At The Pearl of Samui you’ll be welcomed by Thai husband-and-wife team Bodin and Pat, who took over the running of the restaurant just two years ago. Having previously spent 16 years in the kitchens of five-star hotels, Bodin creates high-quality dishes that reflect his expertise. All food is cooked to order using the freshest of ingredients, with the level of spiciness adjusted to suit diners’ individual tastes. Dishes include healthy and vegetarian options and some top-drawer treats, such as their chicken satay served with light cucumber and peanut sauce and generously filled steamed dumplings. On top of that, the Thai fishcakes and vegetable spring rolls were the best I have ever tasted.
Eagerly perusing the spicy salad, curry and stir-fry dishes, we settled on carrot salad with shrimp and peanuts in a refreshing lime and chilli dressing, the popular classic Thai green curry – made perfect by the addition of large shell-on prawns – and a deliciously savoury chicken pad khing with ginger and mushrooms. Crepes flavoured with pandan, filled with coconut and served with coconut ice cream were a superb conclusion. Offering an extensive menu of skilfully prepared, beautifully presented food in charming surroundings, The Pearl of Samui is an authentic choice for lovers of Thai cuisine.
