Harlan | Hello from the Five Star Vagabond

Harlan Goldstein Food plus Personality

September 2, 2018 by David Herd

A unique dining experience.

Harlan Goldstein Food plus Personality

Harlan Goldstein Food plus Personality, add to this craft beers, excellent wines, creative cocktails with funky music & crazy staff, you wind up with a fabulous and unique Pattaya restaurant venue that is rapidly gathering a cult following.

The 56-year-old started out as a young boy in his uncle’s New York restaurant and worked his way up to the kitchen of the three Michelin-starred La Francaise in Chicago, eventually coming to Asia as the executive chef at Shangri-La’s China World Hotel in Beijing. He is pictured here with Wayne & Sally Schmidt from Australia who are enjoying an extended world trip including several magic months in Thailand.

My friend Mark Yagalla

Mark discovered this gem of a restaurant hidden away on a side street on Pratumnak Hill & has become a regular visitor. As you can see Mark loves Harlan’s Bloody Marys.

The master in his kitchen

Harlan seems to be forever on the move, either preparing his creations in the small open kitchen to circumnavigating the restaurant like a force of nature. Constantly carrying his camera (phone) in one hand & usually a cold beer in the other. 🙂

He occasionally pauses to ring the bell

Thus signalling a round of tequila shots for everyone in the room including his friends drinking outside on the veranda.

Here they come……

You may get a little confused at this rather unique venue, I found myself wondering if I was at a restaurant or a private party.

Our table was having a birthday party

Som celebrated her 23rd birthday in style.

Three gorgeous ladies from our table.

Som, Sally & May.

The host is never out of sight. 🙂

It seems more like a party to Harlan than a business. 🙂

What about the food you cry????

Sorry it took me so long to mention the fine fare. 🙂 For our Sunday there was a set menu giving 5 choices of food from around the world. Cuban, Italian, Thai, Argentinian & Mexican ranging from B600 to B1000. Whichever one you chose included a variety of excellent entres & desert.

The sliders above were one of the entres & were absolutely delicious, thankfully Hamish has banned bread from his diet so I ate his as well as mine.

Harlan Goldstein Food plus Personality

From the top right we have the Argentinian Steak at B998 which literally melted in your mouth, it was huge & I imaging they made zero on it. Next is the Mexican battered fish, sorry to say I was disappointed with it, not much fish & batter too thick, please forgive me Harlan. Next the Italian spaghetti with prawns, & finally the Cuban chicken. (I should have ordered this or the Cuban Chicken)

Finally the magnificent desert.

This was soooo bloody good. 🙂

Keep that booze coming baby…

The food price is very reasonably given the quality & flare, the money maker for Harlan would certainly be the booze.

Here is Harlan relaxing with a friend.

What a fabulous mural, try getting away with that in Australia or America, sad but true.

Here am I relaxing with a small cock.

Or rooster, call it what you may. 🙂

Dare I say a rose between two thorns?

Sorry, what a stupid thing to say. Both girls Som & May are young & beautiful.

A great place for a party

I honestly can’t think of a better place in Pattaya for a party, if you have enough friends (and I don’t) just book out the whole restaurant & have a night you will never forget.

A triple treat

My great friend Hamish Elton (aka the selfie king) with two of his great friends Wayne & Sally Schmidt, clearly Wayne is punching way above his weight. 🙂

Eat me drink me

Kind of sums up the theme & atmosphere of this wonderful addition to Pattaya’s restaurant scene. Thank you for visiting my Harlan Goldstein Food plus Personality photo blog, & thanks also to the 2 million other people visiting my site each year.