?LA BOUCHERIE? IS French for ?The Butcher? and although this may not be the most delightful of sounding restaurants once translated, the French chain of eateries are well-known the world over as a place that serves great and reasonably-priced French cuisine.

Located along Sawatdirak road, Patong, the restaurant attracts a steady stream of predominantly European guests who visit, often time and time Eating at The Butcher?s again, because they know what to expect, as they will have probably visited one of the 60-plus restaurants dotted around the globe.

F&B Manager, Nguyen Bao said, ?Customers know the name and seek us out. Sure they want to enjoy Thai food, but after a while they yearn for something that reminds them of home. We also get a lot of Italian, Russian and international guests.?

International diners will have a new place to dine from May, when La Boucherie will open a new branch of the chain along Soi Sansabas, with the ?adventurous? opening times of midday to 5am.

The Vietnam-born but French raised F&B manager hopes to capitalize on the Patong market of night-drinkers, and party-goers who are looking for something other than a kebab, pancake or burger when they?ve fallen out of the nightclubs.

There?s certainly a lot to choose from on La Boucherie's menu. There's a wide variety of French starters, including an Assiette Charcutiere, (250 baht) a plate containing an assortments of pate and cold meats (parma ham) and freshly baked slices of baguette.

A grazing way to start the meal, with lots of different flavours to savour. There is also wide selection of white meats and pasta dishes, but if you know about or have been lucky enough to dine in a La Boucherie restaurant, then they will know that people come there mainly for the red meat.

Entrecotes, T Bones, fatty steaks and the juicy 280g Chateaubriand's (590 baht) that I was lucky enough to eat. A deliciously thick and succulent steak recommended to me by the F&B manager.

Indeed there are so many different varieties of imported (NZ, Australia, Argentina) steaks, there is literally something for everyone, if you are a steak lover, then you will not be disappointed.

All of the mains come with a choice of side dishes, including Pommes Sautees (Fried potatoes with garlic and butter, Pommes en ?robe des champs? (Baked potato with garlic and butter or sour cream) among others and of course Pommes Frites.

Customers can also choose which sauce to drizzle over their steak, including pepper or blue cheese etc.

The meal was rounded off by a Caf? Gourmand (250 baht), which again is unflatteringly translated as the 'coffee glutton', and although you may feel like one dining upon hot coffee,brownie, fruits, cr?me brulee and warm hot chocolate, you are certainly to enjoy it in the manner that it was intended.

The staff, who whisk around in red and white-striped uniforms, are well attentive and well mannered, creating a distinctly French feel.

Upon recognising the need that many Patongites have for good quality food at a reasonable price, but perhaps without a lot of the 'distinctly French' pomp, they not only have a relaxed dining policy with regards to attire, but six months ago launched a delivery service.