We say ‘ooh la la’ to the second branch of La Crêperie in Siam Paragon.
LA CRÊPERIE FRENCH 10am-10pm Siam Paragon, G/F, Gourmet Garden fb.com/lacreperiebangkok 02-129-4844 THE SETTING
If you’ve been to the ground floor of Siam Paragon before, you know it’s an air-conditioned playground for foodies. I will go as far as saying that it’s a dining ecosystem with a vast selection of kiosks, cafes and restaurants for you to choose from (and chomp on).
Adding French flavours into the delicious mix is the recently-opened second branch of La Crêperie in The Gourmet Garden zone, aka the area with escalators and indoor ponds. The second La Crêperie is decked-out to resemble a Parisian apartment (or shall I type apparte
ment) unlike its predecessor in Sukhumvit Soi 39 that went for a more casual feel. However, that doesn’t mean dining in this luxurious-looking space will cost you your tax rebate.
For a faux al fresco feel, there are two tables set at the front on a checkered floor — however you may be subjected to some prying eyes of passersby. It gets cosier as you go further into the restaurant. One side of the wall is lined with a long comfy couch which you can really plop yourself onto. Usually a mezzanine level would be a go-to choice for those who want privacy but I think the corner couch at the back of the restaurant is perfect for a casual dinner with your squad too. You should feel like the back area belongs to your group without feeling confined at all, thanks to the very high ceilings and floorto-ceiling windows.
The whole space is further fancified with framed pictures of French landmarks, fake but tasteful potted plants and other bits and bobs. Whichever seat you decide on, your meal here should feel classy — pardonne-moi — AF.
THE MENU
The 40-plus page menu contains dishes casual observers of French cuisine will be familiar with but there are also many regional and original recipes to try too.
We opted for a quirky appetiser, ordering Escargots with garlic butter (B490++). Don’t give me an “ew” face until you try it. The snails were tender, tasty and aromatic. We broke the ciabatta bun and dipped pieces into the butter that was infused with garlic and herbs. Their spongy texture absorbed the flavour so well.
Poultry fans should be chuffed with the Traditional grandmother’s style roasted chicken leg (B280) which came with a side of fried potato wedges. You can effortlessly enjoy the slowcooked chicken. Its flesh came off the bone so easily, making it even easier to wolf down. We gave it extra in score for the scallion knots which were cooked properly, retaining some crunch and a slight pungency. The wedges were pretty wonderful too, being dreamily soft inside with an audibly crunchy exterior.
Although La Crêperie has only several fish dishes, they do them so right. The Codfish in a chorizo crust (B480) announced its arrival with a savoury waft. The moist fish went great with the flavourful red crust made of the Spanish sausage, cheese and bread crumbs. The bell pepper sauce complemented it further with a touch of creaminess.
For something with better value, you should consider the Mediterranean sea bass fillet (B330) as it came with crepe pasta, white wine sauce and sweet potato chips. The fish was pan-fried to near perfection while its skin was salty and crispy. The strands of buckwheat crepe pasta were crispy with a touch of smokiness too.
Living up to its name, La Crêperie offers a cavalcade of sweet and savoury crêpes with an à la mode option. The Savoury crêpe with bacon, mushroom, cheese, egg and tomato (B290) looks impressive with a generous amount of toppings. Break the yolk and let the delicious lava coat the other goodies. The only complaint I had was that the fried bacon was a tad too hard.
Sweet crêpe salted butter caramel, banana and vanilla ice-cream (B230 or B180 without the ice-cream) was very indulgent. There was a buffer of fluffy whipped cream between the big scoop of creamy ice-cream and the thin warm pastry drenched in delicious sauce.
INSIDER’S TIP
Joseph and Kittiporn Girard are the husbandand-wife duo behind both La Crêperies. Monsieur Joseph elevates his family recipes with the help of pro chefs and also collaborates with them in creating original recipes. If you’re curious about the origins of some dishes, just ask him. He’s quite the food historian. If you want a big bang for your baht, definitely consider the set lunch option. The four-course menu is available from 11am-2pm on weekdays for the price of B490.
VALUE & VERDICT
Is La Crêperie worth the extra 20 minutes of circling around the parking lot of Siam Paragon to find an empty spot to park your car in? Oui, especially if you want an introduction to French fare without breaking the bank.