Party Food Pattaya: the caterer we recommend for a housewarming

You have the keys, the furniture has arrived and the boxes are finally gone. The next thing most new owners want to do is invite people round. For a housewarming, or any party at home, there is one caterer I send people to: Party Food Pattaya.

This is part of a series on local businesses we are happy to put our name beside. Nobody has paid to be included, and we do not take a commission for sending you there.

A personal connection

I should start with a confession, because this one goes back a long way.

Party Food Pattaya is run from The Sportsman on Soi 13, off Pattaya Beach Road. The Sportsman was my first job in Pattaya, 22 years ago. It is where I started in this town, long before property, so I have a soft spot for the place.

The business is owned by Dave Bowers, who is a very good friend of mine. So I am not a neutral observer. What I can tell you is that I have been a paying customer many times over the years, and I keep going back.

Why we recommend them

I have used them lots of times. For parties and events of my own, more than I can count. A recommendation means more when it comes from someone who has paid the bill.

It is always great value. You get a lot of food for the money. For a housewarming, where you are feeding a crowd and have just paid for a property, that matters.

The food is good. Good-quality food, properly made, the kind guests go back to the table for.

There are lots of set options. You do not have to design a menu from nothing. You pick a buffet for the number of people coming, add anything extra you fancy, and it is done. For someone who has never ordered catering in Thailand, that makes it easy.

In my view, they are the only ones doing party food properly. Plenty of restaurants in Pattaya will cook for a party if you ask. Party Food Pattaya has been doing it as its main business since 1997, and it shows.

What you can order

• Finger food buffets, sized for 40, 60 or 100 guests.
• Canapé buffets for a smarter occasion.
• Roasts and carving dishes, including roast meats with sides and a leg of pork with crackling.
• BBQ selections, burgers and hot dogs.
• Hot dishes such as cottage pie, beef stew, chilli con carne and chicken schnitzel.
• Thai food: curries, stir-fries, fried rice and spicy salads, which is useful when your guests are a mix of Thai and foreign friends.
• Cheese boards, cold cuts, seafood platters, salads and breads.
• Kids' party packages.

They cater for parties of up to 200 people.

What it costs

Party Food Pattaya publish their prices. At the time of writing, a finger food buffet is listed at 3,900 baht for 40 people, 5,900 baht for 60 and 9,500 baht for 100. That works out at under 100 baht a head. Prices change, so check with them when you order.

How it works

• Give them notice. Two days or more is preferred, though they can sometimes help at shorter notice.
• Collect or have it delivered. There is no minimum order if you collect from The Sportsman. For delivery, a small fee may apply depending on the size of the party and where you live.
• Plates and cutlery are included. Disposable plates, knives and forks come with a delivery, and proper plates and cutlery can be arranged if you ask.
• Hot food stays hot. Hot dishes arrive in warming dishes with burners.
• Extras are available. Tables and chairs, serving staff and even a stocked bar with bar staff can be added if you need them.

If you are not sure how much to order, ask. They have been doing this for nearly thirty years and will tell you what a party of your size needs.

A tip for a housewarming in a condo

Check your building's rules before you send the invitations. Many condominiums ask you to register guests, limit noise after a certain hour, or require you to book shared areas such as a pool deck or function room. A quick word with the juristic office avoids an awkward knock on the door halfway through the evening.

How to find them

Party Food Pattaya
At The Sportsman, Soi 13, Pattaya Beach Road
Phone: 038 710 609 or 087 137 6138
Website: partyfoodpattaya.com
Facebook: Party Food Pattaya

Tell Dave that Shane sent you.

A note on our recommendations

We only write about businesses we would use ourselves or send our own clients to. If you use one of them and it does not go well, tell us. A recommendation is only worth something if we are prepared to hear that.

Still looking for the home to throw the party in? Browse our properties for sale and properties for rent, or get in touch with the team.