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Dinner with a show is nothing new in Phuket, but CLC takes the idea several notches further. Short for ‘Come Leo Come’, the venue is packed with nods to Leonardo DiCaprio's best films – the lavish dining room has an unmistakable Great Gatsby feel.
Before the show begins, settle into deep blue and burgundy velvet banquettes beneath oversized chandeliers while imaginative drinks arrive at marble tables. The room gradually fills with a mix of Phuket regulars and visitors, although you’ll find everyone waiting for the same thing. The show, tantalisingly just minutes away.
Then, almost without warning, everything changes. Smoke rolls across the dining room, masked figures appear between the tables and laser beams slice through the haze as the soundtrack suddenly surges. Within moments, a stylish dinner gives way to a full theatrical production.
What can you expect from a night at CLC?
Quite simply, it’s a lot.
Singers, dancers, DJs, a roaming saxophonist and aerial performers move between the stage, bar and dining room. On the night we visited, the production had a flight theme, taking guests – or passengers, in this case – through destinations including France and Spain, with the music, choreography and costumes changing at each stop.
CLC runs a rotating programme of themed shows, so the experience can be very different depending on when you visit.
Honestly, not every performance was exactly my cup of tea. But judging by the overall applause, phones held high and smiling faces, my fellow audience members had a great time.
Birthday celebrations, date nights and groups of friends all seemed to find their own reason to enjoy the evening. By the end, the opening line describing CLC as 'not a show, moreover an experience, a moment’, made a little more sense.
Food follows the restaurant's Itameshi philosophy, bringing together Japanese and Italian influences across an extensive à la carte menu and a seven-course tasting experience.
We opted for the latter, featuring hamachi crudo sculpted into the shape of a rose, crab pasta and tagliata tenderloin. Presentation is imaginative throughout, although some of the bolder flavour combinations compete rather than complement one another at times. Around us sushi rolls appeared to be the most popular choice, with a conveyor belt of servers delivering what must be a tonne of rice by the end of the night.
Whether every act lands is beside the point. You come for the spectacle, stay for the surprises and leave wondering what on earth you've just watched.
CLC Phuket, Cherngtalay, Thalang. Open daily from 6pm. Live performances take place on selected evenings, check their schedule at clcphuket.com