much, you can just go to the dessert shop after the meal. There is no need to worry too much about this.
It is worth mentioning that there will be free iced chocolates when you check out. When we first saw it, the three of us unnaturally thought of “Zhi Ming and Chun Jiao”, oh, it seems a bit indecent? Anyway, the taste is still good, the crunchy chocolate is wrapped in ice cream, and a coolness flows out after biting, even if I don’t like desserts, I have no objection.
In the end, I didn’t order wine because I was driving when I went there, but after looking at the price and brand, I didn’t ask people for sky-high prices. But there are too few non-alcoholic drinks, which is a bit regrettable.
Generally speaking, although the price is expensive, the serving size is based on the food intake of adult European men, and as a veritable Fine Dining, the price/performance ratio of this star restaurant cannot be higher, it is definitely a restaurant in Phuket The most recommended western restaurant in China.
Recommended degree: ★★★★☆
Reason for recommendation: A high-end restaurant with great value for money, but unfortunately there is no breathtaking view and the dishes do not have Thai characteristics.
