Truffles galore
THE SETTING
Inside Sukhumvit 22, just a few blocks away from the main road, lies Truffles Bar & Ristorante, which is about three months old. At first glance, it seems to be one of those usual hole-in-the-wall bars that you see so much of around the city, but don’t be fooled. The front of the restaurant where guests enter houses the bar and a number of open-air tables, which is suitable for when you’re there to have a drink or two. However, delve deeper into the restaurant and you’ll find they have more tables in an air-conditioned room that could accommodate more than 30 patrons easily. Plus, the inside dining area is more suited for when you, family or friends are gathering for a full-on meal instead of just chilling over drinks. The area has a very authentic Italian feel to it and we’re glad that the menu strives to do the same as well.
THE MENU
Truffles Bar & Ristorante’s menu seeks to serve Bangkokians authentic Italian at affordable prices. Most people may think that Italian should be reserved for high-so fine dining but that’s exactly the misconception Truffles Bar & Ristorante wants to correct. Also, if you haven’t realised yet, the menu is filled with truffle, so if you’re truffle-manic, this is the place for you. Chef Lucio, whose parents hail from Sicily and Milano, helms the kitchen but has been in Thailand for 28 years. General manager Mike Sorge is also from Sicily, so there’s no doubt that these guys know their Italian cuisine.
For appetisers, we started off with the Burrata special (B350+), which is refreshing and gives great contrasting textures thanks to the cheese and the crunchy arugula. The Melanzane parmigiana (B260+), otherwise known as eggplant parmesan, deceivingly tastes and looks like lasagna and is the goto alternative if you want eggplant instead of meat. However, we wouldn’t be against eating it again even if we did like meat.
A must-have for an authentic Italian restaurant is pasta and Truffles Bar & Ristorante doesn’t let us down. The classic and traditional Lasagna bolognese (B320+) is cooked well so that the pasta isn’t too soft that it falls apart or too hard that it’s not edible. All in all, it’s a no-frills classic Italian lasagna. We also tried the Ravioli tartufo (B180+), the first truffle dish we had. Complete with black truffles and generous Parmesan cheese, this creamy pasta dish is one Truffles Bar & Ristorante’s shining dishes, in our opinion. If creamy and cheesy is something you vie for, then there is no doubt this is a dish you’ll want to try. The second truffle dish, Risotto ai funghi porcini tartufo (B480+), is truffle risotto that’s creamy and generous with the Parmesan and truffles. If you’re looking for a non-truffle dish, you could opt for the Barzino (B680+), which is steamed seabass wrapped beautifully in a swan-shaped foil.
Pizza should not be amiss in an Italian restaurant. Truffles Bar & Ristorante has a varied selection to choose from. We chose to try the Tartufo pizza (B420+), yet again another truffle dish, because hey, we are here for the truffles after all. A helping of arugula along with mozzarella and Parmesan gives the pizza a good contrast of taste and texture. Did we mention it also had truffles?
To round off our Italian dining experience, we had two desserts. The Tartufo dark chocolate ice cream (B180+) is a must for chocolate lovers. If you want something a little more fruity, then the traditional panna cotta is for you. We’re glad to say that these desserts are not overwhelmingly sweet, which means it’s so easy to order seconds.
INSIDER’S TIP
Truffles Bar & Ristorante also has a wine list with the majority being Italian. They also give guests, during their dinner service, a free glass of Follador prosecco. They do encourage making reservations in advance. They’re also available for private events.
PRICE & VERDICT
Truffles Bar & Ristorante delivers on the promise of authentic Italian dining at reasonable prices, considering the high quality. Truffle dishes abound, but even if you’re not necessarily a fan and just looking for good Italian cuisine, this is a place you can definitely try.