The Drive to Perfection
Bliss out with a free trip to Beyond the Sea, Siamese Brasserie for an affordable lunch or dinner.
The perfect escape and getaway destination awaits at beautiful ShaSa Resort & Residences in the far south of the island. This is a world apart, calm and idyllic, far from the crowds. But you don’t need to be a staying guest to enjoy its well-known restaurant, Beyond the Sea, Siamese Brasserie. Open every day from breakfast till last food orders at 10:30 pm, this is a wonderful place to come for a relaxed lunch or dinner. You can make a stop here while exploring the island, or perhaps better still, avail yourself of the free round-trip that they offer. No matter where you’re staying on Samui, just phone the restaurant and they’ll pick you up and bring you to Beyond the Sea, then take you back afterwards. It’s well-worth taking them up on this, as it means that you can avoid having to sort out transport. And, of course, you’ll arrive here less stressed after an enjoyable journey. Many guests at the restaurant are taking this option.
Opt for a table in the main air-con dining room or outside on the terrace with its comfy seating. Either option allows you to gaze out on plentiful greenery and sea views. Staff are friendly and really look after their guests without ever hovering. If you have a request, let them know. It’s always a pleasure to eat here as the food is stellar, but without a price tag to match. The restaurant offers top quality ingredients, lovingly cooked and presented by a superbly talented team, while keeping everything within a sane budget. You can splurge without worry, and simply enjoy being here.
In addition to the free round trips, Beyond the Sea has some great promotions every month. This August, check out three fish dishes that showcase the capabilities of the restaurant; all are on offer just for the month. Buy any of them individually, or if coming with a friend, try all of them – they go really well together.
First there’s the Deep-fried Sea Bass in Three Flavours Sauce, a light yet filling dish, ideal for lunch or dinner. The fish is whole, but unlike in some restaurants, it hasn’t been fried until it’s drying out inside. Deliciously moist and with nearly all the bones removed and re-assembled, it’s easy to eat and you don’t need to have surgical skills to cut it up. Just spoon pieces onto your plate. It comes with lots of spices, but they’re not fiery. There are also red, yellow and green peppers, shallots, some chilli and spring onions.
Next, there’s the Trio of Scallops, which features tiny slices of apple, pineapple and a lemon and honey sauce as dressing. It’s filled with fresh flavours due to the fruit overtones, and is extremely satisfying as a dish. Lastly, try the Prawns in Penang Curry Sauce. It’s exactly what it purports to be, though you can ask staff to turn up or tone down the spiciness. It’s generally not a particularly hot dish, though, but one that’s filled with layers of flavour.
The Thai side of the à la carte menu has been specifically put together so that the dishes can be shared. There are a few fusion dishes, but most are well-loved treats from the Thai culinary regions. On the international side, you’ll find literally everything you could wish for in a restaurant: pasta, pizzas, burgers and sandwiches, all expertly made. There’s plenty of vegetarian fare, and in addition the culinary team can also offer vegetarian versions of most of the fish and meat dishes that the menu features. Children of all ages are made very welcome at Beyond the Sea, and if you have any special requests for them, again just talk to the staff.
When it comes to drinks, there's a brilliant wine list that covers an array of old and new world wines. There’s almost always a wine on promotion, and this August you’ll find the highly drinkable Château Cambon La Pelouse 2010. It’s a red wine from Haut-Médoc, France, and goes well with most classic meat dishes as well as pasta, but also turns out to be a perfect match with Asian fare, spicy or not.
By the way, if you come between 2:00 pm and 6:00 pm you can take advantage of the resort’s happy hour, with a buy-one-get-one-free deal on selected drinks. Enjoy them in the restaurant or at the beach bar.
Desserts here should not be neglected. Try the Fondant au Chocolat – pure and sinfully delicious chocolate cake, or the very traditional Apple Crumble, with vanilla sauce. Children particularly love the selection of ice-creams, while for those wanting to keep to a Thai theme, try the Mango and Coconut Sticky Rice.
Beyond the Sea is a tranquil spot to enjoy affordably priced Thai and international delicacies. Stellar food and drink, service and setting are matched only by how easy it is to get here – and thanks to the free round trip, a relaxed time is guaranteed.
Dimitri Waring