BITESIZE

RESTAURANTS WE RECENTLY REVIEWED

Touka

Bandara Suites Silom, Sala Daeng Road Call 02-236-8230 Stylishly decked out to evoke the feeling of a modern Japanese gastropub, this newly opened izakaya restaurant serves up a variety of kushiyaki (grilled meat on skewers), nabe (hot pot) and some light dishes from the ever-sizzling open kitchen, bordered by the dining counter. The tori tsukune (Japanese-style grilled chicken meat ball, 80 baht-90 baht per skewer) is superb. As are the skewered pork belly-daikon roll (80 baht) and skewered wagyu beef with wasabi (180 baht).

Starter worth noshing is kaisen carpaccio (180 baht), an exhibition of fresh tuna, salmon and Hokkaido giant scallop with house-made dressing. While the Hakata-style hot pot (350 baht) isn’t just tastebud-enchanting but also real value for money. For dessert, try warm sweet red bean soup with chargrilled glutinous rice cake (120 baht).

Open daily, 5-11pm. Park at Bandara Suites’ car park. Credit cards accepted.

L’Atelier de Joel Robuchon Bangkok

MahaNakhon Cube, 5th floor Narathiwat Ratchanakharin Road Call 02-001-0698 Opened a few weeks ago, L’Atelier de Joel Robuchon Bangkok serves up contemporary haute French delicacies in tapas-like portions at the convivial dining counter that borders the open kitchen.

From the 30-item à la carte menu, best-sellers include salmon tartare with imperial caviar (1,900 baht), seared sea scallops with kumquat reduction (1,900 baht), roasted Brittany lobster with black pepper sauce (2,300 baht), Pyrenees milk-fed lamb cutlet with potato purée (1,100 baht) and free-ranged quail stuffed with foie gras (900 baht).

L’Atelier’s compilation of desserts (600 baht each) features the likes of warm Guanaja chocolate souffle with Sicilian pistachio ice cream and sugar sphere with Amoua strawberry and basil-flavoured milk foam. Service, by a team of international staff, is charming for its five-star efficiency and genuine cordiality.

Open daily, 11.30am-2.30pm and 6.30-10.30pm. Park MahaNakhon Cube. Credit cards accepted.

Vogue Lounge

MahaNakhon Cube, 6th floor Narathiwat Ratchanakarin Road Call 02-001-0697 The fourth dining establishment in the world officially inspired by the iconic fashion magazine, the all-day dining restaurant with an awe-inspiring outdoor zone serves up contemporary haute cuisine by a Michelin-starred French chef.

Presented in neat, tasting portions, the menu changes according to the season’s best harvests and come at a fixed price of 350 baht for a savoury dish and 250 baht for a sweet selection. Don’t miss otoro sashimi with lemongrass beef jelly; diver’s scallop à la plancha with Iberico paleta; pan-seared line-caught sea bass with savoy cabbage, green apple and Béarnaise sauce; grilled Aveyron lamb rack with artichoke barbajuan; Japanese wagyu beef sirloin with black truffle potatoes and smoked bone marrow butter; and frozen matcha sphere dessert.

Open daily, 10am-midnight. Park at MahaNakhon Cube. Credit cards accepted.