A delightful dining aura at NORA

The range of options to indulge one’s taste buds at beachside venues in Phuket has increased dramatically over recent years, with a dramatic surge in new restaurants and beach clubs emerging as the island’s popularity continues to grow.

The Bang Tao area, in particular, has seen a sizeable uptick with several new venues popping up, each offering its own unique take on the beachside dining experience. One such venue that undoubtedly delivers on location, ambiance and the quality of its culinary offerings is NORA Beach Club.

Nestled beachside behind the Amora Beach Resort, NORA Beach Club immediately welcomes you with a warm and stylish vibe, including a spacious outside dining area with sea views and a pristine interior restaurant offering diners the best of both worlds. We opt for the latter and, with expectant hungry stomachs, are quick to assess the merits of the extensive and varied menu.

For starters we select Gambas al Ajillo, Andaman prawns in homemade chili garlic butter. Having tasted numerous truly fine tapas over the years, our standards are high, so we are delighted when we quickly realise this offering is genuinely on a par with some of the best we have ever enjoyed.

We also select the Thai Board, a smorgasbord of delights incorporating chicken satay, goong sarong, pla salmon, chicken wings and shrimp spring rolls. This dish truly shines. The range of flavours complement one another perfectly and provide an exciting and delicious tasting journey. A special mention must go to the homemade curry mayonnaise which is absolutely fantastic!

With our taste buds suitably warmed up we then eagerly await our main courses: Risotto Lobster and an Australian Black Angus Ribeye.

Both dishes deliver in impressive style. The Risotto of carnaroli rice, stracciatella, balsamic reduction, parmigiano and luscious lobster tail is divine. The rice is cooked perfectly, the flavours pop and – while some risottos can turn out stodgy and heavy – it is surprisingly light and very moreish.

The steak is sliced and cooked to melt-in-your-mouth perfection, accompanied by a range of delicious fresh vegetables and homemade hand-cut fries. An especially nice touch is the provision of multiple sauces on the side, allowing the diner to experience a choice of chimichurri, bearnaise or peppercorn – as opposed to being restricted to just one, which is often the case.

While we were delighted with our selection, it must be said it was not an easy decision; we were literally spoilt for choice, with an array of other mouth-watering options on the menu such as the Grilled Picanha Steak with Chimichurri, the Pulpo a Feira, the Lamb Shank, a plethora of Thai dishes and others all vying for our attention. Perhaps that justifies a return visit soon!

It is easy to see how NORA Beach Club’s executive chef Pui boasts over 30 years of five-star culinary experience; all the dishes we savour are classy and are clearly cooked with passion. The service team is warm and welcoming, attentive and helpful, while the light décor and soothing background music make for a very relaxing vibe. Furthermore, there is the option to venture out to the terrace to take in the spectacular beach and sea views while enjoying a post-dinner drink, or to slink into a sun lounger to snooze off the culinary delights just consumed.

In an increasingly competitive space NORA Beach Blub offers a truly memorable dining experience in a relaxed environment at extremely reasonable prices. Recommended and one we will be returning to soon.