Over on the west side of the island is the beautiful area of Haad Chao Pao, with its quiet beaches and calmness in the air, this area of Koh Phangan retains the old school atmosphere of the island.
Leo Beer took Phanganist to go and meet Zoran from Haad Chao Pao Resort situated just up from Pirates Bar to sample some beautiful indian food in their ‘Bollywood’ restaurant.
The resort itself consists of basic accommodation, thai style quaint bamboo and wooden bungalows and dormitories and the restaurant and bar is on the beach.
Zoran tells us the concept for the resort,
‘We try to have more of a chilled vibe and in low season people stay for a long time, it’s not a crazy place. Even when you come around Full Moon when we’re full it doesn't feel like other places on the island’.
Zoran has managed the resort and restaurant for a year and a half now and has been part of extending the bungalows and dorms and the opening of the Bollywood restaurant.
We are sat on a comfortable corner sofa in the relaxed restaurant seating area which feels like sitting in your own living room. A huge hammock is in the centre and guests sit around reading or catching up with friends in this peaceful and quiet bit of old school Phangan, it has the feeling of how it was five or six years ago.
There is an indian theme through the whole place with carpets, pillows and throws and you can enjoy to be here next to the water rather than in an enclosed space.
A platform extends out on a lower section onto the beach with mats and low tables placed around and you can enjoy the view of Ang Thong marine park and you can even see Koh Tao from here, you’re guaranteed to see some amazing sunsets.
Haad Chao Pao beach is mostly quiet and even when the tide is out you can walk a short distance and then the sea is very good for swimming.
So why did they decide to open an indian restaurant?
‘The owners love Indian food and there is not many indian restaurants on the island. We try to keep as much of it as original as we can, our chef is indian, well originally from Nepal but also generations of his family from my Myanmar so it’s more a Hindu tradition for them. We source our ingredients from other places, mostly from Bangkok so it’s proper Indian ingredients’.
The menu at Bollywood is one of the most comprehensive indian menus we have seen on the island and most people, whatever they order are happy although with such a large choice it can be difficult to choose.
Because the restaurant is situated in an area popular with yoga students, Bollywood finds that the vegetarian options are ordered a lot but other popular dishes are the butter chicken, chicken korma and mushroom masala which of course can be complemented with naan bread or any type of rice.
Bollywood’s chef is passionate about indian food and works very hard to keep it authentic and tasty and guests should get the feeling of actually being in india because of the taste of the food and surroundings.
‘We like to take them on a journey with the good food and service we provide’.
The restaurant can cater for large groups and people can sit on the beach or around the more communal big bamboo table on the decking.
As we sit and talk to Zoran we notice the local thai boats in the water and are told that next door is a fisherman station where they have a little house where they get together, you can watch them come back from a catch and can see what they get every day which adds to the place’s charm even more so.
The resort’s bungalows are all for two people with one king size bed and a bathroom plus the newest bungalow which is two floors so can sleep up to four.
They have three dorm rooms with thirty eight beds in total so the place will never get too busy, even in full moon when it is full it remains a nice and relaxing resort to stay in.
Over the next year Zoran hopes to continue to develop the food and make Bollywood the best indian restaurant on Koh Phangan and to be well known for what they do.
‘We get a lot of comments about the food from our guests and they enjoy the nice chilled atmosphere and good food.
We also have many regular customers and long term residents that come everyday’.
Which is always a good sign!
Bollywood opens at 12 noon and last orders are at 10pm, everything is made fresh everyday, ‘we use what we buy we don't keep a lot of stuff at all’.
Zoran tells us that his favourite dish on the menu is the mixed vegetables and a garlic or plain naan,
‘I'm not vegetarian but I like veggie and vegan food a lot, I don't know why it's just so good’.
So this is what we would like to try also!
The naan is deliciously hot and fresh with the added aroma of garlic and our mixed vegetables look inviting, you want to dip the bread in right away. They are in a lovely smooth tomato style sauce made with onion and cashew nuts to give it some richness.
It is a great veggie dish made with ginger, carrots, potato, corn and the indian staple that is cauliflower. The ginger gives it a nice warmth but it is not too spicy so is good if you’re not a big fan of chilli. Who needs meat when it’s this good!
But don't worry all you meat lovers, there's plenty else to choose from!
If you stay here then you may find yourself going nowhere. Bring some books and relax with the certainty that you can enjoy an array of quality indian food whenever you like.
Give your loved one a massage on the beach as the resorts dog Pi Pi lays down in the shade, even the dog is well chilled out!
Bollywood Restaurant’s philosophy?
Keep sharing positive energy…
And certainly they did to us!
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