Jomtien’s most popular Riviera styled eatery, Café Le Mar, has added  another facet to its multi-themed attractions and yet another reason to visit this beach brasserie:  it now boasts a true Italian Pizzeria.   The frontage has been enlarged to accommodate Le Mar Pizzeria where the open kitchen puts on show the pizzaiolos performing their craft in a flurry of culinary cabaret.

Naples is the spiritual home of the pizza and the true Neapolitan pizza is even recognized by the EU as a “copyrighted” traditional speciality.  So when  the proprietor of Café Le Mar,  Shan Firouzi, made the decision to build his pizzeria he wanted only the very best and to recreate a slice of southern Italy on the shores of Jomtien Bay.    After extensive inquiries and research he realised his only course of action was to contact Bangkok’s papa of pizza, the Neapolitan chef and pizza wizard, Michele Peternoster, and thus Le Mar Pizzzeria was conceived.

Both Shan and Michele are perfectionists and this is utterly reflected in their authentic Napoli-style pizzas.  Only the best ingredients have been sourced.  The best dough can only be made with the best flour and only the top grade “farina” is used in the making of these pizzas.   The iconic Margherita (B.160) tops the Classico menu and continues through Napolitana, Frutti di mare and our favourite, Quattro Stagioni (4 seasons).  Vegetarian, white pizza (without tomatoes), Calzone and the house “specialties make up this wide-ranging rota of Neapolitan pies.

When Mick and I visited we opted to sit on the terrace and take in the night air and the spectacular palm fringed Jomtien beach.  Café Le Mar does however, offer fashionable zone serving from classic wining and dining in air-conditioned style, sipping very exclusive teas and coffees in the salon or enjoying the company at the popular bar or even hedonistic seclusion on the roof-top VIP lounge. 

We launched our evening with a shared appetiser of New Zealand mussels steamed in white wine and garlic butter.  These substantial, plump beauties were served in their shells swimming in a heady garlic emulsion and were quite delicious, tender and sweet.   Our chosen quattro stagioni pizza was then served molten and bubbling on to the table.  The thin crust was flavourful and perfectly textured:  the crisp slightly blackened bottom combined with a moist, yeasty fullness.     Ham, mushrooms, mozzarella, spinach (and our requested extras of anchovies and pepperoni) bedecked the top stopping at the right distance shy of the edge leaving a rim of crust that wasn’t too broad or puffy.    We were sold – these pizzaiolos know their job!

The new “true taste of Napoli” menu also offers antipasti featuring a platter of three imported Italian cold cuts or cheeses of your choice, together with pizza bread and honey melon from B.260.  Much loved bruschetta (on pizza bread) is not forgotten and here the selection includes, Tirolese (speck, Gorgonzola cheese, Italian basil, black olives and extra virgin olive oil, Rustica (fresh tomato, smoked salmon, dill, and onion) to name a couple.  We indulged our love of this bread by dunking this naked crust into house vinegar balsamico and  fruity olive oil;  quite delicious.

The a la carte menu covers all culinary desires from morning to night.  Breakfast is an overall B.110 with small supplements for extra items such as sausage, bacon, ham etc.    Burgers (from B.120) and creative sandwiches, (open rye bread with thin slices of roast beef and remoulade, a Napoleon deep fried triple sandwich filled with ham and mozzarella) provide the snack element while the Thai menu’s selection of over fifty dishes is one of the best Mick and I have seen for a long while.  As a seaside location they specialise in fresh fish and their house signature dish of steamed snowfish with soy sauce, shredded spring onion and ginger is a definite must-try.

We had no room for “afters” but recommend that you should delve into the home-made ice creams, crepe suzettes, banana fritters and delectable pastries for a sweet finale.   Shan is a coffee aficionado and his knowledge on this subject is huge.  The Wallenford Blue Mountain coffee is a legendary brew and the bergamot tea is in a class of its own.  

Cafe Le Mar is a fabulous location in this part of town providing a comfortable and pleasing rendezvous with the focus on quality at pleasantly affordable prices.  There are so many reasons to visit this beach-side brasserie and one more has now been added:  to sit beside the ocean and indulge in a slice of Napoli on the shores of Jomtien.  

Located on Jomtien Beach Road in front of Jomtien Beach Paradise resort, south of Soi Chaiapruk.    Open daily from 10 am till midnight.  Tel:  (038) 233 466 or 089 932 3920.  Website: www.cafelemarpattaya.com.