Review

Guilty Samui, part of the picturesque Anantara Samui resort, overlooks the white sands of Bophut beach towards Fisherman Village promenade. The party starts with tasty cocktails prepared table side, making for an engaging show. The menu is a fusion of South American tastes with playful Japanese influences, combining fresh local products with Latin American imports. Begin the fiesta with rich house-made guacamole using local avocados, again made at the table, followed by plancha-seared Hokkaido scallops with spicy yellow chilli and cheese sauce, perfectly partnering the premium-grade shellfish. Barbecued prawn skewers from the hibachi are flavoured with chilli aioli and lime, a piquant combination. Recommendations include Chilean blue mussels drizzled with flavour-packed salsa and crunchy crab croquettes with tarragon mayonnaise. The extensive menu offers many choices, from a lengthy raw section to an array of elegant sushi rolls. For mains, Chilean sea bass with Peruvian rice and a velvet rockfish sauce or choose from a wide range of meats, perhaps a wagyu Picanha or a T-bone, ideal for sharing or chargrilled lamb chops with taro puree surrounded by a punchy Malbec sauce. Ensure you take a dessert, whether chef specialty popsicles or innovative orange and lime churros with dulce de leche ice cream and dark chocolate sauce. The wine list provides a global selection. However, cocktails partner particularly well here.