WINE ME DINE ME
Abbot Restaurant & Bar takes diners on a sunshine-filled culinary ride down the California coast.
THE SET-UP
THE MENU
INSIDER TIP SOCIAL MEDIA MOMENTS
VALUE & VERDICT
We think Abbot’s California cuisine is a fresh addition to Bangkok’s dining scene. Jaded foodies should be able to discover something new here. It’s great for a meal with friends or a romantic outing. And, if you want to get lucky with your date later (perhaps that’s why they call it Cali-fornication... get it?), order oysters — lots of them — and hope he or she takes the hint.
The dishes are presented with style, but not in a pompous or over-thetop manner. Fresh oysters served on a wooden tray with pebbles and fake ice are Instagram-ready. For the best oyster selection of the day (B340++ for three pieces), we received Fine de Claire from France. The bivalved beauties are tender and juicy, while a bit of ketchup with radish (an unusual but satisfying mix) takes the edge off the raw oysters. Bite-size cubes of Balinese ahi tuna “poke” covered in coconut oil (B350) should pique your interest. The Hawaiian-style fish salad impresses with cold but refreshing yellowfin tuna, before a slight heat and salty sensation lingers on your palate. Another refreshing dish is Whole beetroot roast & friends (B120). The sweet purple beet and peppery rocket sound like two pals who don’t have anything in common, but actually complement each other well. What threw us off about the dish, though, was the raspberry kombucha at the bottom of the plate — its sourness was too much for our liking. Smoky half chicken spinach & cherry tomatoes (B475) is in no way a half-baked job. The meat is in just the right place between tender and firm, served on a crisp veggie bed with slightly sour dressing. Pasta peeps should be chuffed with Le Bettola’s pappardelle Bolognese (B525). The broad, flat strips of pasta catch all the goodies as you twirl it up with a fork. A stewed mix of pork, beef and lamb in tasty and aromatic sauce is super juicy, while the vegetables almost melt in your mouth. Those with a sweet tooth may go nuts over Hyper multi-nut pie (B295), which features pecans, almonds and macadamia nuts, with a side of caramel bourbon ice cream. A signature cocktail named American lemon pie (B295) offers a prelude of egg-white foam with a tequila kick underneath. Opened in Feb, Abbot is named after Abbot Kinney Boulevard, a trendy and vibrant stretch lined with eateries, shops, art galleries and palm trees in California. The neighbourhood is named after American developer Abbot Kinney, and was dubbed “the coolest block in America” by GQ magazine. As a restaurant, Abbot offers California cuisine, which focuses on healthy creations made from local ingredients — minus the complicated cooking techniques. Add in a penchant for incorporating elements from different cuisines, and you can expect pretty unique fare. Hanging light bulbs with exposed cords and a bare floor convey the casual-yet-cool vibe, while touches of blue may remind you of the coastal state. The high ceiling also lends the place an airy and spacious feel. The mezzanine level (yet to open at the time of our visit) offers a more formal atmosphere and a private room. Most of the diners here are expats. Abbot is the brainchild of the people instrumental to the success of the dearly missed Bed Supperclub. Before coming to Thailand, head chef Rene Michelena worked at top-rated restaurants in the US for over 20 years, where he won many awards. Some of his creations will be available exclusively during Abbot’s weekly Sunday brunch Table D’Hote (“host’s table” in French), where you can enjoy a complete meal of several courses (from 11am-5pm; B850 per person). You’ll get to choose from the likes of Mini crab salad & tomatoes, Fettuccine carbonara and Steamed mussels. A live jazz band performs on Fri and Sat, at 8pm.