Pasta Factory review, sorry disappointed

[Gabachao]

The worst meal I ever had in Hua Hin was last night at the Pasta Factory. The tall farang running the place is one the rudest clowns in town. I had to literally pull my bag away from him after we sat down, because for some reason he wanted to put it outside while we ate. There was only one other couple in the restaurant and it was blazing hot, so I positioned a fan to cool us down (the staff could not have cared less about the diners). After a few minutes, the aforementioned clown came out in a huff and moved it back to its previous useless position, cooling down absolutely nobody, and making us hot again. Two plastic bottles of water were unceremoniously dumped on our table, not opened or poured while the staff went back to chatting among themselves. then the food - my girlfriend's curried pork had the tenderness of a steel radial. They offered jasmine rice on the menu, but all we got was some grade B, year old junk for the unheard of price of 50 baht (and since my girlfriend used to grow hom mali, she knows her rice). And my pesto pasta had . . . no pesto! It was just plain pasta, about a child-size portion, with mere olive oil. When I pointed this out to the waitress, she gave me an argument and said the pesto was in there but I couldn't see it because I had ordered fettucini instead of spaghetti! I pushed the food away and considered doing a runner, then after a few minutes she came back in a huff and said OK, we put more sauce. It came back with half a teaspoon of old sour pesto sauce. Crikey, they sell the stuff in jars across the street. Was it impossible to go get some?

So what words do we use to describe the Pasta Factory? "Suck" comes to mind, as does "blow," "utterly lame," "crap," not to mention "overpriced" and "unfriendly." I advise people to avoid the ol' factory, which in fact sounds a lot like a factory due to truck and motorbike noise from the highway. And guys like the farang clown running the joint should not be encouraged in anything except to leave town. I kind of hope some drunken knucklehead will go in there, get the same treatment, and knock that guy through his tacky crap bamboo decor.

[PeteC]

Now, tell us how you really feel?....LOL. Good review, candid and to the point. Pete

[DawnHRD]

Now, tell us how you really feel?....LOL. Good review, candid and to the point. Pete

I'm not commenting on Pasta Factory itself, as, I have already mentioned that I haven't been in there for some time & liked the place when it was in its old location. But as for the review - you took the words right out of my mouth, Pete.

[STEVE G]

Good review Gabachao, it beats those effete ravings you get in the Sunday Times supplement!

[Roppongi]

The worst meal I ever had in Hua Hin was last night at the Pasta Factory. The tall farang running the place is one the rudest clowns in town. I had to literally pull my bag away from him after we sat down, because for some reason he wanted to put it outside while we ate. There was only one other couple in the restaurant and it was blazing hot, so I positioned a fan to cool us down (the staff could not have cared less about the diners). After a few minutes, the aforementioned clown came out in a huff and moved it back to its previous useless position, cooling down absolutely nobody, and making us hot again. Two plastic bottles of water were unceremoniously dumped on our table, not opened or poured while the staff went back to chatting among themselves. then the food - my girlfriend's curried pork had the tenderness of a steel radial. They offered jasmine rice on the menu, but all we got was some grade B, year old junk for the unheard of price of 50 baht (and since my girlfriend used to grow hom mali, she knows her rice). And my pesto pasta had . . . no pesto! It was just plain pasta, about a child-size portion, with mere olive oil. When I pointed this out to the waitress, she gave me an argument and said the pesto was in there but I couldn't see it because I had ordered fettucini instead of spaghetti! I pushed the food away and considered doing a runner, then after a few minutes she came back in a huff and said OK, we put more sauce. It came back with half a teaspoon of old sour pesto sauce. Crikey, they sell the stuff in jars across the street. Was it impossible to go get some?

