The board walk at the Royal Phuket Marina is a romantic a setting as you could wish for. The pavement is broad and inviting, the space open and airy, and that delightful vision of yachts and boats against the foreground of Parisian-styled outdoor tables and umbrellas leads the sight ever farther upon the waters.

RPM has off-late been promoted as a lifestyle destination in its own right, and the many top-notch restaurants that line its facade certainly give this claim a generous boost. Les Anges was one of the pioneering restaurants on this marina, and has, over the months retained and extended its singular appeal.

The vision and expertise that has gone into this establishment is evident from the start.

The elaborate Les Anges signage itself is a give-away, and all you need is one look at the restaurant to know there has to be a true professional behind it. In fact, he is behind it, on top of it, and all over it. It is the talented and much-experienced hand of Peter Webber that makes this the uniquely charming space it is.

Chef Peter's genius for making mouth-watering chocolate and gourmet food is rivaled only by his ability to design a space that is at once classily opulent and exquisitely comfortable; reassuringly friendly and engagingly private.

European-style murals behind the linear bar and paintings of a similar genre showcased artfully around the restaurant create a distinct Mediterranean feel, enhanced by the marina views out the large windows. Funky classic-modern chandeliers add to the dramatic tableau and the elements of wood and light have been used to great success.

Mammoth sofas on the right hand side of the dining section invite you to sink in with a sigh and elsewhere; tables and chairs have been assiduously placed to maximise the sense of space.

Before you settle down, take a tour of the salad bar on the right...close your eyes ascetically as you pass the array of home-made chocolates to make it to the the breads and pastries lined on the far left- where the chocolate fountain is also to be found- and lastly dart into the ice-cream section. With that preview of what you can expect, you are know ready to be seated.

The beaming staff put you at ease immediately. Make yourself comfortable among the plush cushions as they hand you the menu...you will be staring at it a while. It is an extensive list, with a sm๖rgๅsbord of choices you'd be hard-pressed to find anywhere else on the island.

Making the choice ever more difficult is the knowledge that every one of the dishes is prepared with prodigious attention, infused with the best quality of ingredients, be they meat or veggies, and that every forkful will be nothing short of transporting.

The Sunday Brunch served from midday until 5 pm is the stuff of gastronomic dreams. A gourmet saga involving breads, cheeses, cold cuts and meats, a choice of main course, salads and desserts all at the bargain of 750 baht, with a complimentary glass of wine thrown in for good cheer. You want to starve all week to do that justice.

Having foolishly neglected to do so, we decided to save it for another time and chose from the a la carte menu instead. After tearing my gaze away from about fifty other tempting options I settled for the Beef Steak baguette sandwich with mushrooms and onions. An absolute winner. The beef was succulent and cooked to perfection, the onions and shrooms equally delicious. Even the salad on the side was excellent.

“Finally, a real sausage on Phuket!” came the delighted and rash exclamation from another diner at our table. This of course was followed by a wild scramble as everybody reached out for a bite of the colossal tube...and oh boy. Without a doubt, this was one of the tastiest sausages we've ever had, complimented beautifully by the flavours in the gravy.

The desserts at Les Anges, of course are legendary. And as stuffed as you may be after a baguette or sausage- the portions after all are generous; when the beaming staff bring around a plate of the most luscious looking desserts you've set your eyes on...there is nothing to do but succumb. Decadent. Devilish, even.

The chocolate truffle is a masterpiece, even to behold. In your mouth it is pure, chocolatey creamy Sin. Les Anges? More like El Diablo.

Slump blissfully into those magnificent sofas after one of these and for the time it takes you to be mobile again, Les Anges thoughtfully provides you with board games and magazines to amuse yourself with. After some sloppy backgammon moves and less-than-ingenious games of checkers, we reluctantly picked ourselves off our seats to wave goodbye to the smiling staff.

We will be back. There's the Brunch we missed out on, and Peter tells us they even do Afternoon Tea now. What'd we tell you...devilish.