Blue Elephant Phuket Cooking School & Restaurant — Restaurant in Talat Nuea

ERWIN : From the moment we stepped into the restaurant, it was clear we were in for a great evening — and that feeling was elevated tenfold thanks to Erwin, who provided some of the best waiter service I’ve ever experienced.

Erwin greeted us with genuine warmth and a professional, confident demeanor that instantly made us feel welcome and well taken care of. It wasn’t just about being polite — he had that rare ability to make you feel like a valued guest rather than just another table. He was attentive without being intrusive, friendly without being overly casual, and impressively knowledgeable about the entire menu, including ingredients, portion sizes, and flavor profiles.

We had a few dietary restrictions and specific preferences, and Erwin handled everything with patience and precision. Not only did he suggest thoughtful modifications to certain dishes, but he also confirmed each one with the kitchen to ensure there would be no surprises. He made recommendations that were spot-on — it felt like he understood our taste preferences even before we did.

Throughout the meal, Erwin timed everything perfectly. Water glasses were never empty, plates were cleared at just the right moment, and when we lingered between courses, he read the situation and never rushed us. He managed to juggle several tables yet still gave each of us his full attention when needed, always with a calm and composed attitude.

What really stood out was Erwin’s natural charm and sincere enthusiasm for his work. He wasn’t just doing a job — he was curating an experience. Whether it was his warm smile, his ability to anticipate our needs, or his subtle humor that lightened the mood, Erwin turned a simple dinner into something truly memorable.

By the end of the evening, we were already talking about coming back — not just for the great food, but to be served by Erwin again. He is a rare kind of professional who elevates an entire establishment through his dedication, personality, and impeccable sense of hospitality.

If I could give more than five stars, I would. Thank you, Erwin, for setting the gold standard for service. Restaurants need more people like you — and guests like us will keep coming back...

Horrible Experience - Ruined Our Vacation and Dangerous Careless Management

I visited the Blue Elephant restaurant in Phuket on the 18th of August 2024 with my friends while on vacation, and it ended up being a complete disaster that really put a damper on our trip. We had heard good things about the restaurant's Thai cuisine, so we decided to try it out. Big mistake.

Within a few hours of eating there, my friends and I (5 of us) 4 started feeling incredibly sick with severe food poisoning symptoms. We ended up stuck in our hotel room for the next two days, completely miserable and unable to enjoy any of the activities we had planned. The intense nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea we experienced was absolutely debilitating. It completely ruined the first part of our vacation. We ended up having 2 of the 5 people hospitalized.

On top of the horrible physical discomfort, we also had to cancel and miss out on several excursions and experiences we were really looking forward to. All of those plans were wasted because we were stuck in our hotel room recovering from the food poisoning.

What's even more concerning is that this doesn't seem to be an isolated incident. After searching online, I found multiple other reviews from people who had similar experiences of getting sick after eating at the Blue Elephant. It's clear the management of this restaurant is being extremely careless with food safety and quality control.

I would never recommend the Blue Elephant to anyone visiting Phuket. The food quality is clearly not up to par, and the resulting illness was an absolute nightmare that put quite a damper on our entire vacation. Avoid this restaurant at all costs if you want to have an enjoyable and trouble-free trip. The management's apparent disregard for customer health and safety is unacceptable.

Its a shame that this restaurant is a Michelin star, i will file a complaint on this restaurant on Michelin guide website as well.

I have edited my comment to include the date of my visit which is the 18th of August 2024, in an attempt to reply to the comment from...

My second time at this amazing place! I think I had first come here about 15 years ago and now I am back again. That time I had walked in alone and yet was treated so well and the cocktails and food and service were so impeccable that I had to return. Thai people are so beautiful and kind almost everywhere, but this is undoubtedly the classiest and most upscale restaurant on the entire island IMHO.

Everything is perfection! Our service manager Jane was highly professional, elegant, and charming. Everyone on staff were attractive with beautiful smiles and welcoming graciousness. Highly recommend the following course:

Photos on grounds Cocktails at bar Voyage du Bleu Elephant full course Blue Elephant house red wine (French) Tour of dining hall and banquet area Buy porcelain teapot elephant at store

The cocktails were just so beautiful and delicious. Very nice for pics. The ingredients they use for the food is very interesting and some I've never heard of before such as butterfly pea flower. Every dish was delicious and served with a detailed explanation.

I was invited to the restaurant in Bangkok and will definitely go. But the Phuket restaurant is just beautiful and so big. I think it was the former governor's mansion. You can wear shorts, but please dress nicely. There was an Indian guy who came wearing swim trunks and a cheap t-shirt. How disrespectful to the staff and other guests. He later changed to nicer shorts and a shirt thankfully.

Blue Elephant is an absolute must do in Phuket for those who can afford it!!! Any complainers are just losers/cheapskates who would not know excellent service or gourmet dining if they got hit in the face with it! You cannot get a fine dining experience like this for less than $300 per person in the US, so why are you complaining about the prices here when it's about one-third of that? These people need to stick to eating at the stalls and stick one up their XXXes... ;)

Love you from Korea! See...