Walk into Ramayana in the King Power Complex on Soi Rangnam off the Victory Monument, and your first impression is: "My, this place is big!"

The King Power people are serious about buffets, and last August, when they opened the restaurant, they ensured that the place could seat over 540 easily.

Yet Ramayana is not just one huge hall. Decorated with artefacts and murals based on the Ramayana epic, the place has a certain charm about it: rows of khon masks and ornate giant and monkey puppets, and at one end, a 60-metre-long mural depicting scenes from the epic.

One end of the restaurant can even be closed off for private parties and meetings, and tables in the main hall can be re-arranged as well.

At the food area, two long rows of tables hold a range of dishes - Western, Japanese, Chinese and Thai - along with separate carving areas. The layout is spacious. Even large groups of diners pass easily from one holding tray to another without much congestion.

The range of food is under the guidance of executive chef Nattavut Waitayawanit. Nattavut, from Nonthaburi, has had experience in various hotels and restaurants, including a four-year stint with the Outback steakhouse and a position with Accor Hotel, Mercure Pattaya. 

Now with Novotel, which is managing Ramayana, Chef Nattavut has a lot on his plate, creating buffets for 540 people twice a day as well as planning for future Novotel openings. The affable chef enjoys his work immensely. "I love challenges," he says.

This month, he has launched two promotions: cracked-pepper crab and suckling pig. These attractive dishes are already crowd-pleasers.

As a bonus, each meal is highlighted with a performance by the Joe Louis Puppet Troupe.

You can get to Ramayana by Skytrain. Get off at Victory Monument, and when you walk down Soi Rangnam, look for the glass dome with the glass elevator.

The tariff for the buffet is Bt400 (lunch), Bt600 (dinner). Wine by the glass is Bt290.

Laurie Rosenthal

The Nation