Buffalo Tavern

[rtjordan]

I would just like to say I have read what most people have had to say about the Buffalo Tavern most it seems by expats that live in Hua Hin some people that do not, but wish they could and most that want to eat in the cheapest places only. I went there as a tourist and enjoyed the whole experience. Since writing my first post, I have been in contact with Bill by e-mail and I have found him to be a family man who tries hard with the tools he has. He told me he doesn’t bother answering anything on the HHAD forum any more because it reminded him of a clip from the film the Life of Brian, the old crones are wearing false beards stoning the old bare chested man that mentioned Jehovah. He said it’s like one old girl starts to gripe and groan then they all come out of the woodwork and get brave with their little snipes.

When I lived in England at my mother’s house and now Japan where I have been living with my wife and children for the past 20 years we always had and have gravy on our Sunday roast, never on the side. I can’t understand how someone would waste their time griping about getting gravy on their roast. Unless they’re just jumping on the band wagon to have an anonymous gripe which it seems most do. Why do they not ask to have what ever on the side.

I have read most of the posts about the YOBT on HHAD, a big man gave a report if I am right some time ago about an experience some 7 years ago and it was about the old Buffalo Bills steak and grill apparently. In Bill’s defence I think I am right in saying he asked the big man to return and he would speak to him about it. I didn’t see that he persuaded him to return. Is the big man playing with words or thinking himself to be an Eagon Ronay type? You will be reading this post so I will also say you implied Bill has avoided you or that he should have waited for you to go to his restaurant and then rolled out the red carpet, in your own admission you had only been to his old restaurant 7 years earlier but after you slated him he invited you to his new restaurant, you didn’t make that clear did you!

At the start of your impartial report you said it was hot in the restaurant. When is it ever cold in Thailand? Do you have a place in Thailand? If so, do you always have the A/C on? Did you ask for it to be put on? Did you ask for a beer condom or ice?

You say your wife refused to eat at the restaurant because of the prices. Most people would say ‘‘you pay for what you get’’. I would say most Thai people are quite happy to eat cheaply on the side of the road rather than pay a bit more for better surroundings. I don’t think it is in the S/E Asian culture to dress up and go somewhere special for something nice to eat except the Asians in the higher echelons. It’s a well known fact that Asians eat to live, not live to eat. I would also say that most people would expect, and prefer to pay a bit more for better surroundings.

When my family and I were in Hua Hin we didn’t eat at YOBT every night as we like to get about and to see other parts of the town but all the food we ate in the restaurant was good fresh food and is much cheaper than we would pay for the same back where we live (Japan) and probably on par with the better restaurants in town. My wife and I are wine drinkers and I distinctively remember ordering a bottle most evenings we ate there as the prices were very reasonable compared to other restaurants.

You said that your food was very good but poorly presented. In fact you said some of the food was dumped on top of the other, now the way you explain that dumped, I don’t understand, how do you dump a set of ribs on top of a piece of chicken? You could have done with a few more chips (non crinkle cut) Just a question did you ask for more? I think you said the meat was cooked well and tasted good then you complain there was no offer of vegetables on the menu you said you read 6 times (was it 6x) I have checked on their website and have seen all that you have said was not offered, is there in black and white.

I could go on and on but I won’t. I will close by saying this may be a bit more expensive than the road side places that some of the Hua Hin expats are used to eating at but it really is a different quality and that is what you pay for (big plates, matching cutlery, cotton napkins, and comfortable chairs). You did say at the end of your unbiased report about the toilets, with the urinal being too high. I don’t recall experiencing a problem and I’m not 6ft 6 or whatever. In my opinion the whole place is the best looking place in Hua Hin, good food very clean toilets and worth a bit more than the 7 out of ten you gave it.

[Super Joe]

I will close by saying this may be a bit more expensive than the road side places that some of the Hua Hin expats are used to eating at

And the relevance of that comparison/come-cheap-dig is ??

That was really impartial, ahem.
So I've got to ask the staff to shut the windows, turn the fans off and turn the A/C on, yeah like I'm gonna do that.
Service charge issue not answered.

No thanks.
SJ

[Norseman]

I will close by saying this may be a bit more expensive than the road side places that some of the Hua Hin expats are used to eating at

What do you know about that?

I'll echo SJ "That was really impartial, ahem".

[caller]

2 posts, both about Bills and he edited his first post in response to my questioning whether YOBT was open in March 07? which is from when he said he had been visiting it.