So what words do we use to describe the Pasta Factory? "Suck" comes to mind, as does "blow," "utterly lame," "crap," not to mention "overpriced" and "unfriendly." I advise people to avoid the ol' factory, which in fact sounds a lot like a factory due to truck and motorbike noise from the highway. And guys like the farang clown running the joint should not be encouraged in anything except to leave town. I kind of hope some drunken knucklehead will go in there, get the same treatment, and knock that guy through his tacky crap bamboo decor.

I sort of felt the same when starting the thread but didn't put it across in such a diplomatic manner.

[karrinahogan]

I dont think we will be visiting the Pasta Factory on our trip!

[Kraka's Dad]

We will have to see what it is like there in january when we go as we have never had a poor meal there or poor service in the 4 years we have been going there.
I know Hannes is at his wits end about the noise but he can do nothing about that and Nuts cooking has always been wonderful.

[Gabachao]

In contrast there is that fine Italian deli across from All In Hua Hin. I am sorry that I don't have the name and address of the place, because the pasta is great, the staff are so friendly, and the owner seems to really take pride in the food. Like when you walk into Crawford's and feel that suddenly you're in Dublin, going into that deli is like entering one in Calabria. :-) OK, perhaps a small exaggeration, but not beyond the imagination. If I may, I would also recommend the Thai/Isaan restaurant almost directly across the street from the P. Factory, called Ruum Saep (sp?). The traffic noise is the same, but the experience is completely different. Just ask that the food be "Phet nid noi," because they make it village style!

[darwinian]

Why do people seek Italian food in Thailand?
Do they want Thai food in Italy?

[Jaime]

Why do people seek Italian food in Thailand?
Do they want Thai food in Italy?

This question always seems to raise its head. My response would be: "Why ever not?" Is there something more pure or correct about those who exclusively eat the food of the host country? That would seem to be a rather sanctmonious standpoint to me. Thai (restaurant) food is great of course but sometimes I, for one, want a steak, or a bowl of pasta, or a bacon sandwich. What the hell is wrong with that?

By the same token, should Mrs Jaime never aspire to set foot in a Thai restaurant here in the UK again?

Even the tourists who only eat Thai food once on their two week holiday in Hua Hin are probably more adventurous than 90 per cent of the Thais I know who have lived here in the UK for years and yet continue to exist on an exclusively Thai diet, eating separately from, in most cases, their farang husband.

[DawnHRD]

Why do people seek Italian food in Thailand?
Do they want Thai food in Italy?

Are you saying there are no Thai restaurants in Italy? If not, it must be the only Western country with no Thai restaurants.

With all due respect, people sometimes want to eat different food. At home I cook Indian, Mexican, Italian, French and English. Oh, & occasionally Chinese. I don't cook Thai because I'm no good at it. I like to eat many different cuisines from many different countries. I love Thai food & eat it a lot, but I've lived in various places in the world & I've never only eaten the local cuisine. Variety is the spice of life...

[BaaBaa.]

Why do people seek Italian food in Thailand?
Do they want Thai food in Italy?

Are you saying there are no Thai restaurants in Italy? If not, it must be the only Western country with no Thai restaurants.

With all due respect, people sometimes want to eat different food. At home I cook Indian, Mexican, Italian, French and English. Oh, & occasionally Chinese. I don't cook Thai because I'm no good at it. I like to eat many different cuisines from many different countries. I love Thai food & eat it a lot, but I've lived in various places in the world & I've never only eaten the local cuisine. Variety is the spice of life...

I was just about to submit an almost identical post Dawn.
Even ending with Variety is the spice of life.
Luckily I scrolled down before i pressed submit and you'd beat me to it.

[dane48]

Why do people seek Italian food in Thailand?
Do they want Thai food in Italy?

I want Thai-food everywhere

[DawnHRD]

BaaBaa,

[lomuamart]

I want to live in Thailand. And for my sins, I do.
Couldn't agree more with the above posts. My wife came to England and she loved the food wholeheartedly, but with some chilli.
I like it the same here, but not always with the heat.
So, over over a number of years, we've compromised.
Sounds good for my gut anyway and I'm sure for her's as well.