In Hua Hin, the top hotels are all competing for the tourist dollar. Visitors, both Thai and international, along with the thriving expat community, are all targeted by hotels, along with local cafés, restaurants and bars, all with offers to entice.
Via a promotion, we found ourselves with the opportunity to dine at Ob-Oon Boulangerie-Pâtisserie at the Putahracsa Hua Hin, not once, but twice.
Putahracsa Hua Hin is located on the fringe of the main city area, close enough to walk but far enough away to make you feel like you are in a beautiful seaside town.
How does Ob-Oon rate with regards to food quality, ambience and service?
The one thing that Ob-Oon is known for is its bakery selection, which is the first thing you notice if you enter from the main road. The dining is split into two sections, so you can make a decision on where you want to eat; downstairs, which has a modern café feel, allowing you to watch the world go by, or upstairs to the more formal dining area. This spacious, well-lit area is conducive to the typical long lunch scenario we enjoy, so naturally we chose upstairs. We really did want a long lunch and we’d had coffee and pastries before in the café section.
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Beef Burger -
Rectangle Pizza -
Chips 'n' Dips -
Charcuterie -
Ambience -
Wine
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Chef At Work
The service here is bright and brisk and we were seated immediately on both occasions; I was impressed that the waiters on both occasions sat us down, gave us a menu and excused themselves so we can peruse the menu. Often in Thailand, wait staff will hover whilst you try to decide.
On our first visit here, we started with the mixed cold cuts board; it really stood out to us. You can select up to 3 cold cuts and up to 3 cheeses, all of which are displayed at the rear of the restaurant. As the waiter was not 100% sure of the selections, we went to choose ourselves; this was no issue and they came as chosen. We also ordered a beef burger, cooked medium, along with a side of paprika, cheese fries. For any long lunch you really do need to have a bottle of wine; we thus a bottle of their Italian Pinot Grigio from the smallish wine list.
All the dishes came together and in hindsight, we should have stipulated the cold cuts board to come first, but that’s a minor complaint. The cold cuts board had an ample amount of meats and cheeses plus other morsels to eat with the warmed bread. The beef burger was cooked as requested and it came with a small serving of fries. The paprika, cheese fries could have had more of both to suit our taste, however it did not stop us dipping them in the sauces provided and devouring them.
On our second visit, we had a smaller amount of time but wanted to try some of the other items on the menu. To start with we order a pizza to share. The Flammenkuchen Pizza was a decent size for us to share as a starter with delicious topping of bacon and shallots. The pastry was advertised to be an Alsatian thin crust; it was just little under cooked.
We shared a Caesar Salad and both ordered pastas, Fettuccini Pesto and Pork Lasagne for our mains. The salad was crisp and crunchy with the right amount of Caesar dressing and additional accompaniments, however the San Daniele ham wrapped chicken fillets were a little dry. We didn’t eat the chicken but the remainder of the salad was delicious. Both pastas were filling and the right size for a lunch serving.
On neither occasions did we even get into the sweets section, but if the macaroons and coconut biscuits I have tasted previously are any indication, it’s sure to be good. Breakfast is also served all day, if that is your what you’re after.
Overall, I feel that Ob-Oon is doing what they do very well. The quality of the food we had was very good and we enjoyed both visits. The staff were efficient both times and were friendly and welcoming. What I also liked about this venue is its open air, modern feel.
Pricing is fairly typical for hotel dining with salads and sandwiches between 270 and 290THB; the beef burger I had was 350THB. Their pizzas ranged in price, with the middle point being around 270THB. Pastas range from 190THB for a basic pasta and 320THB for the Beef Ragout Fettuccini. As per the majority of international hotels, all prices are subject to service fee and tax.
I would happily recommend Ob-Oon for someone wanting a relaxed environment with some international standards done extremely well.
Whilst we had a free meal voucher for the venue, the comments are my own and were not influenced by the complimentary meal. I have eaten at Ob-Oon previously and have not been disappointed.
Ob-Oon Boulangerie-Pâtisserie
4/62 Naebkehardt Rd, Hua Hin Prachuap Khiri Khan 77110
Phone: 032 531 470
Opening Hours: 7am – 8pm Daily