I’ve lost count of how many times I have been disappointed upon hearing that a particular restaurant’s cuisine is a fusion of East and West, so when I arrived at the newly opened ‘The Point Bistro’, opposite Big C, I was unprepared to finally find a dish that could lay a genuine stake to the classification.

The ‘real deal’ was ‘Scallop Cappuccino’ (150 baht) which was a pan fried Japanese scallop with a mushroom and bacon sauce with a layer of foam on top. The delicious sauce begged for the complimentary warm homemade bread, to be ducked in (when no-one is looking). I was therefore intrigued and excited about what I would receive next.

I complimented Chef Ittipol Samran on the ‘Scallop Cappucino’ and he explained its origins, “I wanted to make the dish differently and I was thinking about coffee at the time.”

Over ninety percent of the dishes on the menu are Chef Ittipol’s creations. “It’s a mix between Italian and Thai style, which is also the concept of the restaurant,” he explained.

The next dish was no different; lobster bisque soup (110 baht). This light and creamy soup came with a side of fried shrimp and a slice of garlic bruchetta, which was a lovely little addition to the meal.

As I sat sipping my soup, I stared out of the window and saw the cars zoom by seemingly unaware of what gastronomic delights could be enjoyed if they just slowed and pulled off the busy motorway opposite Big C. Next came the main course which was Stewed Beef Cheek (320 baht). The meat was slowly cooked in red wine and served on a bed of mashed potatoes and vegetables, the meat was so tender that it just fell apart on the fork and the sweet red wine certainly added something extra to the meal and added to the gravy’s delicious flavour. There was also a small dish of seasoned mustard for the diner to add to his/her discretion.

All that remained was the dessert which was a coffee Tirimasu cake (120) with a few pieces of fruit. Battle commenced between the citric flavours of the fruit and the acidity of the cake for the dominance of my taste buds.

After my dessert I was thoroughly satisfied. All the meals come with a large enough portions to satisfy the hungriest of customers without over facing the nibblers.

With so many quality dining restaurants on Phuket offering so many beautiful views in touristy locations, the ‘Point Bistro’ will certainly be competing for those who have already so much variety.

Manager and partner of The Point Bistro, Pimroirat Dechanipot is not dis-heartened by this inevitability and the number of guests in the restaurant in the early evening certainly encourages and supports her relaxed disposition.

Khun Pimroirat said, “We are targeting the people who are driving to and from the airport and also the people shopping.”

The close proximity of shopping centers Big C and Central Festival mean that the ‘Point Bistro’ will also appeal to the shoppers searching for more than just the bland food on offer at the food courts or the large food chains.

So if you’ve had a busy day shopping or need a break for refreshment or replenishment before returning for more, you could do much worse than visiting here, but if you are just looking for convenience over high quality dining then you’re missing the ‘Point’.