Ho-hum

[Super Joe]

[Big Boy]

rtjordan,

Thank you very much for taking the time to read my post in depth. It is always very ingratiating to know somebody has taken the time to read your own views. It is even more ingratiating when that posting was on a thread that I started. However, it is a shame that you felt that you had to start a new thread in response to an existing thread.

You wrote:

you had only been to his old restaurant 7 years earlier but after you slated him he invited you to his new restaurant

in response to my opening statement:

I stated that I had experienced such bad service about 7 years ago, that I had vowed never to return again. After a bit of banter with Bill, I agreed to give it another go. I suggested that I turn up unannounced, and would post my experience. However, he was uneasy with that suggestion, and I agreed to make myself known to him. As things have turned out, Bill is away, so he has had no input to this report

I apologise profusely if my command of the Queen's English is not up to your standard. However, I do not believe I was hiding anything.

As Bill had decided to go walkabout when I chose to visit (I accept that I couldn't have expected him to have stayed in for the month of May on the off chance that I was telling the truth - I could have been anybody trying to wind him up on an open forum), to make my visit worthwhile; I had no choice but to leave my comments on the forum to await his return.

I am a man of my word, and I don't tell lies. As I have just said,

I had no choice but to leave my comments on the forum to await his return.

The content of my comments was for Bill's own consumption, and to be honest, I am only interested in a response from the man himself. However, although he hasn't responded directly to me, in response to Super Joe's comment

Service charge issue not answered.

I've heard from another customer that the Service Charge has been abolished.

I will not discuss the other points with you. However, if Bill would care to contact me, I will be than happy to discuss anything with the organ grider, rather than the monkey

[margaretcarnes]

I can undrstand why Bill is no longer taking part in these topics so will leave that alone. But rtjordan - I really can't see the reason for your comment about the road side stalls that expats are 'used' to eating at.
FYI expats generally aren't able - and/or don't want - to live like tourists.
They appreciate that some very good Thai food is available at road side stalls. Unlike stories we hear about places like Spain, where the expats have proliferated the growth of chippies and burger bars, HuaHinians are happy to integrate, eat fresh, and help the local economy at the same time.
Many - shock horror - even cook at home! So the inference that expats are somehow 'lowering' themselves by frequenting the stalls is, IMO, out of order, judgemental, and elitist.
But even more elitist is your suggestion that Thai women can't appreciate a nice restaurant - and food - unless they are of a certain class!
Gimme strength!

[redzonerocker]

FYI expats generally aren't able - and/or don't want - to live like tourists.

& can i add that some tourists prefer not to take the touristic route of a full english, fish & chips & kfc either!!!!!
i love the roadside cafe/stalls. not only do you get to experience & mix with the locals but the food is top nosh too

[Francois]

Hello Margaret,

I can understand why Bill is no longer taking part in these topics so will leave that alone.

Well this is a typical never ending chat. I do not know Bill but I guess he is a wise man

FYI expats generally aren't able - and/or don't want - to live like tourists. They appreciate that some very good Thai food is available at road side stalls. Unlike stories we hear about places like Spain, where the expats have proliferated the growth of chippies and burger bars, HuaHinians are happy to integrate, eat fresh, and help the local economy at the same time.

Not only expats... I'm retired, sharing my time between France and Thaïland, and I do not want to live like a tourist. I cannot imagine living in a country, even part time, without trying to integrate. My next step will be to learn some Thaï so that I can have better communication with locals.

Many - shock horror - even cook at home! So the inference that expats are somehow 'lowering' themselves by frequenting the stalls is, IMO, out of order, judgemental, and elitist.

Thank you for having said that...

But even more elitist is your suggestion that Thai women can't appreciate a nice restaurant - and food - unless they are of a certain class!

Sigh:(

Gimme strength!

And ignore this conscienciously...

[migrant]

Great post Margaret

[Randy Cornhole]

I cant understand when there is so much good cheap tasty Thai food around you would want to pay more and eat ferrang food. Generally it tastes 'bag o shite' I know the food is one of the aspects I enjoy about living here...

[Arcadian]

Hi. I am new member who has been reading this forum for some time, very interesting. On our first visit to HH in April, we liked the sound of Buffalo Bills but the tuk tuk drivers near our hotel, Baan Bayan, did not know of it, they even had a roadside conference with taxi drivers who could not help. Found it on the second visit in May but closed for lunch.

