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Published on July 29, 2007

The occasion was the first-anniversary party at what is likely Bangkok's largest something-for-everybody restaurant and sports bar.

The tongue-in-cheek comment reflected general knowledge that word of free food and drink spreads like wildfire among the local pub crowd.

Commenting on attendance judged about 500 through the evening, co-owner and general manager Dana Caron said with a grin, "Sure I knew all of them, even if some don't come in that often."

Whoever they were, they managed to consume 400 pulled-pork barbecued sandwiches, 500 Buffalo-style chicken wings and dozens of kilos of coleslaw and fried potatoes. All of this was washed down with 13 kegs of beer, three cases of wine and two cases of various distilled spirits, not to mention numerous litres of soft drinks.

The celebration encompassed much more than surviving one year in an extremely competitive business.

"The Roadhouse is a project that has been in the works for five years, including planning and securing the right location, and then almost two years to remodel the site to meet our specifications," explained Caron.

A long-established, three-storey antique store at Rama IV and Suriwongse Road answered the site location problem.

Remodelling presented unexpected problems that required reinforcing with steel beams to support heavier loads. Special wood planks and large building bricks had to be sourced to develop the ambience sought by the partners. Then the kitchen had to be ventilated to accommodate custom-designed smoker ovens.

Caron proved to be the perfect partner in this complex development with his 25-plus years' experience in the food-and-beverage business. Formerly director of food services for the Miami Dolphins football team in Florida, Caron moved to Thailand as food and beverage director for the then-new Bitec complex, where he remained until starting the Roadhouse project.

Anyone who has visited the Roadhouse more than a couple of times will likely be surprised when the staff welcomes them by name. Among the best trained in the entire city, their cheerful and professional attitudes make it a pleasure to return.

You can't beat the beer selection, with 12 drafts dispensed on both the ground and third floors from a specially designed refrigerated storage and transfer room. Wine prices are among the most competitive in the city, with selections including several hard-to-find California wines.

Not into sports bars? The Roadhouse is now featuring portions of its menu and a pleasant selection of its wines at the Nielsen-Hays Library on Suriywongse Road. Enjoy gallery art, a wonderful collection of books and a pleasant lunch there.

Who knows where the Roadhouse will turn up next?

The phone number is (02) 236 8010.