Les Diables, Boat Lagoon |
Les Diables, Phuket, Lunch at Boat Lagoon
Words by Kirsten Durward
Photos by The Yum List (Monica Tindall)
Our third visit here and some people are going to think we’re on commission. But honestly it’s just hard for two people’s stomachs to do justice to everything that’s on offer. This is really the best value food we’ve found so far on Phuket and there is such a range of tempting options. The lunch menu wanders through light bites, ‘Big Bites’ (including freshly baked pies) through salads, Thai favourites, and sandwiches. No matter how hungry you are feeling – ready for a snack, a light lunch or a full three courses, there’s sure to be something here that pleases your tummy.
Our first surprise dish is the one I really wanted from the menu, Chicken Mango Salad with mustard seed dressing (THB225). So glad that Toon can read my mind! Plentiful slices of cold chicken breast mingle with thick pieces of firm mango in a colourful salad of lettuce leaves, baby tomatoes, carrots, onions olives and peppers. Yum Best lunch dish of the Phuket trip so far. Creamy mustard seed dressing is drizzled over making it slippery and even more delectable.
Chicken Mango Salad |
Les Diables Club Sandwich (THB250) is a doozy! Generous amounts of bacon, chicken, egg, tomato, lettuce, sliced ham, and real cheese in a triple-decker of fresh brown bread. I can barely get my mouth around it, but it’s a yummy scrummy greasy squeezy munch (I mean this in a GOOD way). Real bacon! Fresh ingredients.I’ve eaten club sandwiches in over 50 countries and this would be my number one example It comes with a sensible sized and colourful side salad and a helping of fries.
Club Sandwich |
After that tummy stretching monster sandwich, I’m happy to see another salad, Beetroot (THB225). This pretty flower like plate looks fresh and inviting. Deep red slices of home cooked beetroot are topped with a tossed mix of fresh rocket, crumbly Parmesan and melty cheddar in balsamic vinaigrette. The beetroot is so thick and flavourful it has almost a meaty texture. This is a wonderful vegetarian dish with strong flavours and good textures.
Beetroot Salad |
Mussaman Curry (THB195) for those not ‘in the know’, is a very subtle blend of about twenty taste notes. The paste alone is made from cumin, coriander, cloves, peppercorns, nutmeg, mace, cinnamon, cardamom, dried red chiles, shallots, garlic, lemongrass, galangal, shrimp paste and salt. The paste is then used as the base of a curry that also includes peanut, fish sauce, coconut milk and jiggery to flavour. This one is a thin light sauce that is deceptively mild and awesomely blended. We love that there’s oodles and oodles of spicy, sweety, coconutty sauce for our fragrant rice to soak up. Monica muses ‘I could eat this sauce forever… Mmmm love the coconut!’
Mussaman Curry |
Many people make the mistake of preferring chicken breast meat in curry but leg is actually more flavourful and holds it’s moisture better. These little drummers have soft meat falling off the bone and have absorbed the delicate flavour of the sauce just enough to keep us slavouring. Chef Peter’s kitchen has managed to blend a well-balanced, mild but flavoursome curry that just leaves a hint of a buzz in your mouth. A newbie to Thai food can try this without fear, but an advocate will enjoy the complexity of the spicing. Mussaman Curry with chicken can be served with noodles or steamed fragrant jasmine rice.
Once again for dessert we are overwhelmed by choices. The range of fresh cakes and pastries is awesome and changes daily. Another good reason to come back! Afternoon tea anyone?
Chocolate Mousse is covered in flaked and crumbled chocolate. Digging past all that I find a dense parfait style mousse that is rich and creamy with a smooth velvety texture. It’s chocolate chocolate and more chocolate! Happy! And it’s a big portion. No stinting on the servings here, a chocofrolic’s dream!
Chocolate Mousse |
Baked Cheesecake is glistening on the outside. We find the filling very dense and well baked, with a soft thick base. The lemon curd topping is packed with flavour and has Monica raving again.
Baked Lemon Cheesecake |
It’s been a long lunch and we’re full again. All that and I still didn’t taste beef pie with mushy peas. I guess I’ll have to come back. And seriously, I will make it a highlight of my next trip to eat here again, blogging or not. I love the great casual waterfront atmosphere as well as the fresh food. It’s a unique eatery for Phuket.
Reasons to visit: freshly made flavoursome food on the waterfront, any menu item available any time of day, attentive service, yummy scrummy pastries…..
Les Diables
23/102 Boat Lagoon
Moo2
Thepkasattri Rd
Muang, Phuket
Thailand
+66819350454
Open Tuesday – Saturday: 8:00 am – 6:00 pm
Sunday: 8:00 – 4:00pm
Closed Mondays
* All prices are inclusive of tax and service.
I'd love to try that chicken mango salad!
The club sandwich looks tasty!!!
The mango salad looks really good. No need to say anything about sandwich, I love sandwiches with lots of good stuff in between. Love Thai curry too, especially their green curry. Love Thai anything. Slurpssss!!!! LOL!!!