We loved HH so much we have bought a house which will be ready in April, can t wait.

Having left the UK over 5 years ago to live in Tunisia a move to LOS will not be too great a shock as the way of life is very similar regarding red tape driving etc.

Looking forward to meeting you soon.

[kendo]

I can undrstand why Bill is no longer taking part in these topics so will leave that alone. But rtjordan - I really can't see the reason for your comment about the road side stalls that expats are 'used' to eating at.
FYI expats generally aren't able - and/or don't want - to live like tourists.
They appreciate that some very good Thai food is available at road side stalls. Unlike stories we hear about places like Spain, where the expats have proliferated the growth of chippies and burger bars, HuaHinians are happy to integrate, eat fresh, and help the local economy at the same time.
Many - shock horror - even cook at home! So the inference that expats are somehow 'lowering' themselves by frequenting the stalls is, IMO, out of order, judgemental, and elitist.
But even more elitist is your suggestion that Thai women can't appreciate a nice restaurant - and food - unless they are of a certain class!
Gimme strength!

I totally agree with you Mags, eating off food carts and roadside restaurants is the real Thailand and all part of the culture i love it.I don't understand why people travel around the world and want to eat the same things they can in any western city or town, yes i do some times because the wife love's to eat in farang places and does really appreciate the food Like any other thai, my wife's world revolves around food expensive or cheap that does not matter, its about enjoying your food with friends thats what makes it good.
Thais are very carefull with money coming from a poorer country and it's only reasonable to see why they look at the prices in some of these tourist establishments and think it's expensive and would normaly choose to eat cheaper and more healthy elsewhere.
Big Boy is entitled to his opinion, and i don't really get why this newbie, has started a new thread to have a pop at him, Bill has had the opportunity to reply and has chosen not to.

[Spitfire]

Last time I went to said tavern was a couple of months ago because the wife wanted a steak, so fine. Food was OK but the service charge was a bit cheesey, but as said that might have gone now. Agree with kendo about this thread being unusual.

[Governor]

Well I am not sure if I ought to be making my comments on this thread, but it's here, I have found it so I will take advantage of it.

I used to live in Hua Hin but for various reasons I am currently working and living in Bangkok, though I expect to return shortly.

I have been to Buffalo Bills before and no doubt I will go again, but I am not a mate of his, so there is no hidden agenda in my views. Not of course that there has been any hidden agenda with anything stated by other posters.

I am retired but am doing some consultancy work in Bangkok, but I still have to watch the pennies, sorry Baht. I came to Thailand because I enjoy its diverse culture and the food is very much a part of that culture. I love Thai food, in fact I was in Malaysia last week where actively sought out a Thai restaurant, but I also love English food as I do Indian, Chinese and any other food that takes my fancy. In Bangkok I eat Thai anywhere from a classy restaurant to a road side shack, each of which has its advantages and disadvantages. I also eat English type fare on an occasional basis, various levels of quality and price.

I was staying at The Hilton, and decided to eat out and to give BB's a try as a really fancied some fish and chips. I passed a number of empty restaurants on the way, some advertising fish and chips, but I was determined to make it to BB's, and I am glad I did.

The restaurant, whilst not full, had a fair number of people in there, and I have to say the place had a nice feel to it. I was attended to very quickly by a charming waitress; I ordered a beer and waived away the menu indicating that I wanted fish and chips. I waited a few minutes for my food to arrive and when it arrived it was well presented and it was obviously freshly cooked, I have to say it was worth the visit, it certainly put some chippies I have been to in the UK to shame.

The only downside to the evening was when a guy came in, and I think he was English, who was giving the Thai staff a lot of verbal abuse because of the Thai smoking laws, he was accusing them of being self righteous and all in all was very rude to them.

I paid very slightly more than I could have done in one of the empty restaurants which may or may not have been as good, but the ambience alone was worth it for me. I eat fish and chips fairly regularly in Bangkok, usually paying a lot more.

I left contented and having noted that the service charge had been dropped, left a tip bigger than would have been added to the bill for the good service, and was happy to do so.

The following evening I eat in one of the Thai seafood restaurants and the food was just about ok, the service poor and the price was on a par with BB's, if not slightly more.

The purpose of this post, well just to thank Bill and his staff for a good meal and a very pleasant evening.

In the words of someone famous, whose name escapes me, "I'll be back".