Entering the Andara Resort in Kamala for the first time is quite an experience; the huge high ceilings, the dark wood furnishings and large fixtures make for a very pleasing and grand welcome.

The exclusive villa resort officially opened late last year and has been competing with its luxurious neighbour Cape Sienna ever since.

Both offer exquisite views of Kamala bay, have 5-star rooms, and wonderful d?cor? what?s a discerning wealthy Phuket patron to do?

Isara Pangchan, the Sales and Marketing manager beams with pride as she explains, ?Khun Oi is fabulous, I think it needs to be a women to cook Thai food properly and offer interesting presentation.?

Well, for the first time outside guests will be able to test this theory as the Silk restaurant swings its doors open to everyone seven days a week. Lunch is served from 11-5pm and dinner from 5pm-10.30pm.

There are 38 tables that can seat up to 112 people within the dining section. Along with the air conditioned indoor section is the outdoor section, which is located to the left and right of the restaurant so as to not impede the wonderful views.

There is also ample space surrounding the swimming pool, which is perfect for private parties or functions.

In fact marketing the Andara and Silk restaurant as a sought after social spot is very much part of Food and Beverage manager Manit Vihockrat?s plans, ?In the future we will have regular weekend events, our pool bar serves drinks all evening and between 4-7pm drinks are discounted.?

On the weeknight that I attended, the restaurant and poolside area was relatively empty and the buzz rather dim, which is a shame considering its wonderful location.

For the starter, it was Silk Ruam Mit (415 baht); a kind of platter of different meats and accompanying sauces. This was a great way of stirring the appetite, the Phuket Noodle Wrapped Prawns came with mango sauce, the fresh spring rolls came with sesame sauce, the chicken in Pandamus leaf came with a chili sauce and fish cakes with a plum sauce, but if you were a culinary maverick you could mix and match the sauces to your liking. A little bit of everything, and served really well.

As mention of the implementation of a new Italian menu had been previously made, I decided to order a true Italian classic; spaghetti bolognese (485 baht). The pasta was al dente, the sauce was great and beef cooked really well. Nice. The price of 485 baht however I believe was a little high considering the dish is really the Italian equivalent of beans on toast. But in places like Andara you are not only paying for the food but the setting, atmosphere and service.

The service throughout the evening was wonderful and the staff were incredibly attentive and were able to converse in English, due largely to Andara?s decision to employ a full time English teacher who provides instruction to all 300 members of staff so that they may better interact with guests.

As I eat relatively cheap and tasty Thai food every day, I have to admit that probably partly because of the high pricing structure for international food in Phuket and that a simple European dish is now considered foreign cuisine, I have quite wrongly, I think, (considering the situation would be reversed if this was in my home country) started associating European cuisine with a gastronomic apex and definitely a treat to savour.
Conversely I was, until that night, perplexed at what high-end Thai cuisine had to offer. I mean, I eat a pretty damn near perfect yellow curry for less than 100 baht. My other favourite, chicken massaman, for 90 baht - absolutely delicious. So in how could this be improved?

The difference was unfortunately marked, I say unfortunately because ever since the night at Andara, my 100 baht yellow curry and chicken masaman has never tasted the same.
The Andara massaman curry comes with either chicken (355 baht) or beef (465 baht) and both contain extracts of pumpkin to the sauce that gives it a much creamier piquancy that I am used to.

Andara also has an exceptional wine menu, fully stocked wine cellar and wine store where guests can shop for the best that fermented grapes can offer.

The setting of Andara is perfectly located to take in the wonderful sights of Kamala. The d?cor is rich and interesting and food at the Silk restaurant is quite exquisite. It also still has the air of being largely undiscovered, however I?d like to predict that this won?t remain that way for too long.

For information on how to cook the perfect chicken massaman curry and a coupon to get 15% off meals at the Silk restauarant, pick up the latest issue (130) of the Phuket Post.