The Grotto — Restaurant in Krabi Province

The Emperor's New Clothes Normally I feel guilty when writing a bad review because most staff try to please, and that is the case this time.

However! 7,500 thb/£185 gbp for two for an average meal except for wagyu beef that was appalling. More expensive than 1 and 2 Michelen star restaurants in London. The bill did not include wine which started at 2,100 thb + VAT + service/£60 a bottle or 600++ baht/£17 a glass. I know the Rayavadee is a premium resort, but those prices are silly.

The beef was full of gristle and the fat wasn't rendered - half of it was not edible. Was it real wagyu beef? It was not melt in the mouth marbled beef that I have had before. The rest of the food was mediocre (tuna tataki - dry/summer salad - mainly lettuce leaves with, seriously, two beans, no seeds, one very finely cut slice of red pepper and two small pieces of avocado), average (Szechuan aubergine), ok (asparagus tempura/smoked aubergine); the cheeses and cooked meats could have been brought from a supermarket - surely something more imaginative could have been provided. The table next to us were not happy with their lobster, but didn't say anything to the staff although they cancelled their booking for the next evening.

We had to order our 3 courses 24 hours in advance which is daft - any half competent restaurant can cope with orders on the night. And we didn't really want 3 courses but we had no choice. A straightforward a la carte steak/shellfish menu would be so much better.

The staff were pleasant but the service is not as good as the rest of the resort - we had to ask repeatedly for items we had ordered and the bill for drinks we had at lunchtime was wrong.

The other two restaurants on site are expensive as well but at least the food, especially at Krua Phra Nang, is excellent.

The staff are really nice and obliging, these comments are aimed at the management of the restaurant and the resort.

PS The actual experience didn't match the photos we took which look great. The seats were uncomfortable and we were looking out to darkness with our backs to the cave. It's a shame we had to endure such poor/average food, sloppy service and pay so much to get the photos.

PPS the resort is fantastic and we had a great time. We will return - but not...

My recent visit to The Grotto, nestled within the Rayavadee resort in Railay Beach, Thailand, left me deeply dissatisfied—not due to the food, which was passable, but rather the abysmal treatment we received from the restaurant manager. Despite the decent decor and acceptable cuisine, it was the manager's attitude that truly soured our experience.

Right from the moment we stepped in, it was evident that we were not regarded as valued guests. Instead, we felt like mere afterthoughts, undeserving of even the most basic courtesy. The manager's hospitality seemed reserved exclusively for hotel guests, relegating us, mere diners, to a secondary status. The experience only worsened during the ordering process, with the manager displaying a notable degree of aggression and unprofessionalism. This was particularly distressing for my wife, who felt even more slighted by the manager's attitude while inquiring about the drink options.

Furthermore, our disappointment was compounded when we discovered discrepancies between the menus, with one lacking water options. Despite bringing this to the manager's attention, she failed to address the issue adequately, instead displaying frustration when we sought clarification.

Throughout the entire ordeal, the manager's indifference was palpable. She barely spared us a glance, let alone extending a greeting or showing any interest in our satisfaction. It seemed as though our presence was nothing more than an inconvenience to her, with her disdain thinly veiled. This stark contrast between her warm demeanor towards hotel guests and the cold indifference towards us was not only disappointing but deeply disheartening.

While the food and decor were passable, they were overshadowed by the manager's attitude, which tainted the entire dining experience. It is truly disheartening to feel unwelcome in an establishment that prides itself on hospitality. In the future, I will be seeking dining options elsewhere, where all patrons are treated with the respect and courtesy they...

Me and my partner experienced the twilight dinner menu which was a very standard meal - nothing special. The choice of appetisers was limited to cheese and pork options. We asked for an alternative to pork which we were only given one choice of a beef belly alternative (which arrived full of fat). This initially really tasted like pork and we told the manager however the chef approached our table and reassured us it is not pork (which I still highly doubt and I continue to question why this option wasn’t provided on the menu to begin with). The chef continued to explain how he worked in Dubai and other places hence why he wouldn’t give us pork (which was irrelevant). The aubergine starter was served cold with no taste. For the expensive price paid, you would expect a much more quality tasting meal.

Moving onto the service provided, it was awful to say the least. The manager did not smile once and as she tried to place the napkin on my lap, I kindly said it’s fine as I would like to take some photos of the set up table, and she abruptly put the napkin back down and stayed silent the whole time whilst adding other things to other table. We didn’t receive the warm, friendly feeling whilst eating here.

The scenery is beautiful and you may not have much choice for dinner in Krabi, however if you don’t visit this place, you won’t miss out on...