LA CUCINA is one of the many amazing restaurants to be found at Andaz Pattaya Jomtien Beach. It is actually possible to stay at this beautiful resort and enjoy a wide variety of different food without even leaving the premises. From Fish Club,to the Village Butcher Steakhouse, La Cucina and Wok Wok. Now two of the restaurants here have had a mention in the Michelin guide this year with ChonBuri’s inaugural inclusion: Fish club which we covered in our March issue and which you can still read online at pattayatrader.com and La Cucina for delicious homemade pastas and freshly baked pizzas.

When we visited the restaurant it was mid week, about 6:30 pm and the sunset was just settling in. As our time there progressed while we ate, the lights came on outside, effectively used around the trees and hanging above the al fresco dining areas. It all looked really lovely. Whilst inside was comfy and welcoming with an excellent choice of gentle jazz music and what sounded like the delightful songs of Ella Fizgerald. The lighting in the restaurant is just a little dark for me each table does have spotlighting from above, helping you read the somewhat heavy menus, but its not great for photo taking – which you will really want to do.

If, like me, you have been trying out a no carb diet, consider a visit to La Cucina your cheat night as you certainly won’t be able to resist the welcome bread baked on the premises. It is presented with homemade pesto and you can also dip it into some very expensive tasting balsamic and olive oil. To accompany the bread we tried two of the mocktails. Thai Basil Lemonade, a favourite when visiting Andaz. Consisting of sweet thai basil leaves (which we saw being grown outside in a charming herb garden), lemongrass, Orgeat syrup, lime juice and Fever tree ginger ale, it’s extremely refreshing. Then we tried Rambutan Tango, a longer and slightly sweeter drink made with rambutans (a fresh peeled one on the top), aloe vera juice lime cordial and a big slice of lemon.

For the entrees we firstly chose the pork cutlet which was accompanied by a delicious red wine sauce and a truly inventive salad which included fennel, tomatoes, slices of orange, and grapes. This was overshadowed somewhat by the pasta dish which was my favourite. Orecchiette pasta (which means little ears in Italian) comes with a divine ragu sauce made from wagyu beef. It was accompanied by its own little pouring jug containing a thick,delicious caciocavallo cheesy sauce which you can add to taste.

As La Cucina prides itself on its freshly baked pizzas which you can watch being prepared at the open oven, we thought we should also order something for this section of the menu. We decided to try a Calzone for a change but I’m afraid after all that pasta, the spirit was willing but the stomach was rather too full! Attentive staff to the rescue who packed it away in an elegant Pizza box for us to enjoy the next day!.

Taste buds truly alive. It was time for starters. I personally was a little disappointed with the cold cut plate. Much of the selection of cheese and charcuterie was smoked (which I’m not a great fan of) and the meat selection mostly on the light pink side. I prefer the darker varieties the coppa and parma ham more. However, the stand out starter of Prosciutto e Fichi more than made up for this. The parma ham was tender and sweet, the stracciatella cheese light and creamy, and the fresh figs from Chiang Mai, so tender they were a delight. I also haven’t eaten fresh figs in a while so I really liked the inclusion of this dish on Cucina’s menu.