BITE SIZE RESTAURANTS WE RECENTLY REVIEWED
Igniv Bangkok St. Regis, 1st floor Ratchadamri Road Call 02-207-7822
The brainchild of globally-acclaimed, three Michelin-starred Swiss chef Andreas Caminada, Igniv is a fine-dining restaurant which offers modern European cuisine through a shared meal experience.
The highly recommended tasting menu features a multitude of snacks and starters, followed by main courses, desserts and ends with a visit to the “candy store”.
Prices are 1,900 baht per person for lunch and 3,800 baht per person for dinner. Expect to find items such as duck liver terrine with Mandarin and yoghurt foam; sea bass ceviche with radish and dill; beef tartare with hazelnuts; smoked hamachi with sweet cured celery; truffle-glazed cauliflower with brown butter sauce; and beef short rib with celeriac and caramelised onion.
Heavenly desserts include chocolate tart with mango cream; basil-lime sorbet with white chocolate crumbles; and a sundae of milk custard, shaved ice and milk foam meringue.
Service was a perfect balance between flawless professionalism and heartfelt cordiality. Reservations are highly recommended.
Open noon to 3pm and 6-11pm, Wednesday to Sunday. Park at the hotel’s car park. Most credit cards accepted.
Moo Pai Kai Ma 104 Sukhumvit Soi 39 Call 095-072-7777 and 02-662-3562
The latest venture under the Water Library restaurant empire, the 60-seater labels itself as a family eatery, serving easy communal meals that focus on Isan-style Thai food.
Highlighted items are a large variety of som tamand yum salads as well as ovenroasted chicken (490 baht per chicken); mee phad kra-ched, or stir-fried rice vermicelli with water mimosa and prawns (159 baht); spicy gaeng pa herbal soup with sea bass (299 baht); grilled mirin-marinated cuttlefish (450 baht); and spaghetti with crab roe, garlic and fresh bird’s-eye chillies (1,299 baht).
Desserts are offered from a display fridge and include cheese pie, cakes, cheesecake and housemade ice cream. Young coconut cake (90 baht) is the best-seller. Open daily 10am-2.30pm and 5.3010.30pm. Park on the premises. Most credit cards accepted.
Salvia Grand Hyatt Erawan Bangkok, M Level Ratchadamri Road Call 02-254-1234
The two-month-old Italian osteria takes over the open mezzanine space previously a home of fine-dining restaurant Tables Grill.
Its cuisine showcases a collection of original recipes that reflects the Piedmont and Sardinian family roots of head chef Roberto Parentela.
Truly worth-having items are stewed black mussels with spicy n’duja sauce (420 baht); fusilli pasta with lamb ragout (330 baht); and the shareable platter of grape-vine grilled Australian Angus rib-eye steak (1,380 baht).
Recommended side dishes are roasted new potatoes with caramelised onion butter; and organic tomato salad with aged balsamic dressing.
Traditional tiramisu (190 baht) proves a heavenly dessert.
Reservations are a must especially for dinner and on weekends. Open daily from 11.30am–2.30pm and 6.30–10.30pm. Park at the hotel’s car park. Most credit cards accepted.
Wah Lok Cantonese restaurant Carlton Hotel Bangkok, 2nd floor Sukhumvit Road Call 02-090-7888
Ever since the 194-seater resumed its dine-in operation in mid-July, crowds have promptly poured in and business has never been slow.
Dishes are housed in various categories such as roasted meat and barbecued items; abalone and bird’s nest; live seafood; meat and poultry; rice and noodle dishes; vegetarian and desserts.
Of the dim sum selection, not-to-bemissed are steamed lobster and scallop dumplings (180 baht); steamed vegetarian dumpling with mushroom and bamboo pith in truffle oil (120 baht); and deep-fried taro with seafood filling (120 baht).
Crispy prawns with wasabi dressing (580 baht); sautéed Australian beef tenderloin cubes with garlic and black pepper sauce (780 baht); and Peking duck (1,600 baht) are best-selling.
Crispy durian ice cream (80 baht); and chilled lemongrass jelly with fresh fruit and aloe vera (150 baht) prove a heavenly dessert.
Reservations are highly recommended. Open 11.30am-2.30pm and 6-10.30pm, Wednesday-Sunday. Park at the hotel’s car park. Most credit cards accepted.