Issue 23

Having gained many plaudits for its London restaurant, ThaiSELECT Patara Fine Thai Cuisine opened another branch in the heart of Vienna in 2010. Horizon Thailand talks to manager Stefan Ho about the restaurant’s success and what sets it apart from other restaurants in the city of the waltz.

“Patara Fine Thai Cuisine was established in 1990 and its first international branch was launched in London with a huge success,” says Stefan Ho, the manager of Patara Fine Thai Cuisine, Vienna. “The clients include not only Chelsea high profile residents but members of the British Royal family, as well as the famous chef, Gordon Ramsey.”

According to Ho, there are nine Patara restaurants worldwide, four in London and one each in Geneva, Beijing, Singapore, Bangkok and Vienna.

“Patara’s catchphrase is ‘authentically different’ which translates that while we serve authentic Thai food, we also keep up with the lifestyle of the diners in the metropolitan area,” explains Ho. “Each Patara restaurant features unique décor and ambience for great dining experiences.”

 While 70% of the menu items are the same across all branches, there is room for each restaurant to include dishes that are popular with local diners. “Clients will savour dishes that are Patara’s signatures whether they travel to London, Bangkok or Vienna,” says Ho. “All Patara restaurants share a high service standard.”

Ho mentions that Austrians are open-minded about their palettes. “They enjoy healthy fresh food with herbs and a hint of spices, which is what Thai cuisine is all about.” The restaurant’s two signature dishes are grilled Thai aubergines with crabmeat and caviar in mint-shallot vinaigrette, and braised baby lamb shank in Massamun curry. The former covers the full spectrum of Thai tastes: sour, sweet, salty and spicy. While the latter has meat that falls off the bone and is “not too spicy but hearty in taste,” says Ho.

The restaurant uses ingredients imported from Thailand and then prepared with the finest local products to cater to local tastes. Chefs and kitchen staff are trained in Bangkok and need to have at least five years’ restaurant experience before they can come to Vienna. “It is our passion to deliver the best quality to our clients,” says Ho.

If you happen to be in town and looking for a great authentic Thai cuisine on the way to the opera then Patara Fine Thai restaurant is the right place to dine.

Patara Fine Thai Cuisine, Vienna
Petersplatz 1
1010 Wien
+43 1 997 1938-0 
http://www.patara-vienna.at/

Words by: Manisa Phromsiripranee, Photos courtesy of Patara Fine Thai Cuisine

Food Tips: Luke Chan Thet

Luke Chan Thet or nutmeg is used mostly in preparing curries, especially Massamun curry. It is highly aromatic and slightly bitter in taste.

Thai Select

Patara Fine is endorsed by the DITP under its Thai Select scheme. The Thai SELECT programme was launched to certify and promote authentic Thai cuisine around the world. It is a seal of approval granted to Thai restaurants – both overseas and local Thai eateries that serve authentic food – and processed Thai food products. The objective is to increase the recognition of quality Thai restaurants and processed Thai food products as well as to encourage Thai restaurateurs and food producers to raise quality while maintaining authenticity. For more details of the scheme visit: http://www.thaiselect.com