So what’s the secret? Just what is that magic formula which makes one restaurant stand out from all the others? Is it the location? Or maybe the ambience and friendly service? Most certainly the food is
a huge factor. But it’s usually a mixture of all the above ingredients in perfect proportions that forms the recipe for success. And Red Snapper Restaurant & Bar is one such establishment that’s got the formula absolutely spot on!

Right, let’s start with the location. Well, it couldn’t be easier to get to, as it’s on the northern section of Chaweng Beach Road itself, next door to the landmark Chaweng Regent Beach Resort (there’s free parking for restaurant customers opposite). And being in this busy shopping area adds to the overall vibrancy of the restaurant.

Step up into the enticing entrance of Red Snapper and you’ll have your first choice of the evening – where to sit. Maybe along the 20-seater exterior terrace that’s shielded from the pavement by a long line of elegantly trimmed lemon-grass? They’re growing from pots immersed in an aqueduct, which spans the entire frontage. Or perhaps in the 60-seater air-conditioned restaurant itself with its clean, modern lines and various water-features, including a unique pebble-stone waterfall that cascades down the side of a wall?

And if you’re there just to have a drink, or if you’re waiting for a table, there’s a spacious lounge and bar area, too. Comfy sofas here-and-there dotted amongst huge, whicker-sculptured pillars. Pot-plants, intricately-carved murals, flagstone flooring and splashes of bright multi-coloured backlit wall panels create a contemporary cosmopolitan atmosphere that manages to be both cosy and sophisticated at the same time (you could certainly dress up a bit to come here, although you wouldn’t feel out of place if you didn’t).

Now onto the food, and that’s under the expert control of Executive Chef, Sébastien Meunier. And he’s been a chef in not one, or even two, but three Michelin-starred restaurants in his homeland, France, including the fabulous Martinez Hotel in Cannes with its prestigious two-star rating. So, with that type of person heading the kitchen brigade, you can be totally assured of
having the very best cuisine.

In addition to the magnificent ‘Char-grilled’, ‘Sizzling Platters’ and ‘Pasta & Risotto’ selections on offer, there’s a most intriguing (and delicious!) à la carte menu. And an excellent way to start off the evening is by choosing either the Asian Salad with Crocodile Tenderloin and mixed capsicum, cashews and rocket, or the Pan-fried Hokkaido Scallops and Tiger Prawns with crunchy Thai vegetables and lemon-grass pie with fish curry cappuccino.

For mains, the Homemade Lobster Cannelloni with a creamy tarragon sauce is highly recommended, and the restaurant’s signature dish, Red Snapper Fillet in herbs crust with buttered baked potato with parsley, red capsicum coulis, rocket with Kalamata olives and pink radish shaves, is also deservedly popular and is a perfect example of Sébastien’s creative culinary skills.

“… and the nightly entertainment which comes in the form of the super-talented Zoe Sky and her jazz band.”

When it comes to desserts at many of Samui’s top restaurants, the choices and standards start sliding away – but not so at Red Snapper. Try the heavenly Apple Pie Frangipane with caramel toffee crunch ice-cream or the highly innovative Red Capsicum and Raspberry Crème Brûlée with Italian sherbet and peanut pralines, and you’ll see exactly what I mean!

But there are two more additional ingredients to Red Snapper’s already perfect recipe for success which places the restaurant and bar firmly into the top few on Samui. Firstly, there’s the unbelievably tasty range of cocktails available here which have been especially designed for the restaurant by world-renowned mixologist – Joseph Boroski – on one of his frequent visits. Blended using a winning combination of East and West flavours, they’re the perfect drinks for sipping on in the bar/lounge area before or after your meal.

And the second extra-special attraction here is the nightly entertainment which comes in the form of the super-talented Zoe Sky and her jazz band that perform every night (except Sundays) from 8:30 pm until 12:30 am. So there’s no need to go hunting around Chaweng after your meal to find somewhere smart with live music to continue your evening. Simply move over to the comfortable lounge area and carry on your evening here.

All-in-all, Red Snapper offers a complete night out including excellent food with professional entertainment in elegant surrounds at very reasonable prices. And if that’s not a perfect recipe for a lovely evening on Samui, I don’t know what is!

The restaurant is open from 5:00 pm until 1:00 am (kitchen closes at 10:30 pm).
For reservations and further information, telephone 0 7742 2008.