Food: A perfect square for meals

PHUKET: For some, a day without street food is a day wasted, but for others, a real meal is one served up by a celebrity chef in a posh restaurant. And then there are the rest of us – not extreme in our choices – who enjoy good food, drinks and company. For us moderates, Karon Beach Square offers a nicely squared-out night.

With Phuket’s notorious traffic, taxi bothers and uneven sidewalks, restaurant hopping can be an ordeal. Add in a bit of rain, high-season congestion and your fun night out might not turn out exactly as planned. This is where Karon Beach Square comes to the rescue, with its all-in-one concept of food, drink and chill.

Located in ever-busy Karon, the Square is all about convenience and spares you the trouble of looking for a place to eat, then moving on to a bar for a drink or a lounge to chill out in. Karon Beach Square has it all in one place and eliminates hassle in a masterful way.

I can’t claim I tried all the food the Square has to offer; that’d be impossible in a single evening. I did, however, gobble through the churrasco all-you-can-eat buffet at the Brazilian Grill El Gaucho and if the other eateries at the Square can match that quality, I’ll soon be moving there. Each slice of meat that landed on my plate that evening, brought directly to the table from a long skewer straight from the barbecue, was grilled to absolute perfection. And with 12 different kinds of meat on the menu, I have just one piece of advice: go there hungry.

Not in a mood for a grilled feast? Don’t worry, Karon Beach Square has still got you covered. You can indulge in the best of Asian dishes, including those of Thailand and Vietnam, at the Orient Asia restaurant; munch on a pizza or some homemade baked goodies at Cafe Studio; or share some finger food, wraps and salads at Mint before you and your friends round the night off with a drink prepared by a professional mixologist at Mint’s bar.

A DJ provides the soundtrack and various live performances provide the entertainment – there is no need to wander the streets, no need to argue over Tripadvisor recommendations. Enjoying yourself at Karon Beach Square is as it should be – easy.

Karon Beach Square is located at 509 Patak Road Karon, in the Movenpick Resort & Spa. For more information go to facebook.com/Karonbeachsquare2014.

— Maciek Klimowicz