Downtown Surin is unrecognisable to what it once was; with high-end boutique clothing stores and restaurants very much de rigeur now.

Indeed Warren Lucas ? Managing Director of Mantra Restaurant Group ?said one of the reasons he decided to open Surin?s newest restaurant ?Cudos?, of Surin?s as yet un-tapped potential.

?When I first came here I noticed a distinct lack of so many things, to get good quality international foods for example, one needs to travel all the way to Central Festival, so I will also be opening a delicatessen in Surin, hopefully by the end of the year.?

Mr Lucas has grand plans for Surin, as do many others including Hong Kong based businessman and owner of Andara, Alan Zeman, who will apparently be opening a range of luxury clothing stores in the new year. There are also plans to open a spa and even a British style pub in the area very soon.

But for now, Mr Lucas is taking it one step at a time is very much focused on his current project, the exquisitely designed and elegant Cudos Restaurant & Bar.

Cudos is located within walking distance of Surin Plaza and Opus One, a restaurant that he admits he has a little friendly rivalry with.

?We?re aware of what they do and they have a very loyal local following, we will definitely be helping each other improve in the future.?

There are obviously a lot of Italian restaurants on the island, so we didn?t want to do that. Instead we have a broad selection of Mediterranean cuisine. I think this really suits the climate.?

Mr Lucas referenced the tapas dishes especially as incredibly popular and not altogether dissimilar to the Thai concept of sharing food.

It is little wonder that such dishes are so popular, as they contain a wonderful assortment of raw, fried and braised dishes. Such delicacies include Garlic prawns with chorizo and chilli, (200 baht) and Chicken, jamon and almond croquettes (200 baht). Perfect to share with a glass of wine or ice cold beer.

Also featured on the menu is a unique selection of modern inspired dishes that capture the true essence of the finest Mediterranean flavours from Italy, Spain, Southern France, Greece, Turkey and North Africa.

The menu is not cluttered with too many dishes and contains obviously hand-picked favourites from Mr Lucas and Cudos chef, Belinda Tuckwell, who said that she was inspired and liked to create traditional, good rustic Mediterranean food.

Sea Bass with cauliflower and almond puree, parsley and caper dressing (500 baht) also comes with slices of lemon, and the citrusy juices blend delightfully with the sweetness of the almond puree.

Cudos is very much high end and this is very much reflected in the price of the dishes, but the dishes are all cooked with and to the highest quality, so it is quite justified.

The beautifully understated and earthy-toned interior of Cudos makes for an extremely relaxing and stylish dining experience.

Cudos will be displaying a regular run of both local and international artists and allowing them to exhibit their pieces. German national?s Tilo Kaiser?s ?Exuberance? exhibition is the first to hang his paintings on Cudos? high walls. Described as mixed media on canvas, his colourful pieces very much compliment the cool and chic atmosphere of the restaurant.

Despite the classy environment and exquisite food, Cudos still manages to maintain a very personable and friendly environment, with Australian-born chef, Belinda Tuckwell often coming to front of house to chat to customers, answer any questions and enquire as to their preferences.

?As long as it is of high quality, we try to source as many produce locally as possible, ? explained Chef Belinda, ?Including quite surprisingly, the mozzarella cheese.?

Chef Belinda said, ?There?s an Italian family who live in Patong who have some cows in Phang Nga, the milk comes from them, and the mozzarella is churned (made) right here in Phuket.?

Out the back, is the wonderfully designed coliseum ?esque curved back wall, which looks into out into the courtyard which Warren promises, will be the stage for many events to come, ?The acoustics are great here, so we may have a Spanish guitarist or stage show, the options are limitless.?

The rear garden bar offers open air enjoyment under the stars with a 60 foot tall majestic tamarind tree as it's canopy while the indoors features warm wood tones and custom designed lighting creating an ambient mood for late night entertaining with friends.

Testament to the appeal of Cudus, is that despite having only been open for 8 weeks, the restaurant already has many regulars and returning customers. Kudos to Mr Lucas for achieving that...