JaakDin’s menu strikes a balance between the familiar and the unique, offering contemporary dishes with quality of the highest order. There is something for everyone, from the pickiest eater to those looking for an elegant dining experience with the freshest ingredients. The restaurant makes incredible use of the high-quality seafood and produce that Phuket is becoming known for, starting with their sumptuous appetizers.
The Chef’s Pâté, a delightful offering made of chicken liver, cranberry gel and mustard chutney, is a great place to begin your culinary adventure. A decadent start to a fine meal, packed with flavour, the dish is a rich balance of sweet and savoury. The chicken liver pâté itself is delicate in texture, yet a little goes a long way in terms of taste.
The Octopus Ceviche, while a new addition to the menu, is made fresh to order. You can practically taste the Andaman Sea through the grilled octopus, as notes of citrus and parsley cut right through, enhancing the flavour.
The island’s seafood is renowned for its diversity and quality, and nowhere is this more represented than in JaakDin’s Grilled Red Snapper Fillet. The fish is the star of the show here, grilled to perfection and given new life with splashes of extra virgin olive oil. The dish is served boneless for ‘no-fuss’ dining, with a medley of avocado and tomato salsa and a sauce made of dill and mustard. The sides complement the dish nicely and provide a beautiful display that is easy on the eyes as soon as the waitress places this on the table.
The freshness of the red snapper is evident in not just the sight of the dish, but from the very first bite. The sear was beautiful and went perfectly with the salsa that provided tangy notes to enhance the dish.
Our party also ordered another new addition to the menu – a dish of Tagliatelle and Duck. The pasta is served in a truffle cream sauce while the duck is cooked sous vide and finished on the grill. This preparation makes the duck delicate but with a great char on the skin, giving it a depth of flavour that is complemented by the delicious pasta. The tagliatelle, as with all of JaakDin’s pastas, is made in-house, and cooked al-dente for a memorable meal that makes you sad when it’s over. A healthy portion of sauce gives one ample opportunity to taste the homemade bread, a vessel for our tasty truffle cream.
To end an incredible meal, one must not forget the desserts, of which JaakDin provides ample choices. We opted for the Honey Cake, made with real organic honey. In addition, the Dark Chocolate Eclair, a soft and light pastry filled to the brim with delightful cream, is the perfect conclusion to a meal at one of the top new restaurants on the island.
JaakDin’s atmosphere has the feel of a cosmopolitan restaurant in any international city, from New York to London. From comfortable seating to delicious and high-quality dishes, and a modern feel with a minimalist style, I’m already planning my next reservation.
JaakDin Restaurant & Bakery. Opening times: Daily 7am-11pm. Reservation: +66(0)76 643 841 / lagreenhotel.com/restaurants/jaakdin.