It is possible. You might come across a more beautiful restaurant. But you’d have to go a long way. And it wouldn’t be on this island. Because although Samui’s fine-dining restaurants offer pretty much everything, The Dining Room is leading the field aesthetically – and it’s right up there in the other departments too.

Sounds like a bold claim doesn’t it? But it’s true. And it’s not just the restaurant that’s so pleasing to the eye, the resort of which it’s a part has been given the same attention to detail as the restaurant. In fact, I’d even recommend visitors to go to the family-owned Rocky’s Resort just to have a look around. But when the food and service, and just about everything is as good as it is here, I highly recommend coming for an evening of culinary pleasure, and a perfect Samui dining-out experience.

It might be a little further afield than some would like to travel (it’s a few hundred metres beyond the turning for Hin-Ta Hin-Yai – the grandfather and grandmother rocks – just south of Lamai), especially at night. But it’s certainly worth the extra effort, for which you’ll be well rewarded!

And now the hard part. How to explain what’s at The Dining Room, because there’s simply so much? But it’s the subtle lighting within the interior part of the open-sided restaurant that’ll first take your eye. Somehow the designer has managed to illuminate the whole area uniformly from many small individual sources such as silk hanging lanterns, discreet spotlights and many candles. The whole effect, combined with a splashing waterfall and superb décor, creates a magical atmosphere. One which immediately entices and pleases. But there’s more …

You can choose between sitting in the 60-seater restaurant, or outside on the deck area with the free-form swimming pool on one side and the long stretch of private beach on the other. But the most popular dining spot of all is at one of the tables perched up on the huge rocks, again overlooking the sandy beach and small bay beyond. There’s also a totally private sala on the beach itself, but you’ll have to book for this one. Locations like this are what tropical holiday dreams are made of.

And before I run out of space, I’d better talk about the food too. Because it’s equally outstanding. And I suppose it should be, seeing as it’s all prepared under the watchful eye of Executive Chef – Azizskandar Awang. Trained in classical French cuisine, he has an impressive résumé having worked in both the Marriott and Hilton hotels in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, before coming to the island and running the kitchen at the prestigious Renaissance Koh Samui Resort & Spa and then at Karma Samui.

With him is Fine Dining Service Manager, Julien Valeix, who has an equally interesting pedigree including time spent working under one of the world’s most famous chefs, Alain Ducasse, at the 3 Michelin star Hotel Plaza Athenee Paris. So, with these two masters at the helm, the dining experience at The Dining Room should be excellent – and it is!

“…and locations like this are what tropical
holiday dreams are made of.”

The cuisine is French/Mediterranean, and is sensational! There are two super-delicious and fully inclusive tasting menus available (5- and 7-course) as well as the à la carte menu from which my recommendations come. For appetisers, it has to be both the Seared French Foie Gras with caramelized strawberries, Jerez jus, micro greens and warmed brioche, and the Veloute of Green Peas with Hokkaido scallop, chives and white truffle oil. Either is sure to blow you away and leave you curious as to how the main courses could possibly compare.

But they do! And if you try the Butter Poached Lobster with Bordelaise sauce, baby carrots, chanterelle mushrooms, shallots and beetroot chips, or the Beef Rosini with foie gras poele, pommes chateau, wilted baby spinach and Madeira jus, you’ll certainly agree.

Follow that with a dessert of Pave of Callebaut Chocolate with hazelnut ice-cream, raspberry and crème Anglaise, or the Passion Fruits and Lavender Crème Brûlée and you’ll see that they offer the ‘complete culinary dining experience’ here – with an excellent range of wines paired to match if required.

The Dining Room is relaxed and casual, ideal for couples and families alike. And although it offers fine dining, it does so without the pomp and snobbery that’s often evident similar establishments. It’s therefore extremely recommendable!

The Dining Room is open from 7:00 am until late, with the kitchen closing at 10:30 pm.
For reservations and further information, telephone 0 7723 3020-